Denied Benefits for Fibromyalgia Pain

At 36, Jane felt older than her age. As she entered her late 30s, she knew that taking care of her body would become an increasingly vital priority in her life. Like many of her friends, she put an emphasis on eating healthy, being active, and ensuring that she got the right amount of vitamins and nutrients. However, even though she had a generally healthy lifestyle, something felt off. While her friends complained of occasional back pain and less energy than they had in their 20s, her issues seemed more severe. She began to suffer from constant fatigue, problems with her...

My Doctor Won’t Fill Out My Forms! What Should I Do?

Filing a disability claim is seldom easy or straightforward. Most insurance companies will go to great lengths to argue that you are healthy enough to work. With that in mind, a detailed report from a medical expert is often an essential component of a successful claim. It lets the insurance company know that your symptoms are backed by objective medical evidence and makes your claim much more difficult to ignore. That’s why it can be so frustrating when your doctor won’t fill out your paperwork. Those supporting documents are often the only thing separating a rejected...

When Should You Apply & Fight to Get Your Disability Benefits?

Fibromyalgia is an invisible condition. There are no bumps and bruises, no outward visual indicators, that would otherwise suggest a physical disability. A person with fibromyalgia looks just like someone without fibromyalgia, at least at a glance. That can lead some people to question the validity of a fibromyalgia diagnosis, which only furthers the harmful stigma surrounding invisible disabilities. Any good doctor will confirm that fibromyalgia is a legitimate and potentially debilitating medical condition. However, many people may feel self-conscious about claiming...

Infection Leads to Fibromyalgia Diagnosis, but Benefits Still Denied

George was a custodian in a local high school. At the age of 32, he had been working in his field for eight years. He enjoyed his job. Though it had its stresses, he was good at what he did, had great co-workers, and excellent benefits. Everything was generally going well for him until one day he started to experience a sharp pain in his abdomen. Feeling nauseous, he took a midday rest. When he stood up to go back to work, the pain worsened. A co-worker noticed, and asked George if he was alright. As George described the pain he was feeling in the right side of his...

Resources For Those With Fibromyalgia

Unfortunately, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. If your symptoms are severe, filing a disability claim can be an important part of the recovery process because the benefits can give you the time you need to find an effective treatment strategy, but you’ll still need to consult with other professionals to figure out the best way to manage the condition on your own. Thankfully, there are many organizations that are specifically set up to offer support to people with fibromyalgia. They might not be able to make any medical guarantees, but they can steer you towards...

Fibromyalgia & Women: A Unique Struggle

In 2017, the documentary “Five Foot Two” was released. The film followed Lady Gaga through the production of her fifth album and preparation for a major performance. Viewers learned a lot about the artist, watching her creative process and her personal struggles. They also learned that she has been suffering from fibromyalgia for over seven years. Letting viewers witness the physical and mental pain her condition caused allowed the general public to get a glimpse into the effects of fibromyalgia in a way that had not been showcased in mainstream media previously....

Dispelling Myths About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a relatively recent addition to medical literature. Though it was first described in the early 1800s, it wasn’t formally recognized until testing confirmed its existence in 1981. As a result, there are a lot of misconceptions about fibromyalgia, many of which hold that the chronic pain associated with the condition is somehow exaggerated or made up. It should go without saying that that is a harmful myth that discredits the experiences of those living with the disorder. Fibromyalgia is a genuine medical condition that affects more than 500,000 Canadians....

Hard Fought Disability Case Won

Eva had never had any major health scares in her long career as a receptionist. Sure, she might miss a few days with a fever or a particularly nasty cold, but for the most part, she was well enough to make it to work most days of the year. That started to change when she turned 55. At first, she assumed the pain was related to her menopause. She’d been experiencing hot flashes and other mysterious bodily ailments, so a few minor aches and pains just didn’t seem all that surprising or significant.    However, the pain persisted even after the hot flashes went away, and...