I’d like to apologize to all the patients I saw in my years working in urgent care who had chronic pain due to fibromyalgia or autoimmune disease.
I’d like to apologize for not knowing, understanding, and in some cases not even believing what you were going through.
You see, in physician assistant school, much like medical school, they don’t teach us about how these diseases impact our patients’ lives. They don’t tell us that it’s been incredibly exhausting for our patient to get to the office or that they will likely have to rest and recuperate for days after.
They don’t tell us that sitting in the chair in the waiting room hurt every part of your body that made contact with the chair, or your clothes, or your shoes. They don’t teach us about how your family is impacted by your inability to participate in things, give care and attention to spouses or kids, or even make dinner.
I know because I’ve been battling with fibro and some other yet-to-be identified autoimmune issue for a few years now. I know because I’ve had to teach my young son how to hug gently. I know because I’ve heard his friends comment on how much time I spend in bed.
I know because I can no longer physically keep up with seeing patients in an office (thankfully, I’ve been able to work from home in the emerging field of telemedicine). And I know because that good old “fibro fog” often makes it sound like my phone is cutting out as I struggle to remember the words I wanted to say to the patient I’m trying to help.
In the beginning, I wanted to hide my diagnosis from my colleagues. There were still so many providers out there who didn’t even believe fibro was a real disorder (I used to be one of them). But over the last two years of non-stop referrals to specialists, tests with quirky but no clear answers, trials of one medication after the other, I’ve learned that even though the medical community is opening to the reality that this is real, “they” still don’t get it.
This hit me again two days ago as I sat in an appointment with a rheumatologist who said, “I don’t see anything of concern” four times during our visit. Really? You don’t think that having to do my job from my bed some days is concerning? You don’t think the isolation caused by not being able to go and do and see things with my family is concerning?
It’s past time for providers to stop looking at lab results and start looking at the entire picture. Even if providers don’t have a cure, just a simple acknowledgement of what patients are actually going through would be a huge step towards bridging the divide between your reality and mine.
I can’t breathe, and there is an almost unbearable weight on my chest.
I feel like I’m being crushed and the pain is excruciating.
All I can hear is thump, thump, thump – although at this point I’m not sure if it’s the beat of my heart, or if it is more earth being thrown on top of me.
Fear has taken over every cell of my body as the panic rises within me, my face is burning hot, yet my extremities are as cold as ice.
The level of terror I feel should prevent me from moving. But, from somewhere deep inside of me, the will to survive surges through my very being and I desperately try to claw my way out, frantically scraping the earth away, exhausting myself in this seemingly futile effort.
Nevertheless, I continue through the haze of exhaustion. My clawing becomes slower and less effective. I can feel the will to go on slipping away from me.
And then I see it.
The smallest pin prick of light. It’s so far away that at first, I think I have imagined it.
But as it opens out to the size of a petit pois, I can’t deny it. Despite the pain and exhaustion, I get a surge of hope and this gives me just enough energy to go on.
The cycle repeats at varying intensity and intervals over time. Let me tell you what I mean.
When I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I had already been through months – if not years – of searching for an answer. I was already exhausted and felt broken. But the diagnosis itself was hope for me because I thought that surely in this day and age, pain can be controlled…Can’t it?
Over the past five years, I have repeated this process of being buried alive more times than I care to remember. Sometimes the weight, pain and darkness have been so relentless that I didn’t even believe the light existed anymore.
I’m sure you get the picture of the things that can bring that suffocating darkness, but now let’s look at finding the light.
On the odd days, the pain is less – I can see the pin prick of light in the distance
The hope of a new therapy or treatment – allows some of the earth to fall away naturally
A friend or family member showing me love and compassion with kind words or by doing things to help make my life easier – this feels like they are shoveling the earth away from me.
A coworker or manager understands and offers kind words of support.
Constantly looking for beauty or hope is like clawing away some of the dirt.
All in all, we cannot rely on nor predict the good days or opportunities for new therapies. The only constants can be our own search for beauty, hope and the kindness of others to help us keep the darkness at bay.
If you know someone with a chronic illness don’t be afraid to ask how you can help. Often helping the person to feel validated and valued can be enough. Other times we may need help with something simple, like opening a bottle or writing a paragraph. So often those of us with chronic illnesses are terrible at asking for help, and just the offer of help is enough to remind us that the light still exists.
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain syndrome which comes with many symptoms and complications that we do not expect. For example, one of the less known symptoms that fibromyalgia patients would often suffer from is fibroma. Fibroma is basically an enlarged and benign growth on the skin, which is often painful and can sometimes be dangerous.
Fibromas are basically growth tissues in the body. However, the term could cover a wide range of growths and nails down to what is causing the fibroma so difficult.
If you have heard of the term “skin tag”, then you may be familiar with fibromas. Skin tag, which is a small growth of the skin, is a type of fibroma. These are fairly common especially for seniors. This kind of fibroma is not dangerous and can be removed easily. Moreover, skin tags are not often painful, but this is not really the case for all sorts of fibromas.
Fibromas are more common among people who suffer from fibromyalgia. However, the reason behind this has not yet been fully understood.
What is known is that fibromas are common for those who are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and autoimmune conditions. This barely explains why fibromyalgia will make you more susceptible to skin tags in the same manner. Yet, it is hardly surprising since anyone who has fibromyalgia is aware how the condition will seem to trigger endless complications.
As of the moment, fibromas are among those conditions that lack proper medical research so it is hard to tell why it is closely being linked to fibromyalgia.
The good news is that fibromas are normally benign. This means that they are not dangerous for you at all. However, the bad news is that there is not a proper way to treat them through medications.
Of course, it would be great if there were medications that could help to shrink and then eventually eliminate them. However, for most people, the only option would be surgery. On a good note, the surgery involved is a simple procedure and can be done as an outpatient procedure, especially for cases of skin tags.
During the surgery the growth is usually cut away using a scalpel. The surgeon will then use a laser to seal the blood vessels instantly, making the procedure almost bloodless and extremely safe for the patient. Thus, the surgery can be done in about fifteen minutes and will only leave behind a small scar. Moreover, it also makes the procedure to be extremely safe for the patient.
In most cases, skin tag growths do not really need to be taken off. However, they can be unsightly and embarrassing for the patient and this is why those who have this will tend to suffer from stress, not to mention the other symptoms that come with fibromyalgia.
It’s something that nobody likes to talk about, but suffering chronic pain very often goes hand in hand with gastrointestinal and/or urinary problems.
For people with CRPS the statistics are stark, with in excess of 90% of sufferers reporting a variety of ongoing gastric issues including constipation, diarrhoea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dysphagia and even faecal incontinence.
Urinary problems are also reported frequently by people suffering chronic pain. Urinary voiding dysfunction can cause urgency and even urinary incontinence. Around 25% of people suffering CRPS report urinary problems.
On top of already disabling chronic pain, gastrointestinal and urinary issues can result in a person’s outlook on the world becoming very limited indeed.
Given the frequency with which these problems occur in tandem with chronic pain, it is surprising that there is so little research on a possible relationship between the two. However, it is thought that there may be a number of causes, often interacting with or exacerbating each other.
One factor that is likely playing a role is medication. Constipation is one of the most widely experienced side effects of taking opioid-based medications of which a number, for example Tramadol, Fentanyl, Oramorph and Codeine, are commonly taken by people suffering chronic pain. We have come across a number of cases among clients prescribed opioid-based medication where constant straining has ultimately led to permanent physical damage of rectal nerves and muscles, resulting in faecal incontinence.
However, it’s not just opioids that can be problematic. Many people suffering chronic pain are prescribed antidepressants such as Venlafaxine and Sertraline. In themselves they can cause gastro-type side effects, but in conjunction with an opioid, those side effects can be heightened. This is just one of the problems of living life as a pharmacological cocktail shaker!
It’s well known that psychological changes, including anxiety and depression, can be associated with a change in bowel function, in particular the onset of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), of which faecal urgency is a symptom.
Such factors can also play a role in urinary symptoms such as urgency and an increased need to urinate both at night time (nocturia) and during the day.
The symptoms of CRPS rarely occur in isolation. More commonly sufferers end up with a diversity of symptoms. This is almost certainly because CRPS affects the various systems within the body which are part of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS is part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is responsible for unconsciously regulating bodily functions including bowel and bladder function. There is no proven link, but it is possible that there is a direct relationship via the autonomic system between CRPS and bowel and bladder dysfunction.
In her excellent article, “CRPS and Thyroid Problems”, Libby Parfitt highlights the fact that around one third of people suffering CRPS also have an underactive thyroid, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Currently, the reason for this is not understood.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include anxiety and depression and from that perspective we come back to the psychological factors discussed above. However, constipation is in itself a common symptom of hypothyroidism and whilst there is not currently an established link, it is not uncommon for people with hypothyroidism to also report urinary issues.
For people suffering chronic pain conditions who find themselves in litigation, their lawyer must be alert to the possibility of gastro and urinary symptoms. At the very least they should ask their client the right questions.
Depending on the nature of those symptoms, it may be necessary to obtain expert evidence from a colorectal surgeon and/or a urologist. Not only is this crucial to establishing the likely cause of those symptoms (ie the direct or indirect link to the primary pain condition), but specific treatment options must to be considered.
Ultimately, if a claimant is likely to have longstanding problems then the associated financial costs (eg clothing, laundry, absorbent pads, bed mats) need to be factored into the claim.
Neurontin and its newer more potent version, Fibromyalgia pain relief drug Lyrica, are widely used for off-label indications that are an outright flagrant danger to the public. These blockbuster drugs were approved for use even though the FDA had no idea what they actually did in the brain. A shocking new study shows that they block the formation of new brain synapses, drastically reducing the potential for rejuvenating brain plasticity – meaning that these drugs will cause brain decline faster than any substance known to mankind.
The problem of these drugs is compounded by their flagrant illegal marketing. Neurontin was approved by the FDA for epilepsy back in 1994. Fibromyalgia pain relief drug underwent massive illegal off-label promotion that cost Warner-Lambert 430 million dollars (the very first big fine for off-label promotion). The Fibromyalgia pain relief drug is now owned by Pfizer. Pfizer also owns Lyrica, a super-potent version of Neurontin. It has been approved by the FDA for various types of pain and fibromyalgia.
Lyrica for Fibromyalgia pain relief is one of four drugs that a subsidiary of Pfizer illegally marketed, resulting in a $2.3 billion settlement against Pfizer. Even though the marketing of these drugs has been heavily fined, they continue to rack up billions in sales from the off-label uses. Doctors use them for all manner of nerve issues because they are good at suppressing symptoms.
However, such uses can no longer be justified because the actual mechanism of the drugs is finally understood and they are creating a significant long-term reduction in nerve health. The researchers in the above study try to downplay the serious nature of the drugs by saying “adult neurons don’t form many new synapses.” That is simply not true.
The new science is showing that brain health during aging relies on the formation of new synapses. Even these researchers managed to question the common use of these medications in pregnant women. How is a fetus supposed to make new nerve cells when the mother is taking a drug that blocks them? These are the kind of situations the FDA should be all over.
As usual, the FDA is sitting around pondering a suicide warning for Fibromyalgia pain relief drug Lyrica while its off-label uses include bi-polar disorder and migraine headaches. The FDA is likely to twiddle its thumbs for the next decade on the brain damage issue. Consumer beware.
The condition can make it difficult to complete basic everyday tasks. Sometimes just getting dressed and out the door is too much, taking up the limited amount of “spoons” you have available to you. If your days are increasingly painful because of the clothes you’re wearing, you may need to make changes to your wardrobe. A few simple alterations could make a big difference, though. Here’s what we recommend when it comes to fibromyalgia clothing choices.
Fibromyalgia pain is typically present on both sides of the body, below and above the waistline, and along the vertebral column. In many cases, simply putting on clothes and wearing them all day is extremely painful for people with this condition. Many sufferers also suffer from touch sensitivity that makes any touch, no matter how gentle, a searing pain.
In addition, other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include heat or cold intolerance. The weather or even the thermostat can have an effect on the pain and stiffness that you may experience every day.
That means clothing for fibromyalgia sufferers must be easy to put on, comfortable to wear, and simple to remove. These are 15 fibromyalgia clothing choices that can help alleviate your pain. When in doubt, turn to your support groups or healthcare providers for more information.
There are certain fabrics that are more comfortable than others. If you have fibromyalgia, you want to find clothes that won’t irritate your skin. These soft and breathable fabrics can help:
Jeans aren’t just tight and restrictive, they can also be itchy and rough to the touch. Most people with fibromyalgia avoid denim altogether.
Unless they’re marketed as soft and stretchy, jeans are usually too rigid to provide any sort of comfort. Leggings, sweatpants, and other types of loose fitting pants are a better option. With today’s jeggings or other super comfy fabrics, you do have options that still look like denim without the ouch.
One symptom of fibromyalgia is increased sensitivity to temperature changes. You may find it hard to regulate these shifts and certain times of year with extreme weather can make it even more difficult.
Layering is the best way to make it through the day in a climate that changes often, especially throughout a single day. For instance, you may live in a coastal town that is foggy and cold in the morning, but sunny and warm in the afternoon. In this case, you should start with a light T-shirt or tank top and pair it with a soft sweater that is easily removable.
This method of dressing will allow you to be prepared for any weather changes as the day goes on.
You don’t have to sacrifice style to find pain relief. There are comfortable clothes for fibromyalgia that will help you look your best, no matter where you’re headed. These are some of the best brands, according to other people with fibromyalgia.
Old Navy: From work clothes to casual loungewear, Old Navy offers a range of styles at affordable prices
Lululemon: This activewear brand is on the expensive side, but fans rave about the quality, comfort, and stretch of Lululemon leggings
Under Armour: If you’re looking for advanced athletic wear, Under Armour carries unique fabrics that can regulate temperature and provide breathability
The North Face: Because this brand is typically geared toward apparel for outdoor activities, they carry great clothes for soft warmth, such as fleece pullovers
Hanes: Everyday comfortable essentials, as well as undergarments, are easy to find at Hanes
LOFT: If you need dressy yet comfortable work clothes, LOFT carries “Signaturesoft” clothing under their Lou & Grey line
Target: For an expansive range of affordable clothing for any event, Target has a wide variety of comfortable clothing
Aerie: Whether you need undergarments, swimsuits, or loungewear, Aerie carries items that are typically around $15 to $35
Also try to add quality clothing pieces to your closet. This can be tough when you’re on a tight budget, but it will be beneficial in the long run. Qualityclothes will last longer, even after consistent washing and wearing. Focus on buying a few essential items that are made with high-quality fabric. Cheaply made clothing can scratch and rub your skin in a way that will irritate your symptoms.
Shop sales, clearance racks, and use coupons to save money at stores that are usually on the expensive side. Look for gently-used consignment places that sell high-end clothing at a big discount.
Putting comfort over style doesn’t mean you have to look like you just rolled out of bed. Find clothing in fabrics, cuts, and colors that you love. If you find a piece that is especially comfortable, buy it in a few different colors. Build your wardrobe around these items and jazz them up with accessories.
On days when you wake up with unbearable pain, turn to the clothing items that are easiest to throw on, and simply add accessories. You can wear the same loose and flowing dress dozens of different ways. Purchase a few necklaces and scarves to add a pop of color. This will diversify your comfortable closet pieces.
Most women agree that bras are simply uncomfortable, whether you’re in good health or not. For those suffering with fibromyalgia, tight straps and underwires can actually be painful and a constant source of stress.
Luckily, there are options that can give you the support you need without the discomfort. Try these options if you’re dealing with ongoing fibro pain.
A bralette is a good choice for smaller-chested women because it only offers minimal support. They don’t have underwires or clasps, which means there isn’t anything that will dig into your skin.
They typically come in different types of fabrics, some with lightweight cups.
Depending on the type of pain you’re experiencing, front closing bras are easier to put on and remove without excessive movement.
These are popular for women who deal with arthritis and other common causes of chronic pain. They’re another great option for bad pain days when you need to minimize excessive movement.
While it isn’t the right option for every case, many patients experience pain relief while wearing compression clothing.
Compression garments can decrease chronic pain by increasing oxygenation and blood circulation. They may also reduce swelling and edema. By keeping muscles and joints stable, this type of clothing could even help prevent injuries.
Talk to your doctor to find out if this is the right method of pain relief for you.
Some days are worse than others for the five million people with fibromyalgia. There will be times when you need to limit even the most basic of daily tasks. For those days, turn to easy fibromyalgia clothing that won’t further irritate your symptoms.
For many people, this means loose fitting clothes. Flowing maxi dresses, oversized sweaters, and drawstring pants are all great options.
Don’t be afraid to wear certain items repeatedly. If you need to diversify them for work or social outings, add a layer or an accessory.
The warmer months of summer can be difficult. Whether it’s dry or humid, excessive heat can take a toll when you’re already struggling with symptoms.
Choose loose and thin fabrics for maximum breathability. Try to avoid dark colors that will absorb sunlight and heat. If you’re going to be outside, wear moisture-wicking fabrics that will keep you cool and dry from any excessive sweat.
Depending on the location and level of your pain, buttons can be difficult to maneuver on a bad day. Try to avoid button-down tops that can increase pain and stiffness in your hands and fingers.
Zippers may also be difficult to wear because of the rough seam that is typically found underneath. Look for clothes that are free of clasps and connectors. Find things that you can easily slip in and out of.
One symptom of fibromyalgia is cold feet, but elastic and itchy fabrics can make socks uncomfortable to wear.
If you’re struggling to find the right socks, experiment with different types. Perhaps shorter ankle socks are better than high socks that squeeze your calves. Socks that are labeled as light and breathable are often beneficial to avoid unnecessary pressure.
Still struggling to find comfort for your feet? Give diabetic socks a try. Fibromyalgia pain and diabetic neuropathy are very similar. These socks are designed to provide compression and increase circulation, which may reduce pain.
Tight waistbands can cause fibromyalgia pain to flare up, which means pantyhose and tights are a no-no.
If you need to wear them for work or a formal event, try thigh-high stockings. They offer the same clean and polished look without the tightness around your waist.
Tags can be itchy and uncomfortable for everyone, regardless of whether or not they suffer from a chronic pain condition. However, for those with fibromyalgia, it can be even more irritating.
Some brands like Hanes and Champion are going tag-free. The brand and size are printed directly onto the fabric instead of a tag. This eliminates the need for a bothersome piece of fabric that can irritate your skin and cause you more discomfort. If your clothes do have tags, gently unpick the stitching of them and remove entirely.
Maternity clothes, particularly maternity pants, are designed with a woman’s growing belly in mind. As a result, maternity pants are made with stretchy and elastic fabric that is meant to go underneath the belly.
This provides a better option for women dealing with chronic pain. These pants usually sit along the hips and offer much more flexibility, especially while sitting.
When paired with a long and loose top, no one will even know you’re wearing maternity pants.
Support and stability are important if you’re suffering with chronic pain due to fibromyalgia. A comfortable pair of shoes will cushion your feet and help you get around with ease. Some of the most popular shoe brands recommended by fibromyalgia patients include the following.
Sketchers: The memory foam used in some Sketchers designs can help provide comfort and support for walking
Scholl’s: Fans of this brand say that Dr. Scholl’s shoes offer good arch support and cushioned heels
Converse: A classic choice for those who love sneakers, the Converse pull-on styles offer flat and light shoes without laces that need tying
Birkenstocks: Unlike most sandals, Birkenstocks offer a thick cushion to ease pain associated with walking or standing
Uggs: Perfect for winter and colder weather, Uggs are much like soft and warm slippers
Nike: These walking and running shoes are designed for athletes of all types, which means they offer a range of specialty styles that can give you durable support
Living with fibromyalgia can make every day a challenge. Chronic pain and severe exhaustion are the two most common symptoms. However, people who suffer from the condition often experience other symptoms, like depression, headaches, memory loss, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome, and more. These can make it very difficult to go to work every day, which leaves many people wondering, “Is fibromyalgia a disability?” Depending on the situation, it can be, but it comes with some caveats. Read on for details about fibromyalgia disability benefits you may qualify for and how to apply for them.
When people ask if fibromyalgia is considered a disability, they’re typically referring to workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Social Security disability claims. Not that this post should not be taken as legal advice, as it only scratches the surface of what you should know when it comes to benefits, work status, and qualifications. You can read more about chronic pain and disability benefits here.
The ADA doesn’t maintain a list of medical conditions that constitute a disability. Instead, there is a general definition of disability that you must meet. According to the ADA, you must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This includes people who have a record of impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability. It also includes individuals who do not have a disability, but are regarded as having a disability.
The Social Security Administration (SSA), on the other hand, defines a disability as “a severe “medically determinable impairment,” also known as an MDI. We’ll discuss what qualifies as an MDI in further detail below.
Based on this information, the short answer is yes, fibromyalgia can be a disability in the way it affects your everyday life. But as for applying for and receiving Social Security benefits or ADA modifications, the answer will be based on factors related to your personal symptoms and overall health condition. While one person with fibromyalgia may be suffering with debilitating symptoms, another may find work and other daily activities more manageable. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can vary greatly from person to person, so the answer to the original question is also unique to that person.
Depending on the severity of your condition and the work you do, it may or may not be possible to work. Many people with fibromyalgia experience extreme tenderness when pressure is applied to the knees, thighs, hips, elbows, and neck.
For this reason, it is best to do a job that doesn’t require you to stay in one position for too long. Both standing and sitting for extended amounts of time can lead to more pain. Further, any job that requires heavy lifting or intense physical movement may also be too demanding in most cases.
If you wish to continue working, work with the Human Resources contact at your for the best methods on how to accommodate your fibromyalgia symptoms. Through ADA guidelines and recommendations, HR can work with you to offer several ways to make you more comfortable while you’re at work.
These are just a few possible fibromyalgia accommodation:
Alternative lighting, flexible scheduling, or a modified break schedule for attentiveness/concentration issues
Chairs with head support, standing desks, or stand-lean stools for daily movement
Reducing any physical requirements of the job
Counseling, therapy, or even a support animal for stress management
Walkers, scooters, or wheelchairs, as needed
This is just a sample of the many options that could allow you to continue working. Your HR team will determine the best solution on a case-by-case basis.
In order to make your condition best understood, you’ll need to provide a full explanation of your current diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, and limitations from your doctor. This documentation should be similar to what you’d provide in an application for disability.
The Social Security Administration maintains a list of adult impairments that may qualify for disability benefits. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia isn’t included. While it is one of the harder disability claims to win, it isn’t impossible. In order to qualify, you must prove to medical examiners that you’re suffering from a severe “medically determinable impairment,” also known as an MDI.
Social Security may consider fibromyalgia an MDI if both of these are true:
You have evidence of widespread chronic pain that has lasted at least three months
Laboratory testing, mris, and X-rays have ruled out other possible conditions
In addition, one of these must be present in your case:
Ongoing occurrence of at least six fibromyalgia symptoms, such as fatigue, cognitive/memory issues (also known as fibro fog), waking up exhausted, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and anxiety
Positive tender point sites in at least 11 of 18 tested areas, above and below the waist and on both sides of the body
It’s important to note that even if you meet these requirements, you will still have to prove that you’re disabled. That means documenting reasons why you’re incapable of maintaining employment in any capacity, whether at your previous job or any other job.
The process of applying for fibromyalgia disability benefits is complex. Even if you are formally diagnosed, there are a number of factors you must be able to prove in order to qualify. This usually takes multiple visits with your doctor over a long period of time.
The following gives a brief overview of what you can expect, but it’s best to work with an attorney who is experienced with disability claims. They can give you exact guidance about how to apply for and receive benefits appropriate to your case.
Here’s what you can expect to do during the process.
The more documentation you can gather about your medical history, the better your application will be. First, a confirmed diagnosis will be necessary. Due to the nature of fibromyalgia, which typically has no confirmed cause, doctors often diagnose it when they can’t find any other cause of your ongoing pain. This is why it’s important to have a specialist diagnose you based on lab tests and the current fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria.
Furthermore, a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) about your impairments is necessary for a thorough application. This is an overall evaluation of your capacity to complete certain job-related activities, including your ability to:
Lift or carry weight, and how often you’re able to do so
Stand, walk, or sit during a normal eight-hour work day, and how long you’re able to do so
In addition to a formal application, your diagnosis, and an RFC, there may be a few other things that will be critical to your success. You may need to include:
Contact information for all of your doctors, as well as the dates of your appointments, treatments, or hospitalizations
Health records of lab tests, psychological evaluations, and prescribed medications
A summary of your job history
The Social Security Administration will take everything you provide into consideration, so provide a very clear picture of your day-to-day challenges. A journal (paper or mobile-app based) is a great way to do this. Spend time each day jotting down how you felt and how symptoms limited your activities. This can help you paint a picture of what you’re coping with on a daily basis.
After you’ve gathered all of your materials, there are a few ways to file your application:
In person at your local social security office
Online
By phone at 1-800-772-1213 -or- TTY 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing
On average, it can take three to five months to hear back regarding disability benefit claims. In some cases, you may have to supply additional evidence or documentation.
During the application process, a team of doctors for the Social Security Administration will do a thorough review of your application. A psychologist on this team may also evaluate whether your case of fibromyalgia has resulted in any mental impairments. These are based on:
Once they’ve reviewed your application, they’ll determine if you receive disability benefits or not. You can typically appeal this decision, if they’ve denied your claim. An appeal is an additionally complex process, on top of an already complicated task. Work with your local health advocates or an attorney when undergoing an appeal.
Much like the other disability benefits we’ve discussed, fibromyalgia long-term disability benefits can be difficult to obtain. Most long-term disability insurance companies deny or limit these requests since the condition is usually based on self-reported symptoms. Many insurance companies specifically exclude fibromyalgia from coverage. Others consider it a mental disorder in order to limit payments to one or two years. Examine your policy carefully to understand if it is possible to receive benefits for fibromyalgia, and for how long. Work with your Human Resources team if you’re unsure about any of the language or policy coverage.
As previously discussed, if you plan to apply for these types of benefits, you will need to be prepared with as much documentation as possible. You should be seeking medical treatment from a specialist and keeping a detailed record of your symptoms. It will also help to have written opinions from your doctors regarding your limitations and current condition.
Only you and your medical team can determine if seeking disability benefits is the right course of action for you. These are a few questions you should ask yourself before seeking fibromyalgia disability benefits.
Before applying for disability, it’s important to take a look at your finances. Allsup provides a free online calculator to estimate how much you may receive on disability.
Ask yourself if you’re comfortable with this amount of monthly income. Will it be enough for you to continue living in the same home? Will you have enough for groceries, a car payment, and any other monthly costs? Evaluate whether it’s financially possible for you to leave your job.
A job provides much more than just a paycheck. It often gives us a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It’s even a form of socialization. Co–workers become friends that you confide in and enjoy spending your days with.
Some people are surprised by the fact that they feel lonely and bored when they stop working. Others need the time and space to focus on healing.
Perhaps you would like to continue working, but can’t continue doing your current job because of physical or mental limitations. What are your other job options?
Take a look at your skillset and capabilities and research what else is out there. Ask your employer about other opportunities within the company, workplace accommodations they can make, or search for new jobs that allow you to work from home.
If you’re eager to continue working, there are treatment options that could give you the relief you need to do so. From chiropractic care to physical therapy, there are non-invasive options that can improve your comfort level.
If these remedies don’t work, there are currently three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella may reduce pain and improve function in some people with fibromyalgia. Talk to your doctor about all of your treatment options.
Social Security benefits can be complicated. For this reason, it’s often beneficial to hire a disability attorney who can help you file the right forms and gather the information for your case. A skilled attorney who specializes in disability and other insurance benefits will be able to guide you through the process of completing applications. If your initial case is denied, your lawyer will be able to prepare you for an appeal that may require you to go before a judge.
For ADA accommodations, you’ll likely have to work closely with your company’s Human Resources team to create the best plan moving forward. While companies look to the guidance provided through federal resources, they will still have their own unique set of rules and regulations to work from.
Some cultures claim that meditation can promote well-being through strengthening a person’s mind. However, this isn’t something that is widely accepted in the Western world as medically beneficial. If you ask around, many people will regale you with imagery from monks isolated on high stony peaks to their experiences in the local yoga studio. This wide range paints an interesting picture about the practice of meditation, but not a very clear one. But, for chronic pain patients the important question is, does meditation work and can you use meditation for pain relief?
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~Hanh Nhat Thich~
Meditation can come in many different forms, but the most common and effective type is called mindful meditation. This style helps center a person’s attention on breathing and controlling thoughts in the present moment. It is about being still and quiet, allowing thoughts to come and go while you focus on the in and out of your own breath. It sounds simple, but our daily lives are constantly filled with stress and worries, so quieting your mind can be quite the challenge.
Chronic pain patients, unfortunately, understand all too well the burdens stress and pain can have on the mind. Chronic pain is a serious issue in the U.S. and according to the Institute of Medicine, approximately 100 million people in the U.S. suffer from some chronic pain condition. Meditation has the power to give these patients the ability to identify their pain and find some relief.
A breakout study conducted by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center showed that meditation reduced pain ratings of patients by 24% versus the baseline measurement. This is even more astounding as the experiment proved that meditation does not use the endogenous opioid system in the human body, which means it does not affect the same neural pathways as pharmaceutical treatments like painkillers.
Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy stated:
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence that something unique is happening with how meditation reduces pain. These findings are especially significant to those who have built up a tolerance to opiate-based drugs and are looking for a non-addictive way to reduce their pain.”
Researchers from the University of North Carolina also found that even inexperienced meditators experienced a dampened pain response after practicing for only three days. Although a number of studies have uncovered similar conclusions, scientists still aren’t sure how or why meditation works the way it does.
A study from the University of California, Los Angeles found that meditators’ brains experience less age-related erosion of gray matter, potentially reducing the risk for mental illness and diseases affecting cognition.
Meditation helps patients feel less pain, although researchers aren’t sure how.
Some researchers believe meditation’s ability to reduce pain is closely tied with its stress reduction benefits, according to The Atlantic. Stress activates the body’s inflammatory response, often increasing the sensation of pain. If meditation gives people peace of mind, their bodies naturally have less inflammation and fewer chemical processes creating the pain sensation to begin with.
A study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that mindful awareness practices (MAP) resulted in immediate improvements in the sleep quality of the participants. MAP was even more impactful than sleep hygiene education intervention practices. The study participants met once a week for two hours and, at the end of the program, those in maps had less insomnia, fatigue, and depression.
It is postulated that maps could be used to provide a short-term solution to insomnia as it can be as effective as standard clinical treatments. Since a formalized program can be replicated and distributed easily to a community, it is hoped that it will become a more widespread tool. This is becoming more important as sleep deprivation in chronic pain patients can greatly increase pain sensitivity, which leads to a destructive cycle of additional sleepless nights and increasingly intense pain episodes.
Meditation can have amazing effects on your brain—it even has the ability to alter the way you think by providing a coping mechanism for stress.
Research from Carnegie Mellon University presents findings that show the increase in brain activity after patients underwent an intensive three-day meditation program. Specifically, this program raised functional connectivity in the resting default mode network in areas important to attention and executive control in the brain. It also reduced IL-6 levels and, in combination, accounted for lower inflammation levels throughout the whole body.
David Creswell, lead author and associate professor of psychology said that:
“We think that these brain changes provide a neurobiological marker for improved executive control and stress resilience, such that mindfulness meditation training improves your brain’s ability to help you manage stress, and these changes improve a broad range of stress-related health outcomes, such as your inflammatory health,”
Depression and pain can easily feed off each other and create a vicious cycle. This can become dangerous as depression has the nasty side effect of inhibiting the desire to reach out for help.
A Rutgers study found that combining MAP and body exercises together could reduce the symptoms of depression. Participants engaged in these exercises twice a week. They began with 30 minutes of meditation followed by 30 minutes of aerobic activity. After two months, the symptoms of depression decreased by 40%.
The power of meditation has experts hopeful because the most common option for treating chronic pain right now often involves powerful, highly addictive, and dangerous narcotics. Not only are these medications dangerous, but they’re also largely ineffective for reducing chronic pain. That’s because the pain response in a person living with chronic pain is different from someone healing from an acute injury.
Many unknown biological processes are at play that perpetuate pain in chronic cases. These processes aren’t fully understood, particularly in conditions still shrouded in mystery, like fibromyalgia. Even patients with more common conditions may lack key answers about the reasons underlying their pain. For example, only one-third of chronic back pain patients are able to get an accurate diagnosis, reports The Atlantic.
No matter the source, meditation is a powerful way for patients to exert more influence over their experience. Wake Forest University researcher Fadel Zeidan tells the magazine:
“Meditation teaches patients how to react to the pain… People are less inclined to have the ‘ouch’ reaction, then they are able to control the emotional reaction to the pain.”
Meditation also teaches people about the truth of impermanence, Zeidan adds, the understanding that everything is fleeting, even pain. Developing the ability to separate physical sensations from the emotional ones helps people learn how to manage each separately.
Meditation usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes to complete and can help with a wide array of physical and psychological issues. Since it is not physically demanding, most people can do it at home without worrying about safety concerns. Please keep in mind that while meditation can be very effective, you should always seek medical assistance for any major problems and it is not recommended as a substitute for a qualified physician’s care.
Like starting any new habit, beginning a meditation practice takes time and effort. Soon, however, you will come to look forward to the experience, especially if it helps you feel better.
Meditation may seem overwhelming at first. Some people can’t imagine sitting still for a long period of time. The best way to start is in small periods of time that don’t elicit resistance. You can start meditating for as little as one minute each day.
Although the true benefits will come with longer periods spent in meditation, start with an amount of time that you feel able to commit to every day. At the start, developing a solid habit is the most important thing.
At the longer end, some people meditate for 20 minutes or even one hour each day. But start with whatever makes you feel comfortable and lengthen your sessions as you feel ready.
Some people like to start their days off by meditating first thing in the morning. Others prefer to sit at night. The timing is up to you.
When you’re first beginning the meditation habit, it’s best to sit at the same time every day. Consider creating a reminder alarm on your cell phone so you don’t forget. Eventually, you will crave the peace that comes after your sessions, and will notice if you miss one. But at first, it helps to put extra effort into settling into a routine.
The simplest way is to find a comfortable seated position, preferably on the floor but feel free to find a chair if that isn’t a possibility for you. If you are on the floor, find a cushion to sit on to elevate the hips slightly above the knee. This makes it more comfortable to sit.
Sit up nice and tall, but without a rigid back. Find the balance between being alert and relaxed. Your hands can be palm up or palm down on your knee. You may want to take gyan mudra, touching the tips of the thumb and index finger together. This hand position is said in yoga tradition to reduce tension.
Once you’ve found a comfortable seated position, bring your awareness to your breath. Notice the breath entering and leaving your body. Notice any pain or sensation in your body. Observe any emotions that may arise. You may continue like this, scanning the body for sensation for the duration of your meditation practice, focusing on the breath.
If you have trouble sitting still, try an active meditation. The renowned mystic Osho has an excellent book explaining a variety of meditations that include visualizations to occupy the mind and physically active meditations for those who can’t sit still. You could also search youtube for active meditations.
The purpose of meditation is to bring peace. So if you feel resistance about a particular aspect of meditation, inquire why you feel that resistance. Sometimes, resistance is a sign we must persevere. Other times it’s a sign that you need to find an alternate option. Only you know the truth. Whatever brings you peace is the best way to move forward.
The simplest way is to use your cell phone’s timer function. However, once you start meditating for longer periods of time, it’s nice to have a timer that rings at intervals. Many free apps are available to help with this.
Musculoskeletal leg pain involves pain that develops in any of the tendons, ligaments, and muscles in the lower extremities. Conditions ranging from tendinitis to arthritis may be the source of your discomfort. Although this type of pain most frequently develops in the lower back, pain in the leg, hip, knee, or ankle is also common. Musculoskeletal leg pain causes vary from patient to patient. They can range from serious physical disorders to more benign stresses from daily life. Here’s the most common causes, as well as ways to prevent musculoskeletal leg pain.
Leg pain is a broad category of pain that can occur anywhere in the upper or lower leg. It can range in intensity from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain. There are multiple causes of leg pain and some can be very serious. Others can be controlled or cured with rest and at-home care, especially proactive treatments that then help prevent leg pain in the future. Acute leg pain will go away after treatment but if pain does not stop after three months, it is considered chronic and may require different treatments to alleviate.
Leg pain usually originates in one of three systems in the human body: the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, or the circulatory system.
Musculoskeletal leg pain occurs in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones in the leg. Pain originating in the nervous system will usually cause sharp, radiating pain down the sciatic nerve resulting in a condition referred to as sciatica. Circulatory system pain in the leg can feel similar to a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system but is often more typically felt in only one side of the body.
Musculoskeletal leg pain typically doesn’t arise from a disorder or medical condition. About 33% of adults experience pain from overusing their muscles, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In the case of overuse, acute musculoskeletal leg pain could develop from a particularly intense workout. Even carrying a golf bag has been shown to cause musculoskeletal distress in the ankle, according to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Frequently, musculoskeletal leg pain arises from muscle sprains or strains. A sprain occurs when a ligament stretches beyond its capacity or tears. Ligaments are the tissues that connect bones to one another. A strain, meanwhile, involves injury to the muscle or tendon. A tendon is tissue that connects muscle to bone.
While sprains more commonly occur during falls or sports injuries, strains are usually the result from overuse, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). However, strains can also result from overstretching. In the leg, the hamstring muscle is easily susceptible to strains, particularly for athletes. The hamstring is actually made up of three separate muscles that run from the bottom of the pelvis to below the knee. Hamstring tendons connect the muscle to the bone.
Potential hamstring injuries include strains in the muscle itself. Tendonitis—inflammation or irritation—can also develop in the connective tissues. Runners sometimes report high hamstring tendonitis in the portion closest to the pelvis.
Although leg musculoskeletal pain causes are often discussed in terms of overuse, some researchers advocate reframing the issue as underuse. In the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers argued that muscle use was not the problem. The problem was that the muscles had not been used prior to running, jumping, or participating in some other type of activity normally avoided in a person’s mostly sedentary lifestyle. They wrote:
“Articles are often written assessing “injuries” with the implication that they were the result of movement. This explanation, although sequentially accurate, neglects to focus on the fact that a lack of previous movement is more likely the true source.”
To drive the point home, researchers reviewed several studies and found adults who maintain robust exercises regimens typically experience less musculoskeletal pain—not more.
The researchers concluded that while pushing the body too hard may result in injury, not exercising at all increases the risk of injury when a person finally does exercise. Researchers wrote that:
“A review of the current science implicates that too little activity over time may in fact be the primary cause of a large percentage of musculoskeletal injuries… People are more likely to exercise too little than too much.”
Sedentary people who begin vigorously exercising likely put themselves at risk for musculoskeletal injuries. To avoid injury, consider easing into exercise gradually and stay mindful of the body’s physical limits.
Shin splints are characterized by pain on the shin—the bone in the front part of the lower leg. Common in athletes and dancers, shin splints often develop from overuse or changes in exercise routines. This is an acute condition that can be eased through rest and icing the affected area.
Shin splints can re-occur, but wearing supportive shoes and easing up on the exercise can help stave off this type of musculoskeletal leg pain.
Arthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting nearly 70% of people over age 65 and thousands of younger people in the U.S., according to the Arthritis Foundation.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage in joints breaks down, causing inflammation and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system fights the body as if it were a foreign virus. Either type of arthritis may result in musculoskeletal leg pain. Common areas this discomfort affects are the hip, knee, ankle, and foot.
Arthritis in the hip can lead to trouble walking and pain in nearby areas, such as the thigh or knee. Pain in the foot or ankle is especially common in people with rheumatoid arthritis, with more than 90% of patients reporting musculoskeletal pain in those areas, according to the AAOS.
Widespread, musculoskeletal pain is fibromyalgia’s defining characteristic. Researchers aren’t sure how or why the condition develops, but it affects about 2% of the total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Women are at much higher risk of developing the disorder, with the CDC reporting a 7:1 ratio of women to men.
The disorder sometimes develops after a physical trauma, infection, surgery, or significant episode of stress. Other times, the onset seems random and cannot be attributed to any sort of physical or mental trigger. The condition is believed to run in families, and may have a genetic component.
Whatever the cause, fibromyalgia is believed to induce widespread musculoskeletal leg pain by interfering with the way the brain processes pain. Neurotransmitters that signal pain elevate to abnormally high levels. Meanwhile, receptors in the brain become more sensitive to pain signals, overreacting to the brain’s efforts to communicate distress.
Fibromyalgia’s musculoskeletal pain often manifests as a dull ache as opposed to a shooting or stabbing sensation. Fibromyalgia patients also experience pain above the waist. Other symptoms include:
Balanced nutrition is essential to maintain healthy body systems throughout our lives. Particularly, doctors recommend foods that maintain a good balance of potassium for healthy legs. Both high and low levels of potassium can be dangerous.
Also, the correct amount of calcium and magnesium can help prevent leg pain and degenerative conditions that affect the hips and knees, such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. However, always talk to your doctor or a nutritionist before changing your diet too drastically.
Many sports injuries such as strains and sprains can be prevented with the correct pre-game or workout stretching routine. Add some easy leg stretching routines before you exercise every day to prevent leg pain.
Stretching can not only help prevent injury but it can also help rehabilitate your legs after you’ve suffered from a sports injury. Standing quadriceps flexes, hips flexor stretches, and calf stretches can help before any exercise routine.
Another key to prevent leg pain is to keep your activity low impact. In fact, the aerobics craze of the 1980s actually led to permanent, lifelong injuries for some of the individuals who embraced the culture.
The good news is that low-impact exercise is easy to do and most of the time doesn’t require any additional accessories, except for the proper footwear. Walking is the easiest way to start a low-impact exercise routine. If you’ve not exercised much before, start slowly with an easy walk around your block and add time and distance as you begin to build more stamina and get more comfortable with the activity.
Most people don’t realize how dehydration can affect our systems. By the time you feel thirsty your body is already experiencing dehydration. Lack of hydration can lead to muscle cramps.
Individuals can forget to stay hydrated while engaging in physical activity. It may be easy to remember your water bottle when you’re hiking, but do you think about it when you’re working in your yard?
While frequent massages may seem self-indulgent they can really help keep your body balanced and restored. A massage greatly helps sore muscles, increases circulation, and makes you feel more relaxed.
A trained massage therapist can work with you to pay certain attention to parts of your legs where you may be experiencing minor discomfort. It can also be a great way to treat yourself once in a while.
This Eastern meditative practice has become very popular in the United States. Yoga can help you maintain mind and body balance. It’s also a great low-impact stretching workout for the muscles in your legs.
Poses such as chair, warrior pose, warrior II pose, and the standing forward bend are all great for leg strength. As a bonus, you can also use yoga poses for your pre-exercise stretching routine.
Does a daily walk around your neighborhood sound boring and repetitive to you? Hiking can be a great way to add more scenic walking to your routine.
Depending on where you live, you can hike in river valleys, mountains, or the woods. You could even join a hiking group to make it a more social activity. Always remember to stay safe on the trail, bring plenty of water, and wear appropriate hiking boots that fit well.
Another low-impact activity that can help prevent leg pain and provide a little more excitement than a regular walk is golf.
By skipping the motorized golf cart you get your walking exercise in as you go from hole to hole and the correct swing technique also stretches the muscles in your legs. Like hiking, golf is also a great group activity.
Your doctor can help you with any questions you have about your body. While we often turn to them only after there is a concern or a problem, doctors really do have a desire to proactively help prevent injuries and illnesses in their patients. If you want to know more about ways to prevent leg pain in your life, your doctor is a great resource.
Stress is a complex, natural response to a perceived dangerous threat. When we feel stress, our bodies release extra adrenaline and cortisol, giving us the temporary ability to move faster, to think more quickly, and to react instinctively. When the threat goes away, our bodies return to a neutral state. This response is healthy and helpful. Chronic stress, on the other hand, can lead to huge changes in the body, including higher levels of pain. Here’s what you should know about the impact of stress.
Cortisol is an important hormone in our bodies; it helps control immune function, is an important part of our body’s inflammatory response, and helps control blood sugar. Cortisol levels are normally highest during the day, with a regular drop at night. When we are under chronic stress, however, that drop does not occur. Our bodies continue to pump out cortisol.
At the end of a long, stressful day, we feel it in our bodies. Our necks ache, maybe our lower back hurts. This could be a direct result of holding our muscles tense for a long period of time and usually goes away once we are able to relax or once the stressful event has ended. But did you know that that stress can impact pain levels for chronic pain sufferers?
Stress makes chronic pain more intense for longer periods of time, continuing long after the stressful event has ended.
Chronic pain is long-term pain that requires management and monitoring. Acute pain is pain (often from an injury or muscle strain) that lasts for three months or more. Chronic pain, on the other hand, lasts for more than three months and is difficult to treat. Stress can exacerbate the symptoms of chronic pain throughout the body.
Some studies have shown that a continued release of cortisol can result in higher vulnerability to chronic pain, even if the pain was acute to begin with. This means that a person who has an acute pain episode, as from an injury, is more susceptible to longer healing times and/or chronic pain from that injury.
All of these symptoms of stress impact the body’s ability to deal with the symptoms of chronic pain. For example, anxious people tend to hold their breath. This limits the amount of oxygen available to the muscles of the body, causing them to contract. If the contraction is anywhere that the pain is centered, the sensation intensifies, causing more anxiety, more pain, and so on.
What happens when stress becomes a way of life? What impact does chronic stress have on the mind? Chronic stress can manifest itself in different ways and can be caused by many different things. A stressful job, worries about finances, chronic illness, death of a loved one, or trouble at home: these are just a few of the factors that can lead to chronic stress.
Those who are suffering from chronic stress may respond differently than normal. They may be agitated and angry, with a quick temper: the “fight” aspect of a reaction to stress. Normally small problems, such as slow traffic or a loud child, may cause them to overreact.
This hair-trigger angry response can cause serious health issues. There is a connection between anger and stress and increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even hours after the angry outburst. After an angry outburst, people may be five times more likely to have a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke as long as three hours afterwards. This result held true even if the anger was not expressed, and the more angry episodes, the higher the risk.
Instead of being agitated and angry, some people respond to chronic stress by shutting down, becoming nervous or anxious, or overindulging in food, drink, or drugs. These responses are more of the “flight” aspect of stress. The chronically stressed person pulls away from whatever the stress is and becomes withdrawn. In the face of chronic stress, others might freeze up, unable to make a decision or move in any direction. The person responding in this manner might seem calm, but underneath remains very anxious and agitated.
The effects of long-term stress on the healthy body are well-documented, so it stands to reason that one of the effects of stress on a person suffering from chronic pain is more pain.
Beyond this, chronic stress can cause serious, long-term health issues that can only be dealt with successfully once the underlying cause of the stress is examined and addressed.
The best way to counteract this is to reduce stress levels as much as possible. Eliminating stress or developing effective coping strategies result in positive changes to a person’s health and well-being.
