Is Fibromyalgia A Disability?

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects the muscle tissue, tendons, and ligaments throughout the body, causing chronic pain and fatigue. Often its onset is triggered by a single traumatic physical or emotional event, such as a bad car accident or the death of a loved one. Yet, fibromyalgia can occur in those who have no discernable trigger event, and the chance of developing this disease increases with age.

Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain throughout the body, especially at certain “tender points” located at the shoulders, neck, chest, outer elbows, hips, and inner knees. Most people with fibromyalgia relate their pain to having a very bad flu in terms of body aches, (with the exception that the pain never goes away). Actual descriptions of the pain itself run the gamut—it has been described as burning, throbbing, stabbing, aching, etc.

To make matters worse, those with fibromyalgia are likely to be stricken with other painful disorders that affect the muscles and joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ), irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome and endometriosis.

Fibromyalgia is also associated with disturbed sleep patterns. Restless Leg Syndrome, sleep apnea, jerking legs, and other sleep disorders frequently accompany FMS, and it has been strongly linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Many researchers in the medical community believe CFS and fibromyalgia syndrome are just different names for the same illness. Lack of sleep makes it very difficult for fibromyalgia patients to concentrate on routine cognitive tasks. In fact, there is a special term for the concentration difficulties experienced by those with FMS, called “fibro fog.”

Fibromyalgia affects more women than men, and for a long time it was thought that this disorder may be psychosomatic. However, thanks to technological advancements, researchers have discovered that the pain centers in fibromyalgia patients’ brains are lit up like a Christmas tree when compared to those that do not have the disorder. In addition, studies of fibro patients’ muscle tissue has revealed that their tissue contains increased levels of toxins, while blood flow (and thus delivery of nutrients) to the muscles is for some reason decreased.

Fibromyalgia is real, and for some the reality of living with it each day makes it difficult if not impossible for them to work, socialize, or even properly care for themselves.