How Are Fibromyositis and Fibrositis Different From Fibromyalgia?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) awards disability benefits to people who have a medically determinable impairment that keeps them from working full-time for at least twelve months. Some of the most common impairments identified by the SSA as potentially disabling involve disorders of the musculoskeletal system—meaning your bones, muscles, and joints—including conditions that may have been diagnosed as fibromyositis or fibrositis.

What's the Medical Definition of Fibromyositis? Is It a Different Definition Than Fibrositis?

Fibromyositis (fye-broh-mye-oh-SIGH-tiss) and fibrositis (fye-bro-SIGH-tiss) are both medical terms that come from Latin and Greek words meaning "muscle disease." "Fibro-" in this context refers to tissue fibers that make up your muscles—the "myo" in fibromyositis—while "-itis" is a suffix that indicates an inflammatory disease. So the literal definition of both fibrositis and fibromyositis is "inflammation of muscle tissue."

Are Fibrositis and Fibromyositis the Same as Fibromyalgia?

Yes, both fibrositis and fibromyositis are former names for fibromyalgia. Historically, fibrositis and fibromyositis were used interchangeably to diagnose chronic muscle pain that was previously believed to be the result of inflammation (hence the naming construction). But doctors now think that the disorder may be a result of abnormal pain processing areas of the brain, making it a neurological condition rather than an inflammatory one. This newer understanding is reflected in the name fibromyalgia, which uses the suffix "-algia" to denote pain instead of inflammation.

Can I Get Disability If I Have a Diagnosis of Fibromyositis or Fibrositis Instead of Fibromyalgia?

Yes. Social Security is less interested in your specific diagnosis than it is in how your functional limitations prevent you from working. For example, if you're unable to lift more than 10 pounds or stand for longer than two hours total in a typical eight-hour workday, the agency won't expect you to do jobs where you'd have to be on your feet most of the time or lift heavy objects. And if you can't do even simple, sit-down work on a regular basis, the SSA will find that you're unable to sustain competitive employment and will award you disability benefits.

Social Security reviews your medical records and your self-reported activities of daily living for evidence of limitations that can keep you from performing certain job tasks. Because the disorder formerly known as fibromyositis or fibrositis hasn't typically been well understood by the SSA, there has been a sense among many disability lawyers that fibromyalgia claims are difficult to win. However, in response to a growing medical consensus about the diagnostic criteria for the disorder, Social Security issued a policy interpretation ruling (SSR 12-2p) that provides guidance to claims examiners and disability judges about how to evaluate cases involving fibromyalgia symptoms.

You'll have the best chance of getting your disability claim approved if you've seen a doctor, preferably a rheumatologist, on a regular basis. Make sure you tell your doctor about all of your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine so that the doctor can include them in your clinical notes. Your notes should also contain the results of any physical examinations you've had during your doctor visits, particularly findings of any "trigger" points. Trigger (or "tender") points are different spots on your body that cause pain when pressed. Having 11 out of 18 "positive trigger points" highly correlates to a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Consider asking your treating doctor to write a medical source statement describing what your symptoms are, how they limit your functioning, and why they keep you from working. The SSA values opinions from medical providers who've seen you regularly and can shed light on your conditions. A supportive doctor's note can help the agency properly assess your residual functional capacity and increase the likelihood that your claim will be approved. You can find more information about how to successfully win your disability claim—including an example of a helpful doctor's letter—in our article on getting Social Security benefits for fibromyalgia.

How Can I Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?

An easy way to file for disability benefits is by using Social Security's online web portal. You can also file a claim over the phone by calling the national disability hotline at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0078) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you'd prefer to apply in person, you can make an appointment at your nearest Social Security field office.

Once you've submitted your application, the agency will review your claim to see if you meet the financial eligibility requirements for either of the two disability programs administered by Social Security (SSDI or SSI). SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance and is available to people who've earned enough work credits to become "fully insured." SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income and is available to people who have limited resources, regardless of employment history. You must meet the eligibility criteria of at least one program in order to receive disability payments.

What If I Don't Qualify for Benefits?

Keep in mind that most disability claims aren't approved on the first try ("initial determination"). There are several reasons why your disability application may be denied. You might not have worked long enough to qualify for SSDI or have too many assets to be eligible for SSI. Many people are denied because they don't have enough medical evidence to prove that they have a severe impairment or that their limitations prevent them from doing their past relevant work.

There isn't much you can do if you don't meet the preliminary legal requirements for receiving Social Security benefits, but the agency can make mistakes when determining technical eligibility, so you should double-check with an agency representative. However, if you were denied because Social Security thought you could return to your past work or have transferable skills that you could use in other jobs, you may want to consider consulting an experienced disability lawyer to get a sense of how strong a possible appeal would be.