In a recent post on the importance of claimant credibility, I made a point that your ability to effectively describe your physical pain at the hearing may play a role in helping you win your case. Since physical pain is common to many disability cases, I want to elaborate on this point. Not only should you be able to effectively describe your pain at the hearing, but also throughout the claims process and during doctor's visits as well.
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Filed under Fibromyalgia and disability, Strategies for winning by 
Yesterday, I met with a fibromyalgia disability client in a pre-hearing session. A hearing is scheduled in my client's case in about 10 days and I met with my client and her husband to discuss what I call the "theory of our case" so my client would have a clear idea about what we were trying to prove. In addition I use the pre-hearing meeting to practice questions and answers so that my client can avoid easily correctable mistakes.
More on Is it Possible to Get an Early Favorable Decision in a Fibromyalgia Case?
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I have more than one disability, should I focus just one or provide info on all to help my case? Fibromyalgia, heart problems, sleep apnea and extreme fatigue, and bi-polar depression.
–Darlene
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Despite a general acceptance in the medical literature that fibromyalgia is a real illness that can be disabling, there are still judges out there who refuse to accept that this chronic pain condition exists. There are no "objective" tests that can be run for fibromyalgia – its existence can be inferred by symptoms such as generalized body pain, tender points, poor sleep, fatigue, digestive issues, balance problems, anxiety and depression.
More on Fibromyalgia Argument Accepted by Court of Appeals After 10 Years of Appeals
Filed under Fibromyalgia and disability, Strategies for winning by
I have been suffering from Hypertension, muliple pain syndromes (Fibromyalgia, Multi-Lateral Cervical Stenosis, Degenerative Disk Disease, Femoral and Ulnar neuropathies, Migraines, Sciatica, Bursitus, Osteoarthritis) and Clinical (including SAD) Depression. I went through to a Depression Group and saw a Psychotherapist AND a 9-week Chronic Pain Management Course through my HMO last year. I've been on LOADS of drugs, 5 Steroid Epidural injections/year and had so many bad drug reactions I went off a large number of them. Over the past 3 months I have suffered 7 deaths of folks close to me and the Depression, which I thought might have lifted came roaring back. I'm hypersensitive to all these drugs, which make me worse, so 3 mos. ago decided to try Osteopathy and Homeopathy. It's helped, but the Depression/Anxiety got so bad I decided to return to Prozac. The Osteopath can't treat me on that drug so I stopped and am trying a homeopathic treatment. QUESTION: I still take pharmacueticals for many things (pain, sleep, Hypertension, etc.), but am taking LOTS of homeopathic remedies now. Will the SSD Administration honor my Doctor of Osteopathy's report on my Depression and Pain syndromes? I am resuming traditional Psychotherapy and Group concurrently. I don't want to give up this last hope to feel better, but need the finanancial assistance offered folks like me. Thanks so much!
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