Day: July 21, 2014

Fibromyalgia or “fibromyalgia syndrome” as it is generally termed is a condition that can cause significant pain and disability. Despite the fact that it has been recognized as a legitimate health disorder by various medical groups including the American College of Rheumatology, both the medical community in general and the Adjudicators/Administrative Law Judges in the Social Security Administration often discount both the diagnosis and its symptoms.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known and it is generally thought to be a combination of multiple factors. The most commonly recognized test for “fibromyalgia” involves finding  “trigger points” at various locations on the human body that are sensitive to touch, are painful or both.

It is generally felt that the cause of fibromyalgia may be a combination of both physical and mental factors. Likewise it is far more prevalent in females than males. A further complication ensues since many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to other diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and a host of connective tissue disorders.

When we deal with clients who have a disability claim based primarily on “fibromyalgia”, we recognize at the outset that it may be viewed with hostility as the claim is evaluated by the medical and legal professionals. Because of that, we often urge our clients to have comprehensive tests to make sure that their problems do not, in fact, emanate from a much more serious condition. Over the years we have found that a large number of people that were originally diagnosed with fibromyalgia also suffered from other disorders in addition to the fibromyalgia. The disorders that show up most frequently after testing for fibromyalgia and other conditions are, not too surprisingly, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritic changes which cause similar pain complaints. In order to get a proper diagnosis our clients are urged to follow up with neurologists and rheumatologists to ensure that they get the proper clinical workup.

Since the advent of “Obama Care” otherwise known as the “Affordable Care Act”, adequate testing and evaluations are now available to the majority of the American public.

The Social Security Administration has published specific guidelines for the evaluation and diagnosis of fibromyalgia which we have transcribed and entered into a format to be used by medical professionals conforming to the Social Security Administration in a form that is acceptable under the guidelines.

You will find below some links that might assist you in some of your questions concerning fibromyalgia.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/basics/definition/con-20019243

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/default.htm

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia_ff.asp

http://www.fmaware.org/about-fm.html

Diabetes mellitus or just “diabetes” is a condition which plagues hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The two most common forms of diabetes are “juvenile diabetes” and “adult onset diabetes.”  Many times juvenile diabetes is characterized as being “Type I” while adult onset diabetes is called “Type II.”

Juvenile diabetes, as the name suggests, usually strikes younger individuals and occurs suddenly with most of the victims being children. Type II diabetes is developmental and makes up the vast majority of diabetic cases. Diabetics often have elevated blood sugars but low blood sugar events, normally referred to as hypoglycemic attacks, can also occur.

Diabetes can affect multiple body systems and cause long-term complications.

Signs of diabetes can include blurred vision, prolonged healing, headache, fatigue, bowel disorders, numbness or pain and a host of other symptoms. It is easier to regulate or treat type II diabetes as it is more responsive to exercise, diet and medications than type I.

Diabetes that is progressive or untreated can result in diabetic ketoacidosis or even coma with long-term complications including diabetic retinopathy affecting the eyes, peripheral neuropathy in the arms and legs, kidney failure and a host of other problems.

For a disability attorney to adequately represent a client whose claim is based in whole or in part on diabetes, it is not sufficient simply to show that the disease exists in the claimant. Most Judges or Adjudicators expect to see documentation as to the effects of the disease in order to determine whether it would be disabling or not. Obviously many people have diabetes and go on to lead productive lives.

If the diagnosis of “diabetes” is a significant factor in one or more body system it becomes necessary to illustrate, from a medical point of view, what systems are affected, the degree to which that system is affected and the practical results of the limitations.

The two best ways to illustrate blood sugar problems are either to produce accurate records showing the actual blood sugar readings over time and/or the A1C levels dealing with average blood sugars over time. Additionally, it is helpful to get detailed reports from multiple physicians who are familiar with the claimant to assess the effect of the illness on a person’s day-to-day functioning.

You find below some links to some very helpful websites that may assist you with specific questions you have concerning diabetes.

http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_mellitus/article.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/default.htm

http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine_and_metabolic_disorders/diabetes_mellitus_and_disorders_of_carbohydrate_metabolism/diabetes_mellitus_dm.html?qt=diabetes&alt=sh

http://www.joslin.org/?gclid=CPmxuIKk178CFQszaQodQbcA_Q