P.J. - Getting disability is no easy task. You need to have a frank discussion with your doctors to be sure that they will back you up. You can't work while being considered. That will pretty much get your application denied. And, chances are that you will be denied at least once during the process.

Depending on what state you are in the wait time is a minimum of a year and usually longer.

I used a company called Allsup. You can find them online. They specialize in SSDI claims. I had a very good experience with them. And, I know other people who used them.

I've been disabled for almost 9 years. It was a really tough decision. Good luck.

Can i ask which country your from?

It is really hard to get disability with fibro, I have tried many times. Every time I filed for it they told me my age was a factor, my degree, and my work history. If you do file for disability you will have to quit working for at least 6 months, that is what they told me, and you need really good doctors that will back you up. It is also a good idea to have some sort of legal representation, or groups that specialize in helping people with disabilities. There are still a lot of people that work with SSDI that don't know how to deal with fibro, and with not knowing much about the debilitating pain that comes with fibro they don't know how to judge those seeking SSDI. Just make sure you have all the help you can get before you file.

I forgot to say that you are better off to file for SSDI using other underlying conditions such as depression (must be well documented by medical records), panic attacks or other underlying health conditions and then Fibromyalgia. Getting SSDI for Fibromyalgia even though it is a condition that is recognized by the Social Security Admin is very difficult.

To 4everyoung-to the dental hygienist-I too, was a dental hygienist for 35 years! After several accidents, and injuries starting in 2010, and fibro since 1993 in my right(working) shoulder and upper back-I just couldn't do the physicality of the dental hygiene work anymore. I was 57 at the time, I went to see a lawyer in town who specialized in disability-she said I had a case, and it took only 5 months to go through. I feel for you, dental hygiene work is physical, and fast-paced and stressful! I don't even think the doctors realize what it is we do for a living. I suggest you gather up your information-diagnoses, medications, physicians names, addresses, and phones, limitations, etc. etc., and put together a "case" for yourself. I don't know how old you are, or if you have worked a long-time, but these are considerations for disability too. Good luck to you. Fibrohyg

Fibrohyg, your post sounds very much like myself. I am 57 yrs old - have been a hygienist for 35 years !!!!!! I have struggled through neck, back, hand, etc issues through the years. I loved my career - have been at the same office for 27 yrs. The ownership changed about 6 years ago and it is getting progressively more taxing due to no help from assistants and more of a clinic type of setting. I think that my fibro, anxiety and depression are caused by the extensive stress !! It's becoming a stress/anxiety/depression loop !!! I feel that my work is now very detrimental to my health. I so appreciate your understanding. If I may ask, did you seek help from a disability expert and more importantly, what state do you live in ?
Any and all information from someone who has walked in my shoes is soooo welcome. Best to you and I hope you're getting to enjoy your life more now.

To 4everyoung1-wow! We do sound so alike in our issues. I loved my job, and working with the patients too. I was career-minded, work-oriented, and with the same office for 20 years. I was also the office manager the last 2.5 years of the career. I fainted in my kitchen in 12-15 from a blood pressure emergency, and broke 9 bones in my spine, and c7 in my neck(osteoporosis too). That is why I had to leave my job. I saw a disability lawyer in my town. I am in Ohio. I think the fact that I was so injured in the fall, with my other diagnoses, that helped my case. If you are 55 or over, the case gets preferential treatment. It is more likely to go through, and with psych diagnoses and good medical records too. I wouldn't say that I "enjoy" my life now-my husband and my friends still work-I am often lonely. I am working on joining things that I can do-church choir, other activities there. Take care for now. Fibrohyg.

Fibrohyg, thank you so much for your post !! How sad that this condition has robbed us of a career we loved and am sure you excelled at caring for your patients.

I'm hoping and praying that I will be able to continue working !!

I don't want to go on disability but it is just getting so much harder.

Today we are off for an extra day of Christmas vacation - it is cold here and my legs and arms are weak and spasming with pain. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Blessings to you and again thank you !! PJ

get good Medical Notes that is the best way & good notes from you & good descriptions about how it has affected your life..

4everyoung1-Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. I also have another friend here in my town who is 55 and a long-term dental hygienist. She has also struggled the last few years. She has recently cut back to 2 days a week to see if that will be better on her body. I remember those 10 hour days-7:30 am-5:30-6:00 pm. You were just "spent" when you got home. I tried to work many years through the fibro pain too-then used a tens unit for 7 of the last years of my career. I should have bought stock in advil too! Again, thanks for writing back, and good luck, and better health for 2018 to you! Fibrohyg