I had to apply for SSDI due to FMS and CFS. I had a long history of severe depression and anxiety disorders. So when I finally could not hold a full time job or a consistent part time job, I had to apply. They did not even consider the pain part of my claim. They focused only on the mental portion of it. So I was approved for mental disability.

What I learned in my Nolo's Book for Social Security Disability is that if one has a chronic pain problem that is not listed on their schedule of impairments (is FMS by now? ) then they can't approve you for it. But, if you have a chronic pain condition and you are in constant treatment for it as it is an ongoing problem, they have to consider it - or should consider it.

Did you have a lawyer?

My advice is to keep your claim active, do what you can with work and keep getting treatment. If it is shown you cannot hold on to or keep pace at a regular full-time job, they will either help you with services to find the right job or consider you disabled. But unfortunately, you will have to a hearing at this point, which could be beneficial to you whichever way it goes.

If they won't approve you, then ask to be referred to voc rehab services. I am going myself because I don't like being disabled and struggling at a part-time job from home that doesn't exactly make the best use of my real abilities.

Yoga has been helping me greatly but I still have big energy crashes and my mental disabilities have gotten worse over time so if I am not hit with pain and fatigue, I'm hit with periods of profound mental depression. But I'm working at getting as well as possible.

I need to be able to make more money in life and on SSDI, I am only able to make so much extra and it's not enough. I want a career again.

Good luck to you! Keep going for treatment and if you develop depression or already have, go get treated for that as well.

Redfern1966,thank you for your response ,they added fibro as one of the impairments this yr. I have not worked in a yr. due to pain ,fatigue,brain fog. I would love to work but none of these are anywhere near being "under control"! I am using Allsup to represent me,I've heard they are very good!

Hey that's interesting that they added FMS finally. Very interesting. Then I think you should get it when they go to bat for you at the ALJ hearing. Make sure that Allsup sends you with someone who has experience dealing with FMS cases. Good luck to you!

If you are on meds that make you tired or add to your fatigue, be sure to mention that as a contributing factor.

One more thing - my symptoms are more or less more under control as long as I don't overdue things. I found that when I kept trying to work, I required more pain medication and then that aggravated my mood disorder and I wasn't able to keep at it.

I simply cannot keep the same pace as everyone else I know. I thought I was doing okay for a few days but then suddenly I had a fatigue crash and ended up on the couch for three days. For what it's worth, my brain just shuts down at times and I am sure the FMS and the meds have something to do with that.