Cavey Barrett Blog

Five Tips to Winning Your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia Social Security Benefit Claim | Tampa Bay Social Security Disability Lawyer

Sharon Barrett, Social Security Disability attorney, knows how difficult it can be for someone who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia to win a Social Security Disability case.

There are five tips to winning a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia denied Social Security Disability case:

1. Being treated by a specialist in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Administrative Law Judges and the Social Security Administration are skeptical of claims that are based on a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia made by physicians who don't specialize in the disease. At Cavey and Barrett, we find greater success in cases where our clients have been treating with a rheumatologist. If you aren't treating with a rheumatologist or a specialist in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, contact your local support group for a referral.

2. Elimination of other disease processes through testing.
There is no gold standard test for the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Therefore, Sharon Barrett, Social Security Disability denied attorney likes to see medical tests performed that rule out other conditions. These tests will include blood work or other disease processes, physical examination that is consistent with chronic fatigue syndrome and complaints that are consistent with the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

3. Have you gotten the proper treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia?
Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are a diagnosis in part, of exclusion. There are many forms of treatment recommended including physical therapy, narcotic pain medication, and biofeedback. We want to be able to show the administrative law judge that you have tried the treatment recommended by your physician, your response to that treatment and your attempts to find relief from your symptoms.

4. Treatment or evaluation by a therapist or a psychiatrist.
Some administrative law judge's frown upon chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia because they question whether the diagnosis exists and sometimes will deny claims on basis that you suffer from a "mental disorder." While nothing is further from the truth, it is not uncommon that chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia suffers have depression or anxiety. I like to have a therapist or a psychiatrist address these diagnosis, the role in your disease and that you have sought treatment for those conditions yet still suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

5. Corroborating evidence of your symptoms.
Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia sufferers often walk around like zombies in a fog, we like to have corroborating statements regarding fatigue and other symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

If you are planning to file a claim for Social Security Disability benefits and you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia or your Social Security Disability claim has been denied, contact Social Security Disability attorney Sharon Barrett who specializes in helping people who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

Cavey and Barrett represent Social Security disability applicants in their initial social security disability claim, Request for Reconsdieration and at Hearings in front of the Social Security Administrative Law Judge. If you live in  Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk and Hillsbourogh Counties or St. Petersburg, Kennth City, St. Pete Beach, Safety Harbor, South St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson. Brooksville, Tampa, South Tampa, Brandon, Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Sun City, Ruskin, Oldsmar, or Valrico contact us. Nancy Cavey and Sharon Barrett, Tampa Bay Social Security lawyers, have written a free no-obligation book "Your Rights to Social Security Disability." This book which usually retails on Amazon.com for 14.99 is offered FREE OF CHARGE!