For me, what I think helped me to work a stressful social service job for over 20 years is getting regular body work of massage, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. These helped to deal with the over tight muscles that would create spasms and then pull my body out of alignment so I was torquning other body parts to compensate. Additionally it helped to work a 4 -10 schedule. The 10 hour days were grueling but I had 1 day to fully veg out to recuperate and 2 days to do the tasks I really needed to get done so I had rest time in between.

If you are having difficulty with SSDI or SSD, you need to complete a functional assessment questionnaire and go over it with your doctor. Johnson KL reminded me that one the best sources for this assessment is in the book "Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascia Pain : A Survival Manual by Devin Starlanyl and Mary Ellen Copeland (both wh have fibro). It also gives helpful hints for applying for Social Security.

For those who have not yet needed to apply for Social Security, FMLA, or short term disability, you need to make sure that your medical record links the co-existing conditions (reflux, migraines, IBS, fatigue, anxiety, etc) to the fibro. If they seen as individual conditions and fibromyalgia is not mentioned, your medical record review for of the benefit programs will not be able to see that your health is negatively impacted. Also be sure the doctor documents your pain level and the physical tasks that are difficult or impossible to do. Every 6 months review a functional assessment questionnaire with your doctor.

I've been out of work just about a year now. I was being treated for Lymes n fibro n got fired cause I was so sick. I won unemployment of course but I was trying my hardest to work n just couldn't do it well or not at all. I'm filling for disability now n I'm scared there going to tell me to go work. I can't keep up with house work let alone work too

I understand believe me my kids help me out they practically take care of me some days I'm so sick I think I'm dying this disease robs you of everything

I keep working full time on medication. Gabapentin and amitriplyline keep my pain tolerable enough for me to keep going. There are some days where I can't ignore the pain, like right now as I have a flare. Those days I just really want to call out of work and sleep or rest. It's not easy but I keep going with what I can until I can't anymore. I suppose some of us got dealt a worse hand of pain and others got a better one. There is really no explaining a disorder they have no answers for.

I worked for years...I'd stand there working and the tears would be rolling down my face. I said must be allergies! I had no control of the tears. I didn't even know it was happening.
Pain was crazy! I took SO much pain medications to be able to work.
4 methadone 10mg@ 30mg percocet every 4-6 hours
Soma and more...I was taking 27 different pills daily and each pill several times a day.

I miss working still, and SSI is 733.00 a month which is extreme poverty.

Work as long as you can, only you know when you can't do it anymore💕