Does anyone have any knowledge on anyone being pensioned out of their job on ill health due to Fibromyalgia?

[Rach1977]

Or does anyone have any knowledge on caselaw relating to this?

[LindseyMid]

It can be a tricky one.

I have heard of some people being told that they shouldn't get this because Fibro can be brought under control. I have also known people who were successful in bringing these cases and rightly so.

I think cases need to be looked at individually (as with any condition or injury) and ideally with the support of a consultant experienced in Fibro. The prognosis of anyone who has Fibro as well as another tricky chronic condition is not as good as someone who has everything under control except their Fibro, for example. And if someone with Fibro has been under the treatment of a specialist for some time and is still unable to work, that is unlikely to change dramatically anytime soon.

If someone with Fibro has not been able to access specialist help and the treatments they require, it is very hard to predict their likely prognosis with treatment. I have known of a case where an expert witness fought to get the insurance company in question (this was insurance rather than pension) to pay for private treatment before a decision was made.

[Rach1977]

Thanks Lynn and Lindsay....

Lynn you are aware of my employers and case and cannot name them on here, however appreciate everything you have to offer.

Lindsay I also have awful whiplash to my cervical and thoracic spine, the whiplash gives me occipital neuralgia which is caused from mechanical problems, however it is not known how much the FMS also effects it!!!

I have tried to work with the whiplash and the chronic pain which I cannot keep under control even with steroid injections, nerve blocks and loads of different meds. There is no way I can work with the Fibro, I can hardly cope on a daily basis as it is!! The flare ups are more common that the flare downs!!!! I have done the CBT tosh they suggest, been to pain clinic, read lots of the books and suggestions on websites for management and I have to say I have done it all!!! Even doing a meditation course at the moment!!

Of course every person has to be assessed individually and some people are not as bad as others. I however feel there is a massive unrecognition of chronic pain sufferers and if we look ok we must be ok. There needs to be a lot of education and considering whilst a mecical student undertakes their training they cover chronic pain for such a small amount of hours compared to acute pain. I appreciate acute pain is more common in general medicine with doctors.....but people like us are massively disadvantaged!!

[Nic72 in reply to Rach1977]

Hi, I am really sorry as I know you last posted a long time ago but from your post I assumed that you are in the same job as me and I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I was on sick leave for 10-11 months but I have been back in work for a little over a year but only 3 days a week and have got no further than 4 hrs a day on rehabilitation hours before having to be reduced back down to 2 hours per day. I have completed all occupational health recommendations and hospital chronic pain courses.

I wondered how you had got on with any application for ill health retirement? And if you could share any of your experiences of the system?

Thanks

[LindseyMid]

One of the campaigning organisations FibroAction is a member of is the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition, which is campaigning for proper recognition, education about and treatment for chronic pain. I was really shocked when we started up FibroAction to find that many medical students do not actually cover chronic pain management in their education!

[Rach1977]

It's scary isn't it.....I phoned them a little while ago and asked if my employer had signed up with them...however surprisingly not.

The medical students education seems very strange. My cousin is one and she said she spent months with the psychology dept and couldn't quite understand why as it wasn't that beneficial for her!!!! x

[Marky]

I successfully got early ill-health retirement and company pension. I fought hard for this and manage to win a tribunal decision.

The closer you are to retirement, the better the chance you have of winning, as Fibro can come and go. I had the help of a trade union member. Fibro is recognised by the the NHS and is estimated to effect over 2million in UK alone.

Brian Barr Solicitor is a good source of help, they specialise in chronic illness claims.

[Rach1977]

Hi marky.....

Do you fancy having a chat one day about it....I need other peoples perspectives and experiences in order to help my case. I am fighting against a governement organisation and all I keep doing is jump over hurdles set by them and get nowhere fast. After being accused the pain is in my head and I have nothing wrong with me.....and those comments were from top bosses and also my employment dr I just wanna hit my head against a brick wall to make a visible injury to make them listen!!!

Congrats for getting pensioned out, I am 13 years into my 30 year career!!!

Rach x

[Sarah-Jane]

I was having migraines regularly meaning a day off work once a month. Told them I thought it was connected to PMT. They sent me to the occupational health specialist who mentioned 'would I be interested in taking medical retirement' I think she said. I said no as this was only one day a month and I was trying to deal with it. She was still looking after me when first arthritus then the possibility of FM happened and I had 6 months off.

My feeling is [I'm now 50] that if I take a lump sum, what then? Who will employ me and how will I survive? Husband on too high a level to count but too low a level for us to pay the mortgage etc.

I felt I caught work out by getting Access to Work on side before I could return and they have been very helpful ever since. I was left wondering what would have happened without Access to Work though as I would not be at work without them!

I am only a little peg and feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to fight for my rights. But if I have to I guess I will, even though it will probably make me worse.