disability

[Painspains]

hi I just wondered is fibro classed as a disability??

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

it is not simple to answer. Actually it is maybe better to ask what do you mean by disability as it is a different thing in terms of employment or benefits. There are few diagnoses of any conditions that result in the person being instantly classed as disabled. Full blindness for example but partial sight may not. Disability is more based on what you are able to do rather than what causes you the limits on those abilities.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to desquinn]

You seem to be the minority in your answer.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

With helping to organise how the charity provides benefits advice, our helplines and taking advice from others on how the equality act applies to various aspects of life within the UK I am comfortable with the advice that I am giving.

The way disability is viewed and treated within the UK is a complicated subject. There are many people with fibro and other conditions that are diagnosed and ill with the condition but would not be seen as or consider themselves as disabled. A diagnostic label does not confer tag of being disabled automatically except in a handful of conditions like blindness or AIDS. That's how the ACT is written. However, if you condition is affects you in a serious way and over a long term period then it would class you as disabled.

Whenever, this question comes up it is really important to ask what is the questioner actually asking about. Rather than is fibro a disability it often translates to:

Can I get my employer to make reasonable adjustments? Most likely Yes.

or

Can I get benefits from the DWP? Possibly depending on what you are able to do in line with their descriptors and as prepared to fight for it.

Hope that helps.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to desquinn]

I’m fully aware of the Disability act 2010 and as I said previously, if you have underlining issues should has osteoporosis, arthritis and you have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia then this would be classed as a disability

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

It's the equality act 2010 that superceded the DDA although some provisions of that still apply in NI.

I am not saying fibro will not leave you disabled. If you look at my replies you will see I mention this is a very complex issue.

I am also not saying fibro cannot be life destroying, career stealing but if you are just diagnosed with fibro you should not consider your self disabled. Also there are plenty of people diagnosed with fibro that have less severe symptoms that will not meet the designation of being disabled.

There are so many with fibro that are disabled, have severe symptoms and do not get PIP when they disserve it but it does not one any good to think that upon your diagnosis at day 1 you are now disabled and classed as disabled.

[Hidden]

I personally don’t consider myself as disabled having fibromyalgia but that’s just my personal view.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Hidden]

I think if you have underlining issue, and fibromyalgia it very much is a disability. Especially if you suffering with nerve pain everyday

[LupieMani]

Hi. No, it's not. However, some of its effects can cause you to be considered disabled. I am constantly fatigued and have severe pain in my hands and feet, which makes work inpossible. I am disabled as a result but other people may not be, like Winkwink said.

[Dinkie]

Umm for me it depends on whether you mean in regard to law or in regard to general living. I've always looked on the positive side, take the "t" off can't and you have can, remove the "dis" from disability and you have "ability". I have reasonable adjustments in place at work - does that make me disabled or more able to carry out my job. I have a blue badge - does that make me disabled or more able to get out and about. I would say it is down to the individual's perception.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Dinkie]

Well said.

[Dinkie in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

😁. PMA. - positive mental attitude works wonders. Never say why me always say why not me!

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Dinkie]

It very hard to have PMA especially. When your in pain and walking the house all hours in the morning.

[Dinkie in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

I know it's not easy. I've had fibro since 1987 and am lucky if I get 3-4 hours sleep a night and I can't tolerate any prescription meds. As many of the community on here know I use alot of humour and positive/distraction techniques. Many of my poser questions posted are designed to get the grey matter thinking. Previous questions include how do flies land on the ceiling? do they fly upside down, land on something nearby and walk? or why do shoe repair shops also offer key cutting? why don't you see baby pigeons? do penguins have knees? Whilst thinking about these sorts of questions the pain takes a back seat.☺️

[Fibrogirl2]

Hi pains 😊If your really suffering and its affecting your life and your daily routine then yes. It's great that others are fine with fibro. But if your not then look into it. How others cope might not mean your coping. I have my terrible days and better one's. But Im in pain everyday. I try and cope but I know it's OK to be kind to myself and rest, and I listern to my body and my mind. Nobody else's. Advice is great on here but your going through your own journey. What's good for the gander might not be good for the goose is what my nan used to say. Xx

Take care and look after yourself 😊

[Mum37- in reply to Fibrogirl2]

I totally agree with you. I am 37 and had fibromyalgia for 9 years. I am in constant pain every single day, and even on good days I am in pain. I have fatigue, nausea, I am on a cocktail of medication. I need a stick to walk. It’s draining! Because of this I also suffer with mental health problems. So just because we are diagnosed with the same condition, we all have it in very different ways. Take care and be kind to your body and mind xxxx

[PrincessNoo]

Morning. Yes fibromyalgia is covered under the Disability Discrimination Act, which is good for getting help at work, but not much else.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to PrincessNoo]

It is now the Equality Act 2010 (DDA does still apply in NI in limited provisions) and fibro is mentioned in page 8 of the EAs guidance notes. But this question is asked as a yes / no and its not that easy unfortunately.

[Mrdiagnosis]

Fibromyalgia is a real and disabling condition, and not just something that is “all in the mind”. Fortunately the days are long gone when GPs told patients that there was no such thing as fibromyalgia and that it was all in their heads – doctors now accept and regularly diagnose fibromyalgia and other chronic fatigue conditions.

Is fibromyalgia classed as a disability?

In the UK, a person is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities.

‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, e.g. it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed

‘long-term’ means 12 months or more, e.g. a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises fibromyalgia as a real and potentially significantly disabling condition. Where a clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia has been made full account will be taken of its functional effects when determining benefit entitlement.

Hope this helps.

[Skylightbluelinen98]

Fibromyalgia is long term condition that causes pain all over the body and is classed has a disability.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

As per the other answers it is not that simple unfortunately. You could say "is a disabling condition and people can be disabled as a result" but being diagnosed with fibro will not automatically make you disabled and even if you were considered disabled (by yourself or others) the different agencies you interact with will have different measurements so being disabled in one context may not benefit you in another.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to desquinn]

I’m fully aware of it not being that simple, it sounds like you don’t have any other lining conditions. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain around the body.Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

Symptoms often begin after an event, such as physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.

Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help. This information is from qualified Drs who have bee studying FM.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

I do have other conditions. The info you provided is indeed correct but does not come back to the point I made. There is a wide variety of people with fibro and some will be obviously disabled and some less so and some not at all. I answered your other reply and I think that covers things better.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to desquinn]

I think you are giving the wrong message out to people who are suffering

[Hidden in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

Hey, people with Fibro suffer in all different ways. Some have pain that’s worst than their chronic fatigue some have fatigue that’s far worse than their pain. All individuals are no exactly a match for another who has Fibro. I have read some with this condition are in wheelchairs, some are not. The disability conversation is a deep and complex one. I have Fibro and multiple other conditions but I don’t consider myself as disabled.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Hidden]

Each to there own opinion

[Hidden in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

Yes it is each to their own, but as far as I am aware Fibro is medically recognised on its own a disability. You can live a life with Fibro.

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Hidden]

Totally agree

[Hidden in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

That doesn’t go to say it’s an easy condition. It’s not. In fact I will openly admit earlier I was in tears because my legs and back are just causing me so much pain, then knowing I have to fight it to get to work tomorrow plays more havoc with the mind. It is a cruel illness, and whether I am personally at full acceptance of it after all these years I couldn’t tell you but I do what I can. We only have one life. Do you have your own ways of coping?

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Hidden]

I tend to get on with it, the meds I’ve had in the past have disagreed with me , I have many medical issues, but FM just put the top hat on it.

[Hidden in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

Yeah join the club, it’s hard enough with fibromyalgia on its own let alone with other conditions on top. Do you not take any medications at all now? Does your employer offer any support to help? You have family nearby to support you also?

[Skylightbluelinen98 in reply to Hidden]

My employer has supported me, only after a fight with them, my husband helps a lot but he’s in his early 70’s. I don’t take any meds because one of the ailments I suffer suffer with Barrett’s oesophagus disease.

[Hidden in reply to Skylightbluelinen98]

Yeah i have heard so many employers being supportive begrudgingly- mine have been ok not great, but I tend to just get on with it. That must be really irritating not being able to take medications, do you try yoga or hydrotherapy anything like that?

[Silence_]

So this comes down to what you can and cannot do because of the condition, fibromyalgia sufferers do tend to get it more than not but it would still come under what you cannot do.

[Louloula]

Hi, It’s now classed a s a chronic illness, if that helps

[Hidden in reply to Louloula]

Chronic illness is a totally different definition to disabled.

[Sarahvit]

They take in several things in account but the severity of your overall health comes into play. Fatigue only allows you to do so much and that varies from person to person. Fibro fog can interfere with job performance depending on the severity of the denseness of that fog. Mine is pretty bad. The pain and how well it is to treated also factors in. So it is a case by case evaluation. For me it knocked me off my feet (also other diagnoses like neuropathy play a role too) from being a registered nurse. When I first filed I was working a 2hrs a day 5 days a week. My other 2 part time jobs that added up to full time one I had to let go because I ran out of energy to see the PRN patients. The other job gave me a 6 wks medical leave to find a doctor who could write a letter to say I’m no longer am sick and can return to working. Well the doctor laughed and said fibromyalgia has no cure it is a chronic illness. So with that I filed for disability and was denied. Then it can to the point that 2hrs a day at $20/hr I was wiped out I had to let it go and went with a disability lawyer who was able to win my case. That was 27yrs ago. I have tried off and on after the divorce as a CNA and am very limited in what I can do. 8-10hrs a week is all I can do. That is limited on physically what I can do. I have to have my rest and recovery day to recover in order to work my 4 day week. Today my pain level is high and I’m feeling like I am barely getting by cognitively wise. Areas I use to excel in now am below average in but my numerologist isn’t taking into consideration what I tell him that I use to excel at because I have moved so much that he has only seen me the last 12yrs and only sees me for 5minutes at each appointment that isn’t even yearly. In my opinion fibromyalgia is very debilitating and I have read reports on fibromyalgia sites that the doctors involved with that study agreed it is very debilitating.

[Fibrofog]

I myself would say yes, as I can't do what I used do. And that is a disability, but that's my opinion, I think as soon as a health condition impacts on your life, disability.

[k77a]

I recently got a disability rail, card it states on that 'disability' . I still find that , word disability a little confusing . Although after many years, of trying to figure out, the how's & why's behind fibromalagia / disability .l guess it goes back to , not only, what you can't do, but what you can do with, difficulty that takes considerably, longer.Ofcourse DWP has there descriptors, which mention can you do the task, repeatedly in a timely manner etc. But I guess , we all have , our personal definitions.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to k77a]

"But I guess , we all have , our personal definitions."

very true. And this is part of the issue. Not only our own personal interpretations but there are differences in a legal setting, work, interacting with the NHS and also with the DWP. And then their is social recognition.

We still continually hear the phrase "registered disabled" which is just not a thing really or at least not in the way most people portray it. There is not a big black book with all the disabled peoples names on it.

[Latics1989-90]

HiI would definitely say yes!! I do have many conditions as well as fibro like many others do on here. I had to finish work on ill health retirement just over 4 years ago. My boss had tried everything to accommodate me but it wasn't to be . I loved my job but just couldn't do it anymore. Luckily I have a great support network of family and friends and lots of friends I worked with. The advice & support on here is absolutely fantastic. Private message me if you want to

Lots of love Lynne xxxx

[Skylightbluelinen98]

Well said👍