Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Social Security
A caller told me he considers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) the Rodney Dangerfield of medical conditions: you get you no respect.
I could see his point. The condition is often misdiagnosed, treatment options may be limited, and it can often be difficult to get Social Security to approve a CFS claim.
But there is hope. The symptoms of CFS can be disabling:
Postexertional malaise (relapse of symptoms after physical or mental exertion);
Unrefreshing sleep;
Substantial impairment in memory/concentration;
Muscle pain;
Pain in multiple joints;
Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity;
Sore throat; and
Tender neck or armpit lymph nodes.
Fatigue and muscle pain can reduce exertional abilities (how much you can still lift/carry, & how long you can sit, stand, and walk). However, this may not be enough to find you disabled.
