The American College of Rheumatology has a great overview of what a rheumatologist is and when you should consider seeing one.

A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who is qualified by additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Many rheumatologists conduct research to determine the cause and better treatments for these disabling and sometimes fatal diseases.

What Do Rheumatologists Treat?

Rheumatologists treat arthritis, certain autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal pain disorders and osteoporosis. There are more than 100 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia and tendonitis. Some of these are very serious diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.

When Should You See a Rheumatologist?

If musculoskeletal pains are not severe or disabling and last just a few days, it makes sense to give the problem a reasonable chance to be resolved. But sometimes, pain in the joints, muscles or bones is severe or persists for more than a few days. At that point, you should see your physician.

Seeing a Rheumatologist in a Social Security case:

Seeing a specialist can often be critical in the Social Security case.

A rheumatologist can be especially helpful if you’re filing for disability because of arthritis or fibromyalgia. I have often seen Social Security reject a fibromyalgia diagnosis because the primary care provider’s records did not discuss specific findings or tender points. 

A rheumatologist can do the following:

• Confirm the diagnosis
• Evaluate severity of your symptoms
• Provide an opinion of the limitations caused by the condition

Via “What is a Rheumatologist?”.

It can be very difficult to win Social Security disability benefits based on fibromyalgia. However,  it can be done!

While Social Security no longer considers fibromyalgia as a “imaginary” condition, or a “junk” diagnosis, you still need to make sure the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is backed up by medical findings.

I have reviewed many medical records which mention fibromyalgia, but don’t say how the doctor made the diagnosis. There is no mention of physical examinations or findings.  Social Security may throw out the diagnosis because of a lack of medical support.  

Without a diagnosis, all you have are symptoms and Social Security cannot approve disability benefits on symptoms alone. 

This can stop a case dead in its tracks!

So, what do you need to properly diagnosis fibromyalgia?

The National Fibromyalgia Association provides an answer:

Currently there are no laboratory tests available for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. This exam is based on the standardized American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Proper implementation of the exam determines the presence of multiple tender points at characteristic locations.

To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria:

• Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
• Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied

If you have fibromyalgia, and you are fighting for your Social Security disability benefits / SSI, ask your doctor if the basis for the diagnosis is documented in your file?

Do your medical records show “widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months?”

Do your medical records show, “tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 tender points?”

Proper documentation is critical in a Social Security case. Make sure your records are complete.