Those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome may have issues getting through the workday or workweek. You may be wondering if you can keep working if you have one of these conditions, or is it better to quit and go on disability?
The answer to the question “Can I keep working?” is a complicated one, and it really depends on your unique situation.
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Symptoms & Severity
Some of the major factors that influence whether you can work include:
As hard as I tried to prevent it, my job performance gradually declined as my illness became more severe. I realized I had to leave. If I hadn’t, I’m certain my boss eventually would have found some non-health-related reason to fire me. While that seems like a lousy thing to do to someone, I see that he’d have needed to do it for the sake of the company and my co-workers: I missed too many days, and I couldn’t do the job well enough when I was there.
Staying on the Job
The good news is that many people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome—millions of them, in fact—do continue to hold a job. However, sometimes it requires some adaptations.
Most employers are legally obligated to makereasonable accommodationsso that you can work in spite of your health problems. That could mean something simple like an ergonomic keyboard, or a stool so you can sit instead of standing. It could also be giving you written instructions to compensate for memory problems, or modifying your hours.
Some people with these conditions have to switch to a different job. In my case, I was able to find work as a freelance writer, which allowed me to work from home, set my own hours, and determine my own workload. Other people have moved from a physical job to a desk job, or to part-time instead of full-time.
If you come to the conclusion that you do have to quit working because of your condition, you may be able to qualify for disability insurance through your job. Be sure to ask your supervisor or human resources department about it. You may also be eligible forSocial Security Disabilitythrough the government.
A Word From Verywell
Whether to continue working is a big decision with a lot of variables to consider, including income, health insurance, and much more. While you’ll likely want to talk to your family and your healthcare providers about it, in the end, you’re the only one who can make that decision for you.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kravitz HM, Katz RS.Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice.Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(7):1115-1125. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-3208-7Palstam A, Mannerkorpi K.Work ability in fibromyalgia: an update in the 21st century.Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2017;13(3):180-187. doi:10.2174/1573397113666170502152955U.S. Social Security Administration.Evaluation of Fibromyalgia.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kravitz HM, Katz RS.Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice.Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(7):1115-1125. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-3208-7Palstam A, Mannerkorpi K.Work ability in fibromyalgia: an update in the 21st century.Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2017;13(3):180-187. doi:10.2174/1573397113666170502152955U.S. Social Security Administration.Evaluation of Fibromyalgia.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kravitz HM, Katz RS.Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice.Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(7):1115-1125. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-3208-7Palstam A, Mannerkorpi K.Work ability in fibromyalgia: an update in the 21st century.Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2017;13(3):180-187. doi:10.2174/1573397113666170502152955U.S. Social Security Administration.Evaluation of Fibromyalgia.
Kravitz HM, Katz RS.Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice.Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(7):1115-1125. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-3208-7
Palstam A, Mannerkorpi K.Work ability in fibromyalgia: an update in the 21st century.Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2017;13(3):180-187. doi:10.2174/1573397113666170502152955
U.S. Social Security Administration.Evaluation of Fibromyalgia.
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