Welcome to the Triangle Fibromyalgia website for Hardison & Associates, LLP, Attorneys at Law.  This site offers information on the disorder, symptoms and treatment. Our attorneys have been providing quality legal services to clients throughout North Carolina for over twenty years and we specialize in the area of Personal Injury law. We have effectively represented clients in medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries, and psychological damage cases including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and fibromyalgia. Kenneth L. Hardison and Eliza A. Associates founded the firm with a commitment to making justice work for their clients. Unfortunately, justice does not always come easily for fibromyalgia victims because of the difficulty in proving their disease. While some attorneys are reluctant undertake these often complex cases, our attorneys have successfully helped victims prove their disability and receive Social Security and/or Workers’ Compensation benefits.

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) estimates that fibromyalgia (FM) affects 3 to 6 million Americans. FM is a rheumatic disease that subjects sufferers to a myriad of symptoms including musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, impaired concentration, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances and depression. The disorder primarily occurs in females of childbearing age, but people of all ages and gender can fall victim to the illness. FM is similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (Epstein-Barr), and some physicians believe that the two diseases may be the same illness presenting itself with different symptoms. Fibromyalgia commonly develops after periods of sickness or stress and may develop after an accident or injury. While it is a difficult disease to identify, the ACR has developed specific criteria to enable physicians to diagnose FM based on “tender points” that occur in precise, localized areas of patients. Once diagnosed, medical treatment may involve anti-depressant medications to aid in sleep and improve muscle relaxation and mood. Some patients find relief through a combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy and relaxation techniques.

Fibromyalgia can be disabling, preventing its victims from undertaking full or part-time employment. Although numerous cases have established that fibromyalgia can be caused by traumatic accidents and that it can be seriously disabling, many sufferers continue to be denied disability benefits. Our lawyers can help obtain the necessary medical evidence to prove the debilitating effects of the disease and help you receive an equitable resolution of your claim. We are sensitive to the burden of physical pain and mental anguish that many victims suffer because of misdiagnosis or refusal to believe in the disease’s existence.

If you have been denied disability or are deciding whether to make a claim, we urge you to seek the advice of an attorney with a proven track record in disability law and experience in fibromyalgia cases. The most important ways to improve your chances of receiving benefits is through strong medical evidence that supports your claim and to have your case represented by legal experts who understand the benefits systems’ process and requirements. Our work with clients has enabled the Hardison & Associates firm to become familiar with fibromyalgia physicians and specialists.

As personal injury lawyers, we have seen many clients’ whose confidence has been restored by seeing the justice system work. While financial help cannot eliminate the pain of fibromyalgia, it can help ease the weight of your daily burden. Please call Hardison & Associates, “the people’s law firm” at 1-800-434-8399or e-mail us today.