Although SSA recognizes joint pain due to arthritis; and pain in general from a variety of conditions; people alleging disability due to fibromyalgia have had trouble establishing their condition in the past since it is subjective in nature. SSA just released a new regulation to help with this.
SSR 12-2p states that Fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment when it has been established as required by the American College of Rheumatology.
What this requires is:
1. A history of widespread pain;
2. at least 11 positive bilateral tender points upon exam by a medical doctor;
3. repeated manifestations of 6 or more fibromyalgia simptoms, signs or co-occuring conditions; (ex: fatigue, memory issues, depression or IBS)
4. evidence that other disorders which could have caused the same symptoms have been ruled out.
You still need to be going to your doctor for a while & repeatedly complianing about your limitations, but at least now SSA has to acknowledge your pain and limitations as a result of Fibromalgia.
Prior to this ruling, some Judges did and others did not. This should unify the evaluation across the Country.