Advice.

Hi dwarnes, sorry to hear you're having such issues.  Obviously it's important to try to get a bona fide diagnosis, both so that the treatment you receive is condition specific but also so that you have this on record.  As to 'cause' - ie following your disc injury, that may not be so straightforward, particularly if fibro is diagnosed.  No doctor will be able to say categorically that it was caused by this, although it is 'presumed' that fibro in many cases results from other trauma, eg injury.  The issue is even more unclear re CFS, medics really can only give informal opinions re cause and its often just not possible to be specific.  However, if a causal link to your present problems can be determined that it is resulting from the disc injury and it was work based, then you may find you can make a claim accordingly.  Best best is to speak to your Federation rep about what your rights are should you have to retire on medical grounds, ie benefits, compensation and so on.  Whether or not you can continue to work in another profession afterwards will very much be determined by your own personal circumstances.  I have chronic fibro and debilitating fatigue but I work full time because unfortunately I have no other option.  It's hard but it's possible.  Generally state benefits are very difficult to achieve solely on the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  This is due to a number of reasons: it's a relatively newly recognised condition and not enough is known about its effects; the effects differ greatly from one person to another so it's difficult for authorities to determine the level of incapacity in a given individual; there is still a large number of both the medical profession and regulatory officials who do not recognise it as a specific condition - the situation is improving but unfortunately, slowly.  

Best advice, push for a diagnosis, then liaise with your Federation rep for info on what assistance is available to you.  Good luck hon.

Sorry to hear your suffering, i would imagine although benefits are hard to get for most people with fibro seeing as your a police officer and the Dr or the police will medically retired you I would think you will have a better chance than most however i dont have any experience so couldnt say for sure.

Perhaps the police will be able to give you a different job within the force, in the office or something.

I dont know how bad your symptoms are but its down to your personal situation if you will still be able to work in any capacity. Lots of people stilll work and some have things so bad that they arent able to.

My suggestion would be try and keep as physically active as possible. The more you dont because of your symptoms the more your body loses strength and longterm makes things worse. Of course this is not always possible and when i have a bad day doing anything is the last thing on my mind but if you can do a little something each day then it will help longterm and possible short term too.

Have they sorted your disc out? Have you had surgery or treatment for it? 

There is medication that they prescribe for fibro, they will likely start you on meds, this may make things easier for you and enable you to work in some ways, i would imagine they will go down that route as the next step.

You need to make sure your eating a good diet, work out what helps your pain and what makes it worse as soon as possible and try to get good sleep. Try to keep relaxed. Experiment with heat and cold as some people find one or the other helps thier pain.

Good luck

Did you have surgery for your back?

Looks like it's happening for you dwarbes, I hope you get the diagnoses soon, many of us have CFS along with Fibro...wouldn't have a clue how they set them apart.,II worked for the govt too-department of Education here in Oz forover 20 years, I was medically retired over 20 yrs ago and  put on my superannuation pension..,it wasn't work related, but I was paying tax on my superannuation installments so I do/got it all tax free. Which is better than a wage today..it's indexed..I just couldn't work anymore-it wasn't a option.....if yours was work related and it certainly sounds like it..as Fibro usually happens to you after a shock to your bodies system..and you've had that...you should get workers comp too...I do hope it gets all sorted for you really soo dwarnes.,be blessed and have a lovely day..:-) xxx