Firstly, I would like to thank the administrators for putting up a great website as a proactive tool for those who are looking to protect their benefits for serving. I have been reading the forums for hours now and I have collected a lot of great information.
So to my story (in a nutshell)....
I am a Senior Airman (E-4) and I am a network technician. I currently have a little over 5 years time in service.
In April of 2010, I was injured from excessive typing due to a network inspection (12 hour shifts). The pain originally started in only my wrists. The pain got so bad that I could barely type with both of my pointer fingers. I thought things would get better after the inspection so I let it rest afterwards. One night a couple weeks later I was typing and I had shooting pain that went for my neck down to my left hand. I went to the doctor and he gave me the preliminary diagnosis of carpal tunnel. I went to go get some tests done and I didn't have carpal tunnel. I was sent back to work with no typing restrictions and from there my symptoms got dramatically worse. I was then diagnosed from my PCM with sympathy pains because my wife was pregnant at the time. Over the course of the next year, my symptoms progressed to the point where I currently have widespread body pain. After seeing 10 different specialists, there was only one civilian occupational neurologist who is able to adequately diagnose me.
I currently have the following diagnoses:
1. Bilateral ulnar neuritis
2. Myofascial pain syndrome on the right
3. Bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
4. Bilateral neuropathic foot pain
5. Fibromyalgia
Here is the current predicament I'm in: I'm currently on my third consecutive profile for being completely exempt from the PT test. I am also on a profile for typing restrictions which states "If workstation is ergonomic, I may be able to type no more than 5 minutes per hour." After this profile is over I am expecting to go up for an MEB because I do not expect that I will get off of this profile. I don't know how to exercise without hurting myself more which is why I am exempt from everything. Other than reviewing AFI's and other laws regarding disability and retirement/separation, do you guys have any suggestions as to what else I should be doing to prepare myself for the board? Would you also have any idea what I would be rated for for disability? I am currently neutral about whether I stay in or get out but I am not sure about other ways to protect my benefits. Any input would be much appreciated
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As a side note, my name was dragged down into the dirt for appearing as if I was trying to be lazy and not wanting to do my job. Nobody understood how much I loved my job and I was physically unable to do it because of the pain. I empathize with you all who have to deal with the same things. It is very difficult to overcome. Very often injuries like this occur because the hard workers are overworked.......
So to my story (in a nutshell)....
I am a Senior Airman (E-4) and I am a network technician. I currently have a little over 5 years time in service.
In April of 2010, I was injured from excessive typing due to a network inspection (12 hour shifts). The pain originally started in only my wrists. The pain got so bad that I could barely type with both of my pointer fingers. I thought things would get better after the inspection so I let it rest afterwards. One night a couple weeks later I was typing and I had shooting pain that went for my neck down to my left hand. I went to the doctor and he gave me the preliminary diagnosis of carpal tunnel. I went to go get some tests done and I didn't have carpal tunnel. I was sent back to work with no typing restrictions and from there my symptoms got dramatically worse. I was then diagnosed from my PCM with sympathy pains because my wife was pregnant at the time. Over the course of the next year, my symptoms progressed to the point where I currently have widespread body pain. After seeing 10 different specialists, there was only one civilian occupational neurologist who is able to adequately diagnose me.
I currently have the following diagnoses:
1. Bilateral ulnar neuritis
2. Myofascial pain syndrome on the right
3. Bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
4. Bilateral neuropathic foot pain
5. Fibromyalgia
Here is the current predicament I'm in: I'm currently on my third consecutive profile for being completely exempt from the PT test. I am also on a profile for typing restrictions which states "If workstation is ergonomic, I may be able to type no more than 5 minutes per hour." After this profile is over I am expecting to go up for an MEB because I do not expect that I will get off of this profile. I don't know how to exercise without hurting myself more which is why I am exempt from everything. Other than reviewing AFI's and other laws regarding disability and retirement/separation, do you guys have any suggestions as to what else I should be doing to prepare myself for the board? Would you also have any idea what I would be rated for for disability? I am currently neutral about whether I stay in or get out but I am not sure about other ways to protect my benefits. Any input would be much appreciated
.As a side note, my name was dragged down into the dirt for appearing as if I was trying to be lazy and not wanting to do my job. Nobody understood how much I loved my job and I was physically unable to do it because of the pain. I empathize with you all who have to deal with the same things. It is very difficult to overcome. Very often injuries like this occur because the hard workers are overworked.......