Had a Spinal Fusion (L3/4, L5/S1), now what?

H

hchellberg

Member
Registered Member
Hey all, I am new to this site, and I have been looking around to talk to some people about what to expect next. I had an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) done to L3/4, and L5/S1 back in Feb, and am now 3 months post-op. I went to see my PCM yesterday and he started my MEB paperwork. What am I supposed to expect now? They are going to do a range of motion study next week, and then start compiling all the information in my file to see what happens. Has ANYONE had this procedure done, and been through all of this yet? Please let me know what comes next!

Thanks,
Heath
 
I have had a fusion done as well as another back surgery. The range of motion test is huge when it comes to your disability rating, without a lot of ROM your percentage raises. I believe the exact percentges is under the spine and back section of this forum. As of right now I am being permanently retires with a 50 perent rating from the Air Force.

Be prepared to wait a good while for your results to come back though. From the time Randolph got my paperwork it was a good 4 months or so before I got my results back.

Depending on if you want to stay in or get med boarded out, I would recommend getting letters of recommendation from supervisors and such to help support what your wishes are.

Good luck to you man! If you have any more questions let me know , or I am sure another back injured member will be glad to help.
 
The honest answer to your question of what next, is a lot of waiting… It really depends on the facts of your case and how your PCM views your prognoses. You (should) know better than anyone what your records say. With that said, review AFI 48-123 chapter 5 and chapter 13 to figure out how your records might reflect in the items listed in chapter 5. Don’t just look at the spine; look at related area’s like joints… Your exam for range of motion (ROM) next week should pretty much paint a picture what road you are about to travel down. The boards like to rate mostly on ROM criteria, the lower your ROM the more the % goes up. Get into the VA schedule for rating disabilities (VASRD) and look through the musculoskeletal system. You will find ROM measurements that will correlate about how they will rate you at the board. Educating yourself is the key, there is a ton of people to learn from on here, but realize every case is different so don’t drive yourself crazy by comparing your diagnoses with someone else’s. Most everything you are about to go through is out of your control, but if you are smart (through your own education) you can have a certain amount of impact on your case. Everything from making sure your PCM includes all relative info in your package to providing your flight chief with the commander’s letter (most letters a written by someone other than the commander, he normally proof reads and signs off). That will enable you to tailor it to your desired outcome. The more you read the more questions you will have. Feel free to ask away there is a ton of very smart people on here.
 
I just got notified on my pending MEB/IPEB. I have a spinal fusion from L3 down to S1 last year, and it looks like the bone forming between the vertabrae is taking longer than what they expected.
 
robs42 said:
remember...when you have your ROM conducted, don't let them BS you into going as far as you can and beyond the onset of pain. stop or just go to the onset of pain.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree, they tried to make my husband feel that he was not really in that much pain as the PT said...funny how you can sit down without issues when you waited to see me, but can barely bend forward standing up.. All I can say is my husband is in pain sitting down as well as standing up... Is exact words were "it's funny how little your range of motion is, considering you were sitting down when I got you" So in his report he noted that he felt my husband was in pain and allowing the pain to stop him from bending more. However your limitations are when your pain comes in right?
 
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