MED Board Help/Questions....

Z

Zlockbag1869

Member
Registered Member
Good evening,

To start with, I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. I have been going to Pain management for the past year and have done everything they suggested. I had a neural stimulator implanted in my back on January 17th. Initially it provided the relief the doctors thought it would. Fast forward to the middle of March and my pain is back to its original level and has only gotten worse up until now. I use the stimulator 24/7, only turning it off when I take a shower or am around water. I have spoken with my PCM about all of this and he suggested a Chapter 5-17 due to the fact that "The Army will not med board someone for Chronic Pain". Taking his word on this, I told him to send his recommendation of the medical chapter to the commander. However, I immediately began looking into the truth behind this and have seen in the Regulation under "Neurological Disorders", that any other diagnoses that causes pain to such an extent as to impact the daily scope of your duties is grounds for a Med Board. I have since made an appointment with my Pain Management doctor to discuss this and am hoping he will initiate the Med Board. If he doesn't want to, I am unsure what to do. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated!! I'm just trying to see if I am in fact entitled to the MEB and if I am how would I go about starting it if my PCM recommends the chapter 5-17? Do I have the option of requesting a new PCM? Would I need to talk to patient advocacy? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!! Thank you in advance!
 
Welcome to the PEB Forum! :)

In my opinion, if the PCM is not providing the level of healthcare needed to properly stabilize an individual's medical condition(s), then there exist grounds to request a new PCM if warranted.

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
I also have CRPS/RSD and a neurostimulator. In my case as soon as the neurostimulator was emplaced they started my MEB due to having the device implanted and being non deployable from that point. I am not sure what your profile states but my stim is a cervical one and therefore it prohibits my from doing any aspect of the APFT. The pain mangement doctor is the one that started my P3. In the Army the reference point on my profile is AR 40-501 D,F,V and cited 3.22.3.f, 5.14.16, and 4.22.c. I actually attempted not to get med boarded but with the new e profile system it populataed in the matter a days. I was literally still recovering and in a c-collar and they wanted me to start.
I know having CRPS/RSD is very painful to live with each day and most people just don't understand. I wish you luck with you stim. If you have any more questions please feel free to let me know. Today is actually my last day in the Army and it is more bitter than sweet for me but I would love to continue helping other service people.
 
Carina said:
I also have CRPS/RSD and a neurostimulator. In my case as soon as the neurostimulator was emplaced they started my MEB due to having the device implanted and being non deployable from that point. I am not sure what your profile states but my stim is a cervical one and therefore it prohibits my from doing any aspect of the APFT. The pain mangement doctor is the one that started my P3. In the Army the reference point on my profile is AR 40-501 D,F,V and cited 3.22.3.f, 5.14.16, and 4.22.c. I actually attempted not to get med boarded but with the new e profile system it populataed in the matter a days. I was literally still recovering and in a c-collar and they wanted me to start.
I know having CRPS/RSD is very painful to live with each day and most people just don't understand. I wish you luck with you stim. If you have any more questions please feel free to let me know. Today is actually my last day in the Army and it is more bitter than sweet for me but I would love to continue helping other service people.
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Welcome to the PEB Forum! :)

On behalf of a grateful nation, we commend your dedication to duty and selfless service to the U.S. Military.

To that extent, please remain positively proactive and stay the course throughout your interactions in life to secure the best solution for yourself and your loved ones.

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
Switch PCMs ASAP! The pain management doc cannot start a MEB, just recommend one. It's your PCM who needs to start it and write you narsum. And what you have is not just chronic pain. You have a diagnosis. My Narsum started with chronic back pain. Then they listed the diagnosis by the specialists.
 
In my case it was the pain management clinic that started my MEB. I am stationed at Fort Bliss but had my surgery by pain mangement done in San Antonio. The doctor there wrote my P3 and than to switch it to the right region the MEB people themselves rewrote it so my MEB could be done local. Another avenue to try would be ortho spine. I am not sure which area your stim is working on but the device is impanted in your back and limiting your ROM. You PCM is also a good way to go however if you have had care like me I saw a different doc everytime I had an appointment and it is more difficult for them to understand than the doc at pain mangement that you see weekly or bi-weekly.
Good luck and I hope your situation gets resolved with the dispostion you want.
 
Carina said:
In my case it was the pain management clinic that started my MEB. I am stationed at Fort Bliss but had my surgery by pain mangement done in San Antonio. The doctor there wrote my P3 and than to switch it to the right region the MEB people themselves rewrote it so my MEB could be done local. Another avenue to try would be ortho spine. I am not sure which area your stim is working on but the device is impanted in your back and limiting your ROM. You PCM is also a good way to go however if you have had care like me I saw a different doc everytime I had an appointment and it is more difficult for them to understand than the doc at pain mangement that you see weekly or bi-weekly.
Good luck and I hope your situation gets resolved with the dispostion you want.
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Well, first off thank you for the information!!! I have an appointment with pain management on the 29th. I will wait and see what the doc says. The stimulator is for my right foot (now more so for my right leg from the knee down, but the stimulator is in my back). It hasnt worked to the extent I was told it would and I find it HARDER to workout in any capacity with it on. Sorry to hear it was your last day today and there wasn't anything you could do as far as retain-ability. :( But, I REALLY REALLY appreciate the information! I will take this information when I see my PCM shortly after pain management on the 29th. This has given me hope and for that I am eternally grateful!!! After being told I only had the medical chapter as an option, I felt INCREDIBLY bleak and frustrated/upset. Once, again thank you guys and I will update accordingly as my appointments happen. So glad I found this site and will be recommending fellow soldiers to it!
 
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