When I first hurt my back in 2013 (in Afghanisan - non combat related. Hurt it doing PT), the very first time I went to see the doc about it, I was told that it was muscular and to stay off of it for 2 weeks. They did some dry needling and told me different stretches to do. They said after 2 weeks, ease back in to PT... and that is what I tried to do. I never fully "eased" back in to PT because my back has never been 100% since. For the rest of deployment I was using my back doing PT to the extent that I could as well as going on patrol.
When we got back, I went back to the doc because I was still having issues. They have me an x-ray and said that I have scoliosis ... and that is probably why my back was hurting. Told me to do physical therapy and said I should be good to do everything - was not issued or offered a profile.
When I got to Ft. Benning a few months later, I went back to the doc because I was still in pain. They offered to five multiple x-rays, MRIs, CT scans .... below are the results from the MRI. I have posted them before just doing it again in case anyone new is reading.
My question is this: Since I was first told that it was muscular (even though it wasn't) and continued to use my back not knowing the extent of my back injuries, because I was originally mis-diagnosed I guess you could say, will that play out in my favor during the MEB process and when they review claims and issue percentages? Or will that ado nothing for me?
Thanks!!!!!
Here is what my findings were from my MRI:
Mild disc desiccation and disc space height loss are noted at L4-L5. A transitional vertebra (lumbarized S1) was noted on the radiographs. The conus terminates at L1. Modic 1/2 change noted in L5-S1. Otherwise no significant focal abnormal marros signal is identified throughout the limits of the examination.
L4-L5: a bulging disc/right paracentral disc bulge causes mild thecal sac compression and mass effect on the exiting right L4 nerve root. There is a tiny annular tear.
L5-S1: A circumferential/left paracentral disc bulge causes mild to moderate thecal sac compression and mild mass effect on the exiting S1 nerve roots, left greater than right. There is minimal right neuroforaminal narrowing.
Impression:spondylitic changes and bulging discs as above.
Here is the write up from the neurologist:
1. Lumbar Spondylosis 721.3: The low level of his lumbar symptoms at low physical exertion really means that he needs to permanently limit his exertion. From an interventional standpoint, his symptoms do no rise above radiofrequency denervation The chromicity of his symptoms indicate that he would not obtain a long term axial pain relief from epidural injection. There is no good medication option and he does not require surgery.
My opinion is that the SM will not improve to the point to allow him to perfrom their militart duty within the year. As such, I would put them in permanent 3 category. Dr. XXX (Head of MEB) instructed me not to write permanent profiles that would initiate a medical board procedure. I would otherwise initiate MEB personally, but he wants this to be done by the PCM so that it will be more wholistic in scope I will restrict my concerns to the spine.
When we got back, I went back to the doc because I was still having issues. They have me an x-ray and said that I have scoliosis ... and that is probably why my back was hurting. Told me to do physical therapy and said I should be good to do everything - was not issued or offered a profile.
When I got to Ft. Benning a few months later, I went back to the doc because I was still in pain. They offered to five multiple x-rays, MRIs, CT scans .... below are the results from the MRI. I have posted them before just doing it again in case anyone new is reading.
My question is this: Since I was first told that it was muscular (even though it wasn't) and continued to use my back not knowing the extent of my back injuries, because I was originally mis-diagnosed I guess you could say, will that play out in my favor during the MEB process and when they review claims and issue percentages? Or will that ado nothing for me?
Thanks!!!!!
Here is what my findings were from my MRI:
Mild disc desiccation and disc space height loss are noted at L4-L5. A transitional vertebra (lumbarized S1) was noted on the radiographs. The conus terminates at L1. Modic 1/2 change noted in L5-S1. Otherwise no significant focal abnormal marros signal is identified throughout the limits of the examination.
L4-L5: a bulging disc/right paracentral disc bulge causes mild thecal sac compression and mass effect on the exiting right L4 nerve root. There is a tiny annular tear.
L5-S1: A circumferential/left paracentral disc bulge causes mild to moderate thecal sac compression and mild mass effect on the exiting S1 nerve roots, left greater than right. There is minimal right neuroforaminal narrowing.
Impression:spondylitic changes and bulging discs as above.
Here is the write up from the neurologist:
1. Lumbar Spondylosis 721.3: The low level of his lumbar symptoms at low physical exertion really means that he needs to permanently limit his exertion. From an interventional standpoint, his symptoms do no rise above radiofrequency denervation The chromicity of his symptoms indicate that he would not obtain a long term axial pain relief from epidural injection. There is no good medication option and he does not require surgery.
My opinion is that the SM will not improve to the point to allow him to perfrom their militart duty within the year. As such, I would put them in permanent 3 category. Dr. XXX (Head of MEB) instructed me not to write permanent profiles that would initiate a medical board procedure. I would otherwise initiate MEB personally, but he wants this to be done by the PCM so that it will be more wholistic in scope I will restrict my concerns to the spine.
