How can I get around a ridiculous profile?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 22:02:16 -0500

I currently have a 10 day no-pt profile because I had a biopsy on 27FEB. It was a small incision in my throat has fully healed, but now I have a profile for 10 days of no PT. I need to take an APFT to leave Fort Gordon but I cant just sit around for 10 days and expect to do well on my test. My throat has fully healed and I have had no bleeding, nausea complications, etc... The 10 days seems like some kind of default that is not appropriate for my situation. Is there any way I can at least start working out again without getting in trouble?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 10:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 22:13:17 -0500

Unless it's a "dead man's" profile, meaning you can't do anything but what's required to sustain life, your profile should have details in block 30.
The Temp profile I have sitting in front of me says RESTRICTED and outlines the restrictions. Then it says MODIFIED and talks about free weight at own weight, pace, and tolerance. It also mentions things that can be done IAW Ch 6, FM 7-22.

Also, in block 27, there should be some other guidance. In the case of this one I have it states "Soldier should perform injury specific exercises..." blah blah blah…

So make sure you read your profile and if you have questions about interpreting it, ask your leadership or the provider that gave it to you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 10:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 22:36:10 -0500

PFC Sjerven,
The profile, while possibly generic, is given for a reason. When is your APFT? Even though you feel healed, still exercise precaution if you choose to workout.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 11:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 23:42:14 -0500

You could actually wait about 9 more days and it will be all good. If 10 days of no PT are the end for you, you need some more PT

Response by TSgt David Holman made Mar 1 at 2020 12:08 AM

TSgt David Holman — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:08:45 -0500

My honest advice, coming from someone with 20 years in the medical field... if the doc tells you no PT for 10 days, listen to him. Yes, it was a minor procedure, and you may feel healed, however, the additional stress and increase in blood pressure from working out could cause complications that would bring you down for longer. If you are in decent shape, you shouldn't have a problem passing your APFT, and the 10 days rest could actually help you do better.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 7:49 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 07:49:10 -0500

10 days off of PT should not cause you to fail a PT test. Also doctors orders in the military are orders from a medical officer just the same as if your CO gave you an order. They aren’t suggestions. Follow your profile and heal up. Crush your PT test and then move on. Trust me you don’t want a neck injury because you didn’t follow your profile.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 10:52 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:52:29 -0500

Your blood pressure increases during exercise. This can cause the healing vessels to potentially rupture. That is why you are on a no PT profile. The provider issues the profile for a legitimate reason. You’ll be able to PT soon enough.

Response by SGT Trip Heaverly made Mar 1 at 2020 11:25 AM

SGT Trip Heaverly — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:25:58 -0500

Ummmmm.... Work out at home? You don’t need someone calling cadence for you to do some pushups or sit-ups. Go for a run in the evening, and enjoy the fact that you get to sleep in for 10 days with no PT!!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 1 at 2020 11:26 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:26:28 -0500

If you violate your profile and something happens, you could face UCMJ. Your call.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 2:34 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 14:34:34 -0500

What did they actually biopsy? Just because the incision in the skin is healed, doesn't mean that there isn't risk of complications from the underlying structures. There likely is very good reason that they put you on a 10-day profile, even if it may seem excessive to you. There are many people out there that have seriously hurt themselves because they thought they knew better than a trained medical professional. Follow your profile, 10 days of rest isn't enough time to decondition you, and 10 days of exercise isn't enough to significantly raise your APFT score.

Response by SGT Philip Keys made Mar 1 at 2020 5:27 PM

SGT Philip Keys — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 17:27:06 -0500

I had a thing blew off the docs suggestion of no activity and it was not good. I paid the price for not listening felt I was healed and like all of these comments are saying there's a reason they give you a time frame. So I turned a week of healing into three extra weeks of pain.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 7:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:54:00 -0500

Are you in AIT? If so, you may be held for a little while longer. The main thing that you need to focus on is your health and getting back to where you were. Although that seems easier said than done, you do not want to get worse than you already are. Make sure your profile is signed by your CDR, get rest, and focus on building yourself back up.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 10:23 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 22:23:25 -0500

What was biopsied? Thyroid? Lymph node?
The thyroid and lymph node tissue is VERY well vascularized, that means it has an impressive blood supply. If you manage to damage a post op thyroid biopsy and you bleed under the closed skin you could get into a bit of trouble. Furthermore, when I need to take a patient back to the OR even up to ten days later, I can bluntly take down the incision with my finger tips after snipping the sutures. What does that mean in practical terms? If you bump your throat against something during exercise you could disrupt a healing blood vessel. The ten days isn't about how you feel, it is about giving the surgery site the MINIMUM amount of time needed to make it safe for you to carry out your daily activities and ramp up your strenuous activities. Even at 6-8 weeks later healing tissue only has about 60% of the strength of uninjured tissue.
Credentials: Vascular Surgery Fellow 1.5 years, General Surgery Resident 6 years. I have about 1500 surgeries under my belt, ranging from very minor bedside procedures up to multi-hour vascular reconstructions.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Mar 2 at 2020 1:04 AM

SSG Brian G. — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 01:04:39 -0500

No PT for 10 days means just that.

Here is the long and short of it. 10 days is nothing. It is a resting period for you before you take your test. take advantage of it. OR you can violate that profile and risk getting caught and then not doing well on your PT test will be the least of your worries as you defied a Doctors and profiles orders.

The profile is there for a reason. YOU might think something is healed but Doctors know better. You only have to pass the APFT, not do your blow out best. Once you get to your new duty station they will test you again and that is when you blow it out. Focus on your health and what the Doctor ordered for the moment. That is more important.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 2 at 2020 1:21 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:21:39 -0500

For learning purposes, a commander can ignore a profile. Highly recommended against and if I they do, I think they are fools but for your knowledge bank, they can. You are what four days into it? Wait until next Monday and you are good to go.

Response by SPC Joshua Ulch made Mar 3 at 2020 6:42 AM

SPC Joshua Ulch — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:42:49 -0500

You’d be surprised how a 10 day break will do for you. Profiles are for a reason, better take advantage of it before something like a blood clot or infected incision holds you back further.

Response by SFC John Martin made Mar 3 at 2020 5:17 PM

SFC John Martin — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:17:19 -0500

Was out of action for months with MH problems... technically not allowed to do PT. anyway, workout out on Wi Fit. Was worried about getting back to Normal pt. smashed it no problems: sometimes something simple, in the privacy of your own space can make the world of difference

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Mar 3 at 2020 6:15 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:15:21 -0500

You have to fight the profile thru channels, you can only do what the Docs allow you to do. Until they sign off that your off profile you aren’t. And no one can change that, don’t break your profile or you risk a lot.