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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?
Fitness
Profiles
Surgery
APFT
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 17
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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.
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.
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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
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LTC (Join to see)
exactly, if 10 days without doing PT is going to seriously affect your performance on an APFT, you've probably been doing the bare minimum.
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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.
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LTC (Join to see)
Should not. Because you should be getting a 300 every time so getting a 290 just this once is fine?
Maybe this soldier lives in the 190-200 zone? Is that punishable? Worse, they’re saying they have a ten day profile after having healed. How long have they really gone without doing PT? For marginal performers, 2-3 weeks can be disastrous.
‘Get good’ is my instinctive answer, too, but it’s the wrong one. I guess this soldier needs to delay the APFT until a couple weeks after the profile ends.
Maybe this soldier lives in the 190-200 zone? Is that punishable? Worse, they’re saying they have a ten day profile after having healed. How long have they really gone without doing PT? For marginal performers, 2-3 weeks can be disastrous.
‘Get good’ is my instinctive answer, too, but it’s the wrong one. I guess this soldier needs to delay the APFT until a couple weeks after the profile ends.
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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.
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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.
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.
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SSG (Join to see)
Even if it was just a small incision, the throat area is a very sensitive area. It may look or feel healed on the outside, but inside could be a different story. One wrong move could end up causing you a lot of problems.
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PFC Anthony Bruce
From prior experience I'd you have questions go straight to someone in medical wither it be the doctor that gave you the profile or company medic. I had a profile that said no pt on hard surfaces. My leadership tried to say it meant concrete/blacktop only. When I still refused they got the company medic involved who said what I did that it meant no hard surface period :IE hard plastic.
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If you violate your profile and something happens, you could face UCMJ. Your call.
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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.
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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.
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.
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PFC (Join to see)
Was supposed to Monday but now that cant happen. Combat Gordon for an ASI course and I'm supposed to kleave on the 12th, but now it looks like that's gonna be delayed. My main concern is not getting out of shape before being tested after this dang profile expires.
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SSG (Join to see)
Do what you can to stay in shape without pushing the limits too far on your profile. Mainly, make sure your diet is well-balanced for these 10 days and don't overindulge with foods. Also, talk with your provider about your situation. She/he may be able to help.
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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.
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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.
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.
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