Injured before basic training , injured exercising trying to stay in shape. What should I do?

Martin Lopez — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 01:30:03 -0400

Hello. My info, I am going active duty enlisted July 20 2020. I am a future soldier with the army. I have a month before I ship. I injured my knee hip/ back pain, I don't have mobility as it hurts when I try to run or stretch ( I feel a popping behind my knee, followed by pain). I have had history of pain but not like this. Will my recruiter. w able to help push my enlistment? Or should I try to go to basic with an injury?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2020 2:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:17:26 -0400

Let your recruiter know, if you get injured before BCT they have to push it back. They have set times based on the injury. Pushing through pain, especially leg pain is not a good idea and it can mess up other parts of the body.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2020 2:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:54:03 -0400

If your pain is serious and you think you’re injured, tell your recruiter so they can start the process of either having you become a dep loss or a possible Reno of your contract. Be prepared for medical clearances to get back in or in order to change your ship date. You’ll have to be seen, diagnosed and then cleared again.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 7 at 2020 3:42 AM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 03:42:11 -0400

You won't even make it back through MEPS if your injury is as you claim. You need to contact your recruiter now and apprise him of the injury so that things can be done. You would just end up being sent home and with a unfavorable discharge if you tried to soldier through it and not say anything.

Go to a Doctor, report this to your recruiter and get the proper medical treatment and rehab then go back through the process again. Sounds like you need to seek the help of a sports fitness trainer to get help on how to exercise without injury.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2020 11:04 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 11:04:57 -0400

It is not my intention to scare you by telling you this.

I tore the meniscus in my right knee in 1990, two years before I joined. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. Sometimes it hurt a lot, other times it didn't. It popped more than once. It required out-patient surgery to fix. I would not have made it through Basic with that injury.

That's the bad news. The good news is the surgery and the recovery weren't bad. They opened my knee, shaved the cartilage down past the tear, told me I might have arthritis when I get older, and sent me on my way. I was on crutches for a couple of weeks, but it never bothered me again.

Get it checked out. Basic will still be there.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Aug 7 at 2020 12:59 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 12:59:15 -0400

Tell your recruiter today. You will be discharged from the dep. Get medical treatment. If you are able to recoup from your injuries 100%, then you may try again. Do not try to lie and push through. You will only end up hurting yourself even worse. If the Army finds out it is prior injury, the military will not pay for any medical.
As a former recruiter, I have had to deal with this several times.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2020 1:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 13:21:52 -0400

You better get yourself checked out - and tell your recruiter. Do not go to basic injured...because then you'll just get hurt worse and probably chaptered out.

The Army isn't going anywhere...take care of yourself and try again.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2020 2:25 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 14:25:01 -0400

20 July, you posted 13h ago(Aug 7)? If you try and go to basic and you are hurt you will have a very hard time trying to get back in when they send you home on a medical. If you wait and push back it will be so much easier to get in. Like everyone is saying- tell the recruiter. It will be better than trying to show up broken. Good luck.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2020 12:04 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 00:04:35 -0400

As others have mentioned, gong to Basic Training with an injury is not an option. What did your recruiter tell you when you informed him of your situation?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 8 at 2020 7:02 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 07:02:49 -0400

You need to reach out to your recruiter, they will tel you what it takes to postpone (if possible) your entry. It is all based on available positions in which you qualify.