Posted on Sep 1, 2014
Were you ever seriously misdiagnosed while in the military? The problem is often more complex than you think.
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They are called medical practitioners, not God. In no way am I trying to take away from our dedicated, hard-working providers. Many times, even the physician's hands are tied by the administrators who limit their options. Limited facilities, budget constraints, SOP's, epic caseloads, deployments, and over a decade of war on 2 fronts. Do you have any horror stories or close calls that are worth sharing (without pointing fingers)?
I walked around with a severely damaged C3/4 vertebra for 15 months before the Army rotated the MRI image and found it. I couldn't move my neck, and if I sneezed or coughed I thought I was going to die. Once they found the problem I was in surgery within 24 hours. I still have nerve damage to both arms. Sometimes a second opinion can save your life.
I walked around with a severely damaged C3/4 vertebra for 15 months before the Army rotated the MRI image and found it. I couldn't move my neck, and if I sneezed or coughed I thought I was going to die. Once they found the problem I was in surgery within 24 hours. I still have nerve damage to both arms. Sometimes a second opinion can save your life.
Edited 11 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 68
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I had ankle problems while at NAS JRB Willow Grove, and was sent multiple times to National Naval Medical Center Bethesda. Since I was not an officer, the docs just glanced at x-rays (which are useless for tendon and ligament damage) and gave me motrin horsepills. Once, they had a LOOSE cast put on for a month, which did nothing.
When I got to NAS JRB Ft Worth, they sent me to a sports medicine doc, who scoped the ankle, cleared out a LOT of scar tissue, and said I had obviously had quite a few minor tears over the years, but the removal of the scar tissue would help greatly.
No pain for a few years after that!
When I got to NAS JRB Ft Worth, they sent me to a sports medicine doc, who scoped the ankle, cleared out a LOT of scar tissue, and said I had obviously had quite a few minor tears over the years, but the removal of the scar tissue would help greatly.
No pain for a few years after that!
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PO2 Kimberly Miller
Sounds about right with the docs: x-rays and their cure-all 800mg Motrin. Knowing all and never referring out to a specialist.
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Not a misdiagnosis, but when I went through medical at FT Benning they told me my blood type's A+. However, I'd already donated blood for a few years and knew I'm O+. Of course the drills at 30th AG would hear none of it. So I wore A+ dog tags through OSUT. As soon as I graduated I ditched them for new tags with O+ and went though my records to make sure their error was removed. I still donate blood often and of course the blood center still says I'm O+.
To my benefit a PA a FT Bragg in the 90's wrote that I've scoliosis. Didn't have it when I joined, so I got it jumpin' & humpin' fer Uncle Sugar. But it's there in my record. That and the mathematic fact that I lost an inch of height in four years. A chiro who used to help out my old rugby team says my spine's straight as an arrow. Disability? Only time and the VA will tell.
To my benefit a PA a FT Bragg in the 90's wrote that I've scoliosis. Didn't have it when I joined, so I got it jumpin' & humpin' fer Uncle Sugar. But it's there in my record. That and the mathematic fact that I lost an inch of height in four years. A chiro who used to help out my old rugby team says my spine's straight as an arrow. Disability? Only time and the VA will tell.
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SFC Mark Merino
I have never met a career member not leave without some percentage of disability. It's a hard life brother!
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There was the time when I went back to have my cast remove, after breaking my right ankle. To get the stitches out. Well sitting through waiting for the technician cut through the cast. To his surprise and mine, we guess what we find over my incision? No stitches, no staples, but surgical tape! The technician had look of horror on his face at first which was quickly returned to professional face.
One of the sad things, is the Surgeon was Department chief and Major. You would think he would of check on such things. Then again this was Brigade size exercise in the 82nd Airborne, and I wasn't the only brought in from Camp Blanding after waiting over 36 hours after initial exit from the aircraft. So the entire Department and the OR and at Womack was quite busy that day-night. Sad thing of it is, if this had happen in the civilian world, just leave it at that.
One of the sad things, is the Surgeon was Department chief and Major. You would think he would of check on such things. Then again this was Brigade size exercise in the 82nd Airborne, and I wasn't the only brought in from Camp Blanding after waiting over 36 hours after initial exit from the aircraft. So the entire Department and the OR and at Womack was quite busy that day-night. Sad thing of it is, if this had happen in the civilian world, just leave it at that.
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You know I can't really say I misdiagnosed, but back in 1989 when I sent to the Mental Ward at Fort Bragg, because my Company Command element thought I was just sandbagging it after my injuring, I was diagnose with Depression and Anxiety. Now fast forward in 2014, I was finally 2 years after my son was diagnosed with Asperger's, and Graduating from Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, MI with Bachelor Degree in Computer Degree in Computer Science with GPA of 3.496 which still bother me to this day. That I have Asperger's, which Anxiety and mild Depression go along with common, and to add to it, I ADHD another part of Asperger's regular so bad, that is it own diagnose too. So in actually I have Asperger's, Anxiety, and ADHD due to the severity of the Anxiety attacks, and the inability to really pay attention and concentrate. Still have claim the Depression because it was previous miss diagnosed and lot of the issues symptoms that led to it, are fall under the other three. Err, and people wonder why people hate titles...lol
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PV2 Abbott Shaull
Yep, it kinda sad, that we join an organization that claims that it will take cares of us, and at times, is the one thing that causes the most mental abuse on us, because no one takes time to believe their is a issue fail realize they not being so much of family any more.
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SFC Mark Merino
I felt the same way at times but in the end it isn't personal. We are pawns in the chess game.
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PV2 Abbott Shaull
Yeah, I know it wasn't personal, I realize that just frustrating to be lumped with the people who I had seen sandbagging or make through like Private Collins who made it through Basic/AIT to only get to Airborne School come back drunk (underage) and to be found under a bunk in female room. He had a short trip to the Hospital spent a couple days, had his separation from the Army before even got to Graduation, and we weren't in the middle of Week 1 when this incident happen. Add the incident when him and one of two recycles we picked up from the rest of the B Company that were part of Cohort going to the 7th Infantry, who managed to get to the PX and then proceed to get plowed. We were at Sand Hill with the E Co. 1-19th. The 10th Mountain had two Battalion still stationed at Fort Benning at the time, and one of the battalions was right across from the PX.
It like if I really pushed I pretty sure I have PSTD from the entire time frame, and it has been causing issue with my family. It just bothers me that in this past year my wife come to the point in her life where she says she had enough, and she not willing to live with someone who is verbally abusive, swears, and yells all the time at her, and kids. The strange thing is I don't remember doing swearing, yelling, or being abusive to them, or being that while out in public. Yet, in the last several months I have been reminded I am by her, and others in family, and then she goes on and on about. All the while, I am thinking well if I was such a fucking ass, why didn't you a call the police, or tell me to get help before now. You know it one of things the more she tells me, the more I feel like shit, and more I feel like my father, the type of father I never wanted to be. I really hate anything to do Mental Health professionals to begin with. My experience of what happen at Fort Bragg, has carried a big stigma and bias with me. It really all I can do make it to the appoints that I have been making, and even the thoughts of maybe going into hospital set my nerves on edge. Let's say even if I had thoughts in the past or present of hurting myself or anyone else, wouldn't still say I hadn't to stay out of the Hospital, and honestly I don't not going to get handed 100% benefit cop out like that. There are other Veterans who are more deserving of it. Who didn't have series of bad luck with training jump, just as terrible timing with change of command afterward, and Berlin Wall coming down.
It like if I really pushed I pretty sure I have PSTD from the entire time frame, and it has been causing issue with my family. It just bothers me that in this past year my wife come to the point in her life where she says she had enough, and she not willing to live with someone who is verbally abusive, swears, and yells all the time at her, and kids. The strange thing is I don't remember doing swearing, yelling, or being abusive to them, or being that while out in public. Yet, in the last several months I have been reminded I am by her, and others in family, and then she goes on and on about. All the while, I am thinking well if I was such a fucking ass, why didn't you a call the police, or tell me to get help before now. You know it one of things the more she tells me, the more I feel like shit, and more I feel like my father, the type of father I never wanted to be. I really hate anything to do Mental Health professionals to begin with. My experience of what happen at Fort Bragg, has carried a big stigma and bias with me. It really all I can do make it to the appoints that I have been making, and even the thoughts of maybe going into hospital set my nerves on edge. Let's say even if I had thoughts in the past or present of hurting myself or anyone else, wouldn't still say I hadn't to stay out of the Hospital, and honestly I don't not going to get handed 100% benefit cop out like that. There are other Veterans who are more deserving of it. Who didn't have series of bad luck with training jump, just as terrible timing with change of command afterward, and Berlin Wall coming down.
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PV2 Abbott Shaull
Yeah sucks I left here to go down state it took me almost 3 months to get the VA clinic in Saginaw to mail me paperwork so I could see a mental health worker there. I still get flak about not checking into Hospital while down there. Like I said, I had anything dealing Mental Health. I grew up in the generation that hated labels and to a point I do, but with that said, after having daughter with special needs, and then my son with being diagnose with Asperger's. It one of those things, where knowing in some case is good thing.
Just wish I could find out what causing the issues that my wife and children hate. Figure ways to control the Anxiety some so I can get back to function into Society in general. Try to control the my anger I feel when it come to times, I think no one is listening. Dealing with the Military, V.A., Schools, Family, and Doctors they all seem to at points to not really listen, but they all know how to tell you how to it really should work. Well guess what, it doesn't work for me, been there, tried that.
Just wish I could find out what causing the issues that my wife and children hate. Figure ways to control the Anxiety some so I can get back to function into Society in general. Try to control the my anger I feel when it come to times, I think no one is listening. Dealing with the Military, V.A., Schools, Family, and Doctors they all seem to at points to not really listen, but they all know how to tell you how to it really should work. Well guess what, it doesn't work for me, been there, tried that.
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More like never diagnosed at all.
Documentation existed from my doctor that issues existed. X-rays had been done. But, for some reason, there was a refusal to do an MRI to get down to the real issues.
It took 4 years after I separated for the VA to have the MRI done to diagnose my back issues.
Documentation existed from my doctor that issues existed. X-rays had been done. But, for some reason, there was a refusal to do an MRI to get down to the real issues.
It took 4 years after I separated for the VA to have the MRI done to diagnose my back issues.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
Considering misdiagnosis or No Diagnosis even though the evidence was there in service, what does the VA disability arm of the VA do in such cases? Basically I have yet to find particular regs regarding how the VA disability arm handles examines all these cases of bad negligent health care even with evidence.
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I found out I was pregnant when I were inprocessing in Korea. I told my commander of the WRC building that I felt like was pregnant and she told me that I wasn't and in fact I had to be dehydrated then sent me on my way. Well, to make the long story short in the morning since I couldn't stand the smell of Korea plus morning sickness I was standing in formation getting ready to salute the flag when I felt the strongest urge ever to throw up. What made matters even worse since I was an E-4 I was in the first line in the front of the platoon in the middle. Only thing I could do was to about face into the person behind me and run through the biggest platoon of my life. There had to be about every rank in the Army at that formation including a two star general. So the whole time everybody was saluting they could here me in the back of the formation retching loudly. How embarrassing.
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SFC Michael Jackson, MBA
I've seen a fair amount of Soldiers trying to over and making excuses to get out of runs, PT, ruck marches, etc. the danger is that make good Soldiers with legitimate medical issues suspect
That being said, medical professionals need to be making medical diagnosis. You should have been sent to be screened
That being said, medical professionals need to be making medical diagnosis. You should have been sent to be screened
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After reading through some of these responses, I have a very profound statement to make. WOW!!!
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SFC Mark Merino
When another doctor looks at you in disbelief when you told them what the other doctor diagnosed.
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Yes i dislocated my right shoulder and the Navy said after 3 months it was completely healed with not damage. Well 5 years later of popping an clicking and pain ohh and it locked out for the 50th time i went and got it looked at off base. 2 surgery's later and still popping and clicking it is no better. The tendon that holds your shoulder in joint was hanging by a thread, they had to shave down bone, repair the rotatory cuff, and a bicep tendon was severed and needed to be repaired. Thank goodness it was completely healed.
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