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 apologize to our providers if this thread has generated some ill will. I have changed the description after receiving some excellent feedback from some providers. Again, I never intended this as a bashing forum. One of the common responses was that an MRI saved the day.....The providers are under restraints just like every other entity. An MRI given to everyone in pain would mean that there would not be enough money for their budget to even pay for a bandaid after performing surgeries. It isn't anything personal, it is socialized medicine.
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I apologize to our providers if this thread has generated some ill will. I have changed the description after receiving some excellent feedback from some providers. Again, I never intended this as a bashing forum. One of the common responses was that an MRI saved the day.....The providers are under restraints just like every other entity. An MRI given to everyone in pain would mean that there would not be enough money for their budget to even pay for a bandaid after performing surgeries. It isn't anything personal, it is socialized medicine.
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I apologize to our providers if this thread has generated some ill will. I have changed the description after receiving some excellent feedback from some providers. Again, I never intended this as a bashing forum. One of the common responses was that an MRI saved the day.....The providers are under restraints just like every other entity. An MRI given to everyone in pain would mean that there would not be enough money for their budget to even pay for a bandaid after performing surgeries. It isn't anything personal, it is socialized medicine.
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Here is a cautionary tale for those of you still on active duty.
I was not quite diagnosed, but the extent of my injury wasn't fully realized. Shame on me once, because I was in the AMEDD. Shame on me twice, because it was partly because I put things off to try to keep up a front. You know, suck it up, ruck up, and carry on. Especially as a 1SG and SGM. Although when the very worst injury to my spine happened, I was finally forced to break down and stop running, I didn't follow up and get it treated properly. As it turns out, the part of the vertebrae that protects the spinal cord from the rear broke apart. And two vertebrae in my neck started slipping, occasionally cutting off blood flow to my brain momentarily, causing cervicogenic vertigo. But I didn't push for those diagnoses because I didn't want any cause for an MEB. I just embraced the suck.
When I finally retired, 8 years after the worst injury, I had a very hard time finding a doctor who would even consider operating on 'the Jenga that is your C-spine'. I had to do a lot of research and find a specialist in a specialty hospital (luckily within our network.) He is the one who discovered all the mess in my back and did the surgery to protect my spinal cord. But because I waited so long, the pain will NEVER go away. And because I waited so long on my neck, I now have a lot of other issues which make the necessary surgery much more complicated so I am waiting as long as possible and hoping they start that 3D-printing process for replacement vertebrae here before I absolutely have to have it done. And, the real kicker is that since I put up with the pain and injury/recovery/reinjury cycle for so long, I developed fibromyalgia (which they now know is a central nervous system disorder where your body recruits additional nerve fibers to act as pain receptors, and also alters other chemical reactions in the body, as a result of intense traumatic or chronic long-term severe pain that isn't adequately controlled (very simplified explanation.))
So...if you are still on active duty, don't put it off. It may seem like you can't leave your job to take care of yourself, but believe me - this was NOT how I had my retirement planned out.
I was not quite diagnosed, but the extent of my injury wasn't fully realized. Shame on me once, because I was in the AMEDD. Shame on me twice, because it was partly because I put things off to try to keep up a front. You know, suck it up, ruck up, and carry on. Especially as a 1SG and SGM. Although when the very worst injury to my spine happened, I was finally forced to break down and stop running, I didn't follow up and get it treated properly. As it turns out, the part of the vertebrae that protects the spinal cord from the rear broke apart. And two vertebrae in my neck started slipping, occasionally cutting off blood flow to my brain momentarily, causing cervicogenic vertigo. But I didn't push for those diagnoses because I didn't want any cause for an MEB. I just embraced the suck.
When I finally retired, 8 years after the worst injury, I had a very hard time finding a doctor who would even consider operating on 'the Jenga that is your C-spine'. I had to do a lot of research and find a specialist in a specialty hospital (luckily within our network.) He is the one who discovered all the mess in my back and did the surgery to protect my spinal cord. But because I waited so long, the pain will NEVER go away. And because I waited so long on my neck, I now have a lot of other issues which make the necessary surgery much more complicated so I am waiting as long as possible and hoping they start that 3D-printing process for replacement vertebrae here before I absolutely have to have it done. And, the real kicker is that since I put up with the pain and injury/recovery/reinjury cycle for so long, I developed fibromyalgia (which they now know is a central nervous system disorder where your body recruits additional nerve fibers to act as pain receptors, and also alters other chemical reactions in the body, as a result of intense traumatic or chronic long-term severe pain that isn't adequately controlled (very simplified explanation.))
So...if you are still on active duty, don't put it off. It may seem like you can't leave your job to take care of yourself, but believe me - this was NOT how I had my retirement planned out.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
WOW SGM JOHNSON...sorry really sorry for your pain and injury.
It seems you have a really nice heart and sometimes the worst happens to the best. That is what Life has shown me sadly at times in life and humbles me in a weird way.
I think you know I have issues spinal also. I know they are different in a big way it seems.
Mine is L5 S1 Herniations that surgery is suggested and DDD that definitely was considered Service Disqualfying and stopped an INTER-SERVICE Transfer NAVY to ARMY..yet the ARMY never told me and Never told the NAVY. The NAVY never inspected why the transfer stalled. The ARMY recruiter handing the transfer was polite enough to tell me I failed th PSYCH exam probably due to the anxiety due to HAZARDOUS DUTIES lack of Training experience and Personel Assault among other things that prompted my desire to transfer in the first place. SO that was 1998 and nothing was treated in service as the the 2 services did not work together..
But I just hope I can help with what Is working for me.
I could not walk to the bus stop half a block away and called that Ambulance that prompted the MRI just 4 months ago prompting finally my diagnosis of Herniations and DDD 2014.
I mentioned what is working for me and believing in mother natures ability to take your last nerve signals and do what you can with them and heal.
It is like taking an old rusty car and tearing off rust.
The spine the body has rusted. You know what pain is. I know this. So this should not be to bad to think about.
But do not let the pain be a detterent..
It will be painful to heal and avoid the surgery you are ready for.
Get a TEETER inversion machine and start slow with it. It is hanginb by your feet basically and using reverse Gravity to take pressure off your spine...knock the rust off as your spine goes in a direction that is not normal but completlely healing..in yes a stressful way.as your body is put in that anti gravity position....your joints from your ankles knees and hips will start a transformative cycle. We are always compressing our body by running walking as gravity works against us pulling is down. So we need to use that same force and stretch our body the opposite way.
So that is step 1.
The second and third steps will be cobra posses both laying flat as a board belly and back . Which are basicall laying flat on your belly or back and the flatter and more stretched your get even though it is painful as your muscles that are all out of whack have to start loosening and flatten to the gravity leveling your out like a level on the ground.
I hope this helps a bit in some way
The 4th part is a natural diet full of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and I can fill you in on more dietary tips.
ANd lastly the 5th is stop drinking and or smoking if you do that at all.
Again wishing you some help and healing.
For me it is simply a lifestyle now.
I am able to walk and am 15 miles from surgery.
It seems you have a really nice heart and sometimes the worst happens to the best. That is what Life has shown me sadly at times in life and humbles me in a weird way.
I think you know I have issues spinal also. I know they are different in a big way it seems.
Mine is L5 S1 Herniations that surgery is suggested and DDD that definitely was considered Service Disqualfying and stopped an INTER-SERVICE Transfer NAVY to ARMY..yet the ARMY never told me and Never told the NAVY. The NAVY never inspected why the transfer stalled. The ARMY recruiter handing the transfer was polite enough to tell me I failed th PSYCH exam probably due to the anxiety due to HAZARDOUS DUTIES lack of Training experience and Personel Assault among other things that prompted my desire to transfer in the first place. SO that was 1998 and nothing was treated in service as the the 2 services did not work together..
But I just hope I can help with what Is working for me.
I could not walk to the bus stop half a block away and called that Ambulance that prompted the MRI just 4 months ago prompting finally my diagnosis of Herniations and DDD 2014.
I mentioned what is working for me and believing in mother natures ability to take your last nerve signals and do what you can with them and heal.
It is like taking an old rusty car and tearing off rust.
The spine the body has rusted. You know what pain is. I know this. So this should not be to bad to think about.
But do not let the pain be a detterent..
It will be painful to heal and avoid the surgery you are ready for.
Get a TEETER inversion machine and start slow with it. It is hanginb by your feet basically and using reverse Gravity to take pressure off your spine...knock the rust off as your spine goes in a direction that is not normal but completlely healing..in yes a stressful way.as your body is put in that anti gravity position....your joints from your ankles knees and hips will start a transformative cycle. We are always compressing our body by running walking as gravity works against us pulling is down. So we need to use that same force and stretch our body the opposite way.
So that is step 1.
The second and third steps will be cobra posses both laying flat as a board belly and back . Which are basicall laying flat on your belly or back and the flatter and more stretched your get even though it is painful as your muscles that are all out of whack have to start loosening and flatten to the gravity leveling your out like a level on the ground.
I hope this helps a bit in some way
The 4th part is a natural diet full of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and I can fill you in on more dietary tips.
ANd lastly the 5th is stop drinking and or smoking if you do that at all.
Again wishing you some help and healing.
For me it is simply a lifestyle now.
I am able to walk and am 15 miles from surgery.
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I am sure you did get service connected before discharge. Sorry about what happened on your end. I have been doing a lot of yoga type therapy and inversion spine stretching. Muscoskeletal and PSYCH problems identified during MEPS processing between my parent service the NAVY and the sponsoring service the ARMY kept me a failure code for both Muscoskeletal and PSYCH 1998. Both were not treated. The Army recruiter told me over 1 phone call that I failed PSYCH after I had a 1 hour private PSYCH interview, but never got any medial attention for me, and I just thought I failed a math test or something in my head at 22, and it did make me sick and sad and confused definitely knowing I thought I was a shoe in, since I had no bad marks in the NAVY(by then I definitely had PTSD anxiety stress problems hence I was trying to transfer branches).
The muscoskeletal was hidden from me until I was able to retrieve an email from DOD database stating as clear as the days sun PSYCH muscoskeletal and spine DQ failure interservice transfer 1998. I had 4 yrs to go in the NAVY and finished honorably. But I was homeless and broke and confused by the time enlistment ended.
SO anyways 2011 applied for, not even talking or bringing up military and what I am typing here, for SSDI, and was awarded just on civilian records alone, SSDI for anxiety and mood disorders.
2013 not able to walk well, as I am tough guy, those achy joints really started to get to me, and an MRI proved I had DDD and 2 xlarge herniation's L5 S1.
MUSCOskeletal is a spine muscle joint issue not caused by 1 serious injury, but small repetitive strenuous things just like I would be doing in the NAVY!!!!!!
How does the service and VA handle something being notated in DOD databases, covered by hippa, still in an enlistment serving honorably that went untreated and undiagnosed(because simply saying PSYCH and SPINE or Muscoskeletal in a physical at MEPSCOM is not a diagnosis ? or is it? )
I have 16 years of HELL since 1998. I could use assistance to try to bring me back.
The muscoskeletal was hidden from me until I was able to retrieve an email from DOD database stating as clear as the days sun PSYCH muscoskeletal and spine DQ failure interservice transfer 1998. I had 4 yrs to go in the NAVY and finished honorably. But I was homeless and broke and confused by the time enlistment ended.
SO anyways 2011 applied for, not even talking or bringing up military and what I am typing here, for SSDI, and was awarded just on civilian records alone, SSDI for anxiety and mood disorders.
2013 not able to walk well, as I am tough guy, those achy joints really started to get to me, and an MRI proved I had DDD and 2 xlarge herniation's L5 S1.
MUSCOskeletal is a spine muscle joint issue not caused by 1 serious injury, but small repetitive strenuous things just like I would be doing in the NAVY!!!!!!
How does the service and VA handle something being notated in DOD databases, covered by hippa, still in an enlistment serving honorably that went untreated and undiagnosed(because simply saying PSYCH and SPINE or Muscoskeletal in a physical at MEPSCOM is not a diagnosis ? or is it? )
I have 16 years of HELL since 1998. I could use assistance to try to bring me back.
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SGM Robin Johnson
PO3 Bam Bam, It sounds like you are asking if there is anyone who can help you find documentation to present to the VA to try to get a VA disability rating. If this is the case, the answer is definitely yes! There are many agencies, such as the Purple Heart Association, and the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), that are all categorized as Veteran's Service Organizations (VSOs). They will help ANY Veteran. In other words, you do not have to have a Purple Heart to get help from the Purple Heart Association, and you don't have to belong to the VFW to get help from the VFW. You also can get help from someone at a base, post, or station associated with a service different from the one with which you served, so you can go to an Army or Air Force installation if it is more convenient. To find a list of VSOs near you, you can look on the VA's website under the Benefits section, or go to the http://www.ebenefits.gov website. I hope this helps.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
SGM Johnson,
I really appreciate your advice. Infact I am hoping to make this easy and support would help. My biggest piece of evidence red flag SOS something is amiss and wrong is my, self started walk into an ARMY recruiter while enlisted in NAVY, DDform 368 inter-service transfer given by sponsoring service(army) and signed by parent service (NAVY) but DQd failure PSYH SPINE MUSCOSKELETAL in MEPS administered inter-servce transfer physical PSYCH is permenant not waiverable. 22 years old this is told to me over a phone call by army recruiter and he never talked to me again and I had 4 more years to go on my NAVY enlsitmetnt more confused and sicker knowing this failure, and I went darker then I ever knew and this is 1998 by the way. I finished honorably only being able to put on a uniform correctly follow orders and try to keep a low profile as not to get grief or assaulted like what happened that got me looking to get out the NAVY and into the ARMY in the first place. It is 2015 now. Homelessness JOblessness anger and confusion even a short stay suicide hospital stay define those years never once bringing up that I was in the NAVy or the ARMY DQ which shows and proves I was dissociating and wanted to forget. But back to the point. I put in a claim last year for Service Conection PTSD by assault both sexual and physical, which infact has its own dedicated form, from the VA, which tells me I am not alone and this indeed is known to happen. They took my databased evidence based on my Social from MEPS showing the DQ. They listed it in the evidence file. They completely chose not to use it. The denied me still. No presumption of connection to what happened and what my claim of Personal Assault is.
So I get more angry. So I get more depressed. I get more upset. I will be the first to admit nearly 16 years of untreated undiagnosed PTSD from ASSUALT from which I just learned the connection of in 2013 upon just random internet searches and reading about PTSD for some random reason since it is talked about with all the conflicts we are involved in around the globe. So I learned that PTSD is not a new term. I thought it was. And then I found that list of what can cause it on the dod WEB SITE discussing PTSD. THen It listed Personal Assault by and from, your own, in uniform, especialy from senior ranking members as reasons PTSD anxiety starts and gets really debilitating socially etc...if not diagnosed and treated like me for 16 years.
So I am having a hard time putting this puzzle together with a lower than average ability to concentrate and put puzzles together like I could when I was younger.
I get overwhelmed easier. It is better for the VA this way I realize to string me along indefinitely confuse me.
So again I shall seek out help where you stated.
I have this HUGE piece of evidence INTER-SERVICE transfer attempt in uniform during the period of the assault I claim in strking detail..i can still feel that assholes face so clase to mine spitting on me..and well..i wnt to hit him in the face instead I freeze..as he hold ms against the bulkhead hitting me in the chest and arms not to leave marks..and threatening my career and life in general..before I reach my 22 birthday..out at sea in the middle of the ocean..after days of rough watches..and rough work details....and hazardous duties...so what the hell do I have to prove...and they this RO at the VA that reviews documents probably does not even know wht the heck an interservice transfer is..and what a PSYCH DQ is..and ignored it...although..the VA manual indeed lists cooberative evidence of attempts of UNIT TRANSFER to prove as substantiating evidence of assaults..as it does make a ton of sense that the assaulted is trying to flee the most logical way they can come up with ..while still having MOS left on contract...
GOD I need GOD to help at this moment...
I did my service HONORABLY..followed every order...as a good kid..infact I WOULD DO IT AGAIN..TO PROVE I AM A GOOD KID AND AMERICAN..but I am not that kid anymore..and 16 years have gone by...and I am only know what happened to me...
I really appreciate your advice. Infact I am hoping to make this easy and support would help. My biggest piece of evidence red flag SOS something is amiss and wrong is my, self started walk into an ARMY recruiter while enlisted in NAVY, DDform 368 inter-service transfer given by sponsoring service(army) and signed by parent service (NAVY) but DQd failure PSYH SPINE MUSCOSKELETAL in MEPS administered inter-servce transfer physical PSYCH is permenant not waiverable. 22 years old this is told to me over a phone call by army recruiter and he never talked to me again and I had 4 more years to go on my NAVY enlsitmetnt more confused and sicker knowing this failure, and I went darker then I ever knew and this is 1998 by the way. I finished honorably only being able to put on a uniform correctly follow orders and try to keep a low profile as not to get grief or assaulted like what happened that got me looking to get out the NAVY and into the ARMY in the first place. It is 2015 now. Homelessness JOblessness anger and confusion even a short stay suicide hospital stay define those years never once bringing up that I was in the NAVy or the ARMY DQ which shows and proves I was dissociating and wanted to forget. But back to the point. I put in a claim last year for Service Conection PTSD by assault both sexual and physical, which infact has its own dedicated form, from the VA, which tells me I am not alone and this indeed is known to happen. They took my databased evidence based on my Social from MEPS showing the DQ. They listed it in the evidence file. They completely chose not to use it. The denied me still. No presumption of connection to what happened and what my claim of Personal Assault is.
So I get more angry. So I get more depressed. I get more upset. I will be the first to admit nearly 16 years of untreated undiagnosed PTSD from ASSUALT from which I just learned the connection of in 2013 upon just random internet searches and reading about PTSD for some random reason since it is talked about with all the conflicts we are involved in around the globe. So I learned that PTSD is not a new term. I thought it was. And then I found that list of what can cause it on the dod WEB SITE discussing PTSD. THen It listed Personal Assault by and from, your own, in uniform, especialy from senior ranking members as reasons PTSD anxiety starts and gets really debilitating socially etc...if not diagnosed and treated like me for 16 years.
So I am having a hard time putting this puzzle together with a lower than average ability to concentrate and put puzzles together like I could when I was younger.
I get overwhelmed easier. It is better for the VA this way I realize to string me along indefinitely confuse me.
So again I shall seek out help where you stated.
I have this HUGE piece of evidence INTER-SERVICE transfer attempt in uniform during the period of the assault I claim in strking detail..i can still feel that assholes face so clase to mine spitting on me..and well..i wnt to hit him in the face instead I freeze..as he hold ms against the bulkhead hitting me in the chest and arms not to leave marks..and threatening my career and life in general..before I reach my 22 birthday..out at sea in the middle of the ocean..after days of rough watches..and rough work details....and hazardous duties...so what the hell do I have to prove...and they this RO at the VA that reviews documents probably does not even know wht the heck an interservice transfer is..and what a PSYCH DQ is..and ignored it...although..the VA manual indeed lists cooberative evidence of attempts of UNIT TRANSFER to prove as substantiating evidence of assaults..as it does make a ton of sense that the assaulted is trying to flee the most logical way they can come up with ..while still having MOS left on contract...
GOD I need GOD to help at this moment...
I did my service HONORABLY..followed every order...as a good kid..infact I WOULD DO IT AGAIN..TO PROVE I AM A GOOD KID AND AMERICAN..but I am not that kid anymore..and 16 years have gone by...and I am only know what happened to me...
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Does being discharges for a mental condition that even after 20 years no doctor can even explain count?
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SA Donald Brown
i never met a Dr, and what happened is a friend got orders to another base, and I had just gotten my orders to dep loy to the gulf. Guess my comment of best wishes was misinterpreted. I was told I had a personality disorder and handed my discharge, no VA bennifits
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SA Donald Brown
this was after I already had 2 years in, I fought the discharge, and was told that according to the Doctor I never saw I was now unfit for duty. When I asked them to introduce me to the Doc they told me I had already met them and spoken to them. Funny thing is the Doc was not in the same hospital I was sent to, I pointed this out, that`s when they told me i was not a vet and handed me my discharge. I have a DD-214 that says otherwise.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
I am telling you, this is weird, and I don't know what to say, about it. It sounds like you have a lot of interesting documentation. If the doctor was not in the hospital and is signing off on documents that is a redflag. You must of said something ..that was strongly worded...that made the suspect....especially while serving ...an enlistment under the UCMJ...it is a world all to itself. At least you got a DD214 and with that you should be able to get VA help. You never answered my question if you were assaulted in any way or Harrassed? But if not that maybe you were disgruntled in some way and said something that really raised some red flags?? that's just my introspection. This comment you made was it in writing or something? was it investigated by the JAG? Not trying to be a lawyer, but there are Specialized Boards for reviewing discharges. A lot of people were discharged with personality disorder but really had PTSD. This is documented.
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SA Donald Brown
It was not in writing,it was a passing comment to a friend. I do not honestly remember anything out of the normal occurring. I know I was thrilled to have deployment orders, was getting tired of shore duty
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So no shit, there I was, East Baghdad, Route Gold, part of a QRF that rolled out of our COP on Predators to recover an enginner company hum vee that got hit by an EFP. We got ambushed as we wereceive moving into the area and my humvee wound up crashing into the back of a Bradley when we started taking fire and my driver lost control. I was unresponsive when they pulled me out and carries me to another Bradley to evac me to FOB Liberty. They then threw me into a Blackhawk and sent me to the CSH on a backboard. When I got there they put me in a CT scanner. After I yhr w up on the nurse and damn near aspirated on my own vomit from the imaging flyid, they got my film. Told me I had a birth defect in my neck. Fast forward 16 months to me having surgery to fuse my C4-5-6 together. Birth defect my ass! And to top that all off I just finally got an MRI taken at the VA hospital to figure out why my lower back hurts so bad; turns out I have 2 herniated disks. Birth defect my ass!
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
man..fuk..thts BllSHT....you know in the USCODE and DOD VA code if they in MEPCOM recruit processing, did not discover these thing they call birthdefects and gave you a clean PULHES code at MEPSCOM(which is your physical 6 digit code) to enter service and did not discharge you medically process you out in the first 180 days due to your birthdefects then, from that point on they are to take full responsibility and not pull stunts like that...all things past that are PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE Connected unless you were breaking the UCMJ and got injured. ANd obviously you were not. Im pissed at how this goes down..
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Air force doctor told me I had herpes...I didn't. Navy doc two weeks later have me a totally different diagnosis.
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