Is it possible to enlist with a previous disc injury?

2016-11-19T00:26:03-05:00

A herniation of a lumbar disc that did not require surgical intervention and has not prevented the person from being physically active/passing physicals/working physically demanding jobs, specifically. What would someone have to do to get into the military with a previous injury like that, is it even possible?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2016 12:32 AM

2016-11-19T00:32:17-05:00

All the documents need to get to the physician at MEPS to review everything. Most likely submission of a waiver would be required. But I would say that it might be possible.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 19 at 2016 3:01 AM

2016-11-19T03:01:49-05:00

If I had to say "Undiagnosed" is a great word. I have Viral Bursitis in Both Shoulders but it wasn't diagnosed until well into My Career but only lost the use of my arms for 2 weeks a long time ago and no one questioned it. I also have a Pilonidal Cyst that exempted Rush Limbaugh from Military Service (I had one for 21 years in the Navy only made it uncomfortable to sit for a couple weeks)

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 19 at 2016 3:26 AM

2016-11-19T03:26:15-05:00

I admire anyone that wants to serve. I especially admire someone who wants to serve bad enough that they would overcome additional adversity to do it. I am not a doctor and do not know the additional risks. But isn't the potential of lifelong debilitating pain, or worse, a clear signal to think about a different career? I would strongly advise the person talk to an appropriate medical specialist before I gave any additional advice.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 19 at 2016 4:00 AM

2016-11-19T04:00:25-05:00

If you are already in you can get by but going back in will require a lot of medical review and most likely be a no go...

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Nov 19 at 2016 7:43 AM

2016-11-19T07:43:36-05:00

They will have to clear the physical and if it is in your medical records already you will have to get a waiver. I answer a lot of these and always assert that they are all decided on a case by case basis. What has happened, where is the person now, and what is the long term prognosis. I don't have a medical standards guide in front of me, but different career fields (and services) will call for different type of physicals as well. For instance an admin clerk and a firefighter have way different qualification standards. Again I can't speak to it being disqualifying with out the standards guide, which is always changing. When someone that has been out of the military for a period of time advises you that you won't get a waiver and they are going off what a guy told a friend of a guy they knew... they are usually wrong. Talk to the recruiter, a doc, and you will have to weigh the real idea of aggravating it further with your career choice, and go from there. Good luck.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 19 at 2016 9:10 AM

2016-11-19T09:10:47-05:00

Yes it is possible. All that is needed is complete documentation by a MD that specializes in the field. To basically give a waiver. I have seen plenty of Airborne soldiers with broken backs that have re-uped.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Nov 19 at 2016 4:25 PM

2016-11-19T16:25:11-05:00

It's a disqualifier and very unlikely to get a waiver. I had a guy with lordosis who wrestled, worked at a farm store, and was a big strapping guy. His waiver was denied.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2016 8:00 AM

2016-11-21T08:00:46-05:00

probably would need to be medically evaluated to determine eligibility for enlistment.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 9:27 AM

2016-11-27T09:27:26-05:00

The biggest question would be "are there any limitations" and the second question "could the Army, in the future be put on the hook for a previous injury/illness?" if the answer is no to both, you may be cleared by the MEPS doctor. You should review AR 40-501 for in depth review http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/r40_501.pdf
The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: "e. Healed fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae (805). A compression fracture, involving less than 25 percent of
a single vertebra is not disqualifying if the injury occurred more than 1 year before examination and the applicant is asymptomatic. A history of fractures of the transverse or spinous processes is not disqualifying if the applicant is asymptomatic."

r40_501.pdf

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Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Nov 29 at 2016 2:44 AM

2016-11-29T02:44:04-05:00

Are you speaking of yourself or someone else?

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Nov 29 at 2016 2:45 AM

2016-11-29T02:45:08-05:00

Did you or whom you speaking of were discharged because of said injury?

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Dec 8 at 2016 10:33 AM

2016-12-08T10:33:45-05:00

See your local Army Recruiter Wil th all medical records records, MRIs etc.

Response by North Georgia Preparedness made Sep 13 at 2017 12:55 AM

2017-09-13T00:55:06-04:00

So did you get in or what?

Response by Noah Rodriguez made Sep 20 at 2017 6:35 PM

2017-09-20T18:35:43-04:00

I also have a unremarkable/small bulge. Apparently everyone's telling me I should be fine. Word for word my report says that there is no abnormality seen, my spinal cord signal appears normal, & that I have no fracture and no alignment abnormality. The only thing my report says and I'm quoting this, is the words "very small, minimal & tiny bulge". It also says my neural foreman is unremarkable as well as my spinal canal diameter (meaning there's nothing to see). I met with a physical therapist and printed out a document called (AR 40-501 Chapter 2 for Enlistment Appointment & Induction). He tells me I have nothing on that paper. I think I should be fine what do you guys think.

Response by Noah Rodriguez made Sep 20 at 2017 6:36 PM

2017-09-20T18:36:21-04:00

By the way I also have no lumbar problems. Everything is for like C4, C5