Need Advice

[Art]

:D I am a retired Gulf War Vet. In 1996 I had to fight with V.A. two years for 40%.

20% for right arm pain and weakness. Now arm has unexplained moderate to severe twitch. I am right handed. V.A. never gave me a full explanation about the arm. I have been under Neuro. Dr care last year, he says twitch is unexplained. In 1998 I got Voc.

Rehab. four years of college to be a teacher now can't even write my own name sometimes. My lower back is rated at 10% but now my right leg is going numb. Neuro. Dr. says this maybe because of lower back not sure. The last year I have been tested and retested for everything . All of my doctors say they do not know what is causing this. Could be maybe? My left leg is rated at 10% because of scar tissue. Any suggestions?

[pacmanx1]

I understand a little of what you are going through because as I said, when I first started going to VA I did not know I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, IBS, injury to my spinal cord and I went to mental health and the doctor said that there was nothing wrong with me. I couldn't hold down a job and I was hurting real bad. I finally got a job and kept it long enough for the doctor to do a bone scan for my chronic pain and then all my VA doctors started to listen to me. No one likes to be in pain like that, I think you need to try to get into mental health to get some help with your depression. I had a rheumatologist tell me over fifteen years ago that there were no magic pills and I had to learn to live with my pain. A psychiatrist took me off all my pain medication and told me that my pain medication was causing my frequent migraine headaches. I still have the migraines and the chronic pain. So the bottom line is just hang in there and believe it has to get better or at least hope that it will. Just keep going and get treated/tested and when they have a name for your condition then you can try to file a claim.

Hope the best

Edited March 5, 2010 by pacmanx1

[hawkfire27]

If that is exactly what the doc said " I don't THINK it is ALS" then that means it might be. Request and follow up on getting any and all tests for that if you can...Request to see an ALS specialist. Your doc might just not know enough about ALS to confirm a diagnosis, so get in to see a specialist. Doctor are always careful when it come to illnesses and conditions they don't know a lot about, they definately don't like diagnosing them.

Another thing might be they don't feel comfortable diagnosing you with a Service Connectable condition if they are 100% sure, as they can get in trouble for this, (This does happen)

Anyway good luck

[Art]

Just got back from a two day stay in the hospital. I just started twitching and shaking in my arms and legs. My wife took me to ER. and DRs thought I was having a small stroke. But after another MRI, CT, and several tests no diagnosies. Blood work and everything all negative. I guess this is more paper work to send to the VA. I am thankfull for all advice everyone here gives me. I just wish DRs would tell me something. Thanks again

[adnick]

Art:

I have a dx of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, it took EMGs (many) Nerve Conduction tests (many) and some DNA testing on my nerves to get the dx....This happened over a couple of years and I saw many different Neuro Dr's, Multiple Sclerosis Dr's, and Rheumatologists during the process. Problem for me is that I have several other injuries that have also contributed to my overall nerve damage, TBI, Spinal Cord Injury, whiplash ect.....

I have loss of feelings in my hands, feet, arms, legs, tingling in almost all of the same areas, pain, muscle spasms, contractions, involuntary movements, muscle atrophy, and anytime I sleep for more than an hour or so my hands "draw-up" and look as though I have Rheumatoid Arthritis....

In the SC write-up from the VA there are many possible causes listed including "Environmental Hazards" and I had a letter in my medical records confirming that I was in a Chemically Contaminated area during Desert Storm.

My advice is to keep on your Doctor for referrals, ask for EMGs and Nerve Conduction tests, and keep a note pad (diary) with of problems/smytoms...

Best of Luck,

Nick

[Art]

I am not sure if I should file for SSD or TDIU since my disability rating is 10% for left leg, 20% for right arm, 10% for lower back.

[pacmanx1]

I believe you can file for both, either way don't forget your depression issues when you file. Make sure you let them know, SSD is social security and TDIU is VA so they are totally different but you can get both for the same conditions.