armygrl

Thank you for your reply and understanding. I am just dumbfounded that after all my medical paperwork to include 7 Lumbar Epidural shot series and 2 surgeries in 2004 and 2007 they would reduce me and tell me I am fine? I thought my private doctor would do me more justice as he is the best in Orlando and I would not clog up the VA docs...besides I did not want the VA cutting on me. Since 1998 I have used my private insurance because I get in faster, I get better results and I trust a spine doctor better than an MD.

Hi peoples, this place is of great knowledge and I wish I would have found this before! I just need a general idea on my situation ETS'd 90'. Round # 2 Desert Storm...ETS'd 91' I had back problems from in the Army. It took VA until 2000 to do a CT scan, I get a 10%. The next 4 years I go through many painful days, Lumbar shots, surgery (diskectomy L5-S1) in 2004 (via private doctor) VA pays me 100% for 2 months convalescent and up to 40% rating. Still not better, continue w/private Orthopaedic, shots again and May 2007 my 2nd back surgery (diskectomy L4-L5) I go in July to ask for 100% convelecence for my 25 days out and an increase since I am actually feeling worse....both sets of 1st 3 toes are numb, ankle joints not functioning due to nerve damage. Just received my denial and a decrease from 40% to 10% they said I am better and no more Lumbosacral back pain? My private doctor was furious they based my pain/and back situation on using a goniometer which calculates degress you can bend. Some days I can bend forward more than others...........some days I cannot get out of bed. The C&P doctor was very disinterested in what I was explaining to her, I felt she was judging me in a personal manner and had no interest in wanting to help me. Lumbosacral pain vs. Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis. Still in pain and I am 6 months post op.