Cervical Spine

[tnygaard]

I am active duty army working as a construction supervisor coming through the ranks as a plumber/carpenter and have 16 months to retirement. I have 3 herniated cervical disks in my neck. I have been seen by two specialist who recommend no surgery at this time. I have significant loss of range of motion and the Dr. stated I won't be able to work as a carpenter/painter/plumber since the overhead work will cause me extreme pain.

I am trying to narrow down what my disability % will be. Is this considered favorable or unfavorable ankylosis? What is unfavorable ankylosis and favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine?

Is there someway to ask a DR these questions?

[mags1023]

All,

Thank you very much for the rapid response. I have had three MRIs. The final one the surgeon stated that I have limited range of motion, maybe I can get the forward range of motion less than 15%. A few things all the MRIs state: C5-C6 disc herniation, osteophytic narrowing of the neural foramon, multi-level cervical spondylarthropathy, and spinal stenosis.

I just stumbled across this website and MAN am I glad. I am getting a little nervous about getting out and the medical stuff. As we all know, the magic number is 50 (percent that is). I have tinnitus, hearing loss, a broken wrist, thumb with a loss of range of motion, and the neck. If anyone knows of any other things to get checked please let us know.

I would definitely look at the mood disorder/depression issue that Rentalguy1 talked about. If you were very active and now you aren't because of the limitations your SCD's have placed on you, that indicates that you can't enjoy the activities you once did enjoy. Most clinics have depression surveys that you can fill out to see if you may be experiencing some depression or PTSD. Were you in Iraq or Afghanistan?

[Hoppy]

Just a couple words of encouragement about the pain issue. Even though a doctor gives you work restrictions which will have a continuing effect on your ability to work in your occupation, consider that the pain does in some cases resolve. I personally went two years in such pain that I did not even go fishing. The pain resolved without surgery and I now play golf. I met other folks in rehab. clinics who also responded to non surgical treatment.

I have herniated C-4/C-5 and C-6/C-7. During the pain years I barely functioned. I spent most days laying in the prone position to control pain. Sleeping was difficult. If I rolled or moved while sleeping I would wake up in terrible pain.

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

Go to the VA Brief in ACAP. The reg says you can do it at 2 years. The VA guy will be very helpful or not at all. The Ft Knox guy is awesome.

Schedule a record check with the va rep on base prior to your part one and he will tell you what to claim, and what to go to a Dr and get back up diagnosis prior to part 1 physical. You can do your VA claim and the retirement physical at the same time.

I am 90 days from retirement and am going to Dr's appt every week for this or that to ensue the "things" are well documented prior to getting out. after all is said and done, check your med records out for an "appt" and then make copies of everything and then scan them into your computer for back ups.....

great point on the mood depression, I think I am gonna bring that one up. I also have a c5/c6 herniated that was fixed with surgery.

I hope this helps, I am in the same boat as you so I will post as much as I learn here in my travels.....

[john999]

Hoppy

How did your pain resolve? My back pain seems to get worse every day. I keep wondering what I can do and why it hurts so much. I get discouraged because it seems to be constant, and does not respond to non-surgical things like shots, pills, and the PT I have done so far. I take lots of pain meds and that just makes me feel worse. I am disgusted with my pain doctor who just gave me a brace to wear. I am so drugged up most of the time I cannot think that straight about my options.

My back does not look that bad on an MRI but the never ending soreness makes me afraid to take car trips or do anything that might aggravate it. The trouble is that just sitting in a chair aggravates it after a while. Riding a bike makes it hurt worse. I guess soaking in a pool would be OK but I cannot do that 24/7. Do you get what I am saying about facing a seemingly endless pain cycle?

[SLEDGE]

Fibromyalgia and/or a sleep disorder with depression can imitate all kinds of nervous system disorders.

On the other hand, nervous system problems can cause anything and everything.

Getting the cause and effect straightened out, along with the proper diagnosis in the first place, is seldom, if never, a function of the VA.

In my opinion, the military is worse.

If you suspect something just ain't right before you exit the service, go immediately to a private sector doctor and get some answers.

It's going to be worth whatever it costs in the long term.

sledge

[SFCTRUCKDRIVER]

hey,

I had the worst disc in c5/c6, they had one option fusion. the bad thing is I thought for 2 years my shoulder/arm was hurt and I was walking around with a broken neck. take your neck seriously, and your back even more.....