Spine Claim Questions

[rdnkjeeper]

I am new here and been reading information on this site for the last couple of days. There is so much information here that it has made my head spin. A little history so maybe someone can help me ask for the right things. I hit a towel bar in the military on my middle back and a few days later I was playing racketball and jumped to get the ball and went numb from my chest down. Spent three days on bedrest. I do have all the records supporting this. These injuries occured a few months before getting out. The Dr at my final physical told me to keep my mouth shut about my back, until I get got out and then put in a claim with the VA.

I got out and put a claim in with the VA, it took them about a year and service connected my middle back with chronic muscle spasms. I have been complaining about my back for years, but the VA didn't want to do anything. I opened a claim in June about connecting my lower back. I started noticing shooting pains down both legs for about a year before opening a claim. The VA got a new Dr at the clinic I go to. He said he reviewed my records and found that I have had back issues for years and what did any Dr say was wrong with my back. I told him muscle spasms....he then asked if I had had an MRI, told him no. He was shocked and order one right away.

The MRI showed that I have......(will type in the report and maybe someone will help me decode it)

Finding:

Thoracic spine: There is preservation of vertebral body height and alighment throughout the thoracic spine. The bone marrow signal is unremarkable. The thoracic cord demonstrates normal caliber and signal. There is a prominent central disc herniation at T9/T10 resulting in a mild indentation of the cord at this level. There is also a disc herniation, asymmetric to the right resulting in narrowing of the right portion of the thecal sac at T3/T4. Disc bulges are also present at T4/T5, T7/T8, T8/T9, and T11/T12.

Lumbar spine: There is preservation of vertebral body height and alignment throughout the lumbar spine. The bone marrwow signal is unremarkable. There is a loss of T2 signal within the L4/L5 and the space height at L5/S1. There is a focus of increased T2 signal within the posterior aspect of the L5/S1 disc compatible with annular tear. The conus ends at L1. No abnormal conal signal is present.

The L1/L2 and L2/L3 levels were not image in the axial plane but appear unremarkable on sagittal images.

L3/L4: There is a diffuse posterior disc bulge with bilateral facet hypertrophy in mild to moderate central canal and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

L4/L5: There is a left posterolateral disc herniation resulting in mild narrowing of the left lateral recess and mild left neural foraminal stenosis.

L5/S1: There is a central disc herniation resulting in mild central canal stenosis.

Impression:

Multilevel degenerative changes are present as described within the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Like I said my head is spinning so any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. I plan on waiting until this claim is done then opening another or appealing depending on what happens. Sorry for such a long post, but I also need to know what to ask for. I don't know what I am entitled to. They are pushing for surgery on the T9/T10 one right now. I am really nervous because I am the only bread winner in my house and if I can't work after the surgery what am I going to do? I have not decided if I am going to have surgery or not, but it is getting harder and harder to make it through a shift at work.

Thanks everyone.

[rdnkjeeper]

I say go for your dream!!!

I have been doing A LOT of thinking lately. (yes since I found out how bad my back was) Thinking back about the military doctors and the VA doctors. I should have had an MRI done in 1996, not 2008! I am pretty sure I have been living with most of these conditions for years. I go and complain to the VA and I get "There really isn't anything wrong with your back according to the xrays". I always felt like the VA thought I was faking my conditions or that I was just a wimp.....so I have just sucked it up......now it might be too late.

One a good note the VA did send up the copy of my MRI so I dropped that off with my specialist today. I am hoping that he calls me in sometime next week so I can get his diagnosis after looking at the films. I am going to ask him to put everything in writing and also if he would do one of those IMO forms......going to bring my military papers with me.

[steve&pat]

I kind of stole or checked out a 1971 X-RAY ( it was still there ) of my lower back at the VA in about 1990 .I had it read by my local doctor and a radioligist(sp). I had the claim open and a personal hearing coming up.Long story short it was connected at 40 % because the hospital didnt care for the STRAIN as they called it and it deteroiated over the years due to there inattentiveness. Then later a mri verified the damage.

BUT IF YOU CAN GET THE ORIGINAL X-RAYS-JUST CHECK THEM OUT AND KINDA WALK OUT WITH THEM. Have your doctor look at them. Usually the VA destroys them after a few years.

The va got mine back -but I had the local hospital make me full copys-when they found out they were for VA claim THEY DID IT FOR FREE===

STEVE & PAT

[PE1]

One of the Doctors that I see says that the urinary frequency and IBS is due to my lower back IVDS. I thought it was due to a perforated appendectomy and a cholecystectomy 2 years later. If it's true, then the urinary frequency and IBS are secondary to IVDS.

Originally I thought I would get 20% for IVDS alone. And 40% for the urinary frequency and 30% for IBS would be by themselves. But now, will they be grouped? 20+40+30=90???? did I do it right?

[hollywoodnc]

Wish I was still able to turn wrenches with stamina. I have tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools gathering dust. The most I do now is teach my 11 year old how to change oil and brakes. I miss working on aircraft and my own toys. I also miss being able to sit at a desk long enough to write the news and make deadlines. That was the VA's voc rehab plan for me. It worked well for a few short years, and then I go to where I couldn't even do that.

Lesson to all readers: Don't play around with your back. If it hurts to do something, stop doing that something. Not in a few minutes, not when the job is done, but right then! Get to a doc, get a diagnosis, and get treatment. If you have to suck it up and stop working (even at a young age) do it. It is better than the alternative of sitting in a wheelchair due to paralysis at the age of 40 or 45.

I agree with you 100%!!!

NO job is worth ruining your health! NONE!!!

Because, where are you going to end up in your golden years?

I refuse to slow down, but I work at MY own pace.

OK...a slight change of conversation to break the monotony...

...if I did it right, there's an uploaded picture of my toy FRANKENHAWK!

I call it FRANKHAWK, because it is a 1976 Buick Skyhawk consisting of many different parts from other vehicles of all years.

It has a 1966 Buick 300 from a Special, a complete Quik (4x4)wire harness (w/50amp ign. kill switch), a 1996 Saturn Fuse/relay center box (hollowed out for Quik Wire fuse block), Ford, Chevy, and Land Rover Misc. parts tastefully incorporated into the car...and it is FAST!!! :D

Surprisingly, ALL the electrical components function flawlessly! NO IDIOT lights or buzzers/alarms, safety neutral switches, etc., are in this car...

only mechanical gauges!

Stretch would appreciate this...

I had cut the plenium off of a 231 V6 Intake, drilled and tapped the stock 300 manifold to take a modern day 2GC rochester carb.

It is a 5spd, with a 3.73 posi. I want to bring it to a 3.42. It had a 2.56 stock final drive ratio!

To keep the unibody stiff from flex, a roll cage was installed.

I had the car sandblasted, and as you can see, the body is now primered to prevent rust, and is in need of work (lot's of small dents, dings, and small patches of cancer).

I want to get it painted 1969 Camaro 'Hugger Orange'! B)

Vietnam Vets remember THAT cool paint scheme...don't you?

Now...what does this have to do with this lower back claim thread...?

Well, after doing some of these specialty projects, it took a toll on mine!

Anyway...it's a break from the monotony!

[hollywoodnc]

I went to the VA for diagnosis (1984) and they said my back is fine, right after a company refused to hire me because I had a back back. I never told them anything about my back. The company doctor could tell by the way I was standing. They did Xrays and the whole bit. The company, Martin Mariette, said that I could not lift over 10 pounds. They must have found out I was a VN Vet.

Rental is right about doing something about it now, but don't go to a VA doctor to find out what the problem is. You might not get a correct diagnosis.

Hollywoodnc,

I just felt I had to qualify my idea before anyone thought I was more mentally screwed up than I already am.

To my way of thinking I owe this to Vets. I made everything from Harley belt drive and sprocket parts to space shuttle parts; every thing in between. Made parts from 1/32" up to 40' Long. I made the first law rocket tooling and most parts for the first machine that made the explosion device in air bags.

None of that really matters anymore. What really matters is passing it on, as long as I can. It didn't cost me anything. The last thing I would want to do is make parts. As long as I can hold a piece of chalk, I can try to pass it on, even if sporadically. This will have to be my hobby/therapy. I don't even need the machines except to build the confidence a Vet needs to give it a try.

Maybe it is just a dream.

No...I don't think you're mentally screwed up...I think you're PISSED, and rightfully so!

After all the shit that you Vietnam Vets went through? Who wouldn't be pissed!?

I'm pissed, and I wasn't even in Vietnam!

For the miserable life that you appeared to have had, you managed to FOCUS on something that is valuable...a profession that a lot of people have a hard time comprehending, AND helping others, so that they don't follow the path that a lot of you guys did.

I think you should be commended for that.

What do you mean: None of that really matters anymore.

Sure it does! Design something, and PATENT IT! You have a Son. Surely HE matters!

Don't give up, because of what these SCUMBAGS did to you over the years...it ain't worth it! Try to enjoy your time with your family, and when the VA letter enters into your mailbox, then "Cross that Bridge when you come to it!"

[hollywoodnc]

I say go for your dream!!!

I have been doing A LOT of thinking lately. (yes since I found out how bad my back was) Thinking back about the military doctors and the VA doctors. I should have had an MRI done in 1996, not 2008! I am pretty sure I have been living with most of these conditions for years. I go and complain to the VA and I get "There really isn't anything wrong with your back according to the xrays". I always felt like the VA thought I was faking my conditions or that I was just a wimp.....so I have just sucked it up......now it might be too late.

One a good note the VA did send up the copy of my MRI so I dropped that off with my specialist today. I am hoping that he calls me in sometime next week so I can get his diagnosis after looking at the films. I am going to ask him to put everything in writing and also if he would do one of those IMO forms......going to bring my military papers with me.

Bernie...

I've been arguing with these PRICKS, about my back since 1976!

Quick story...

AFTER I was discharged, I flipped a car. I had compressed L/2 when the car rode up on a telephone guide wire and landed back on it's wheels. I only did a single flip (I wasn't going any faster than 40 mph).

Despite the fact that I mentioned it time, and time again that I DID NOT injury my L/2 in the service, BUT, my S/C condition (Pin penetration into the joint space of Lt hip w/arthritis) was causing me to walk with an antalgic gait.

Diagnosis: I have (from that accident) a 40% loss of disc height of L/2. It also goes without saying that I have a burst disc, if I managed to compress a vertebra.

Looking at this from a Biomechanical point of view, I was concerned that this gait was severe enough to cause my L/2 to heal wrong. I filed for a secondary to claim when in fact it had. I have a spinal canal stenosis.

Additionally, a scumbag VA doctor attempted removal of the 3 pins, to end up not removing them, and instead of reinstalling the retaining nuts (to prevent pin shift) he left them off, and clipped the pins even with the femur!?

The gait continued, until in 1989, I was diagnosed with a severely deformed hip, and finally, someone with common sense agreed with me, that I was a candidate for a THR!

The moral of the story, is that for many years, I constantly contended that my antalgic gait, was to and DID contribute to the improper healing of the L/2 vertebra!

Surprisingly, the DVA, DOES NOT view the connection, and just recently the AMC claims that it is NOT PROXIMATELY related!?

HUH...?!

This has been going on for YEARS with these bastards, and they always had the upper hand.

BUT, NOW that I can afford to see SPECIALISTS in this field, I have the upper hand.

Recently I've been talking to and visiting different doctors, and have discovered that I've been correct all along...that GAIT, can conceivably contribute to ailments in the Lumbar spine.

Ironically, conditions caused by GAIT, can also contribute to deteriorating conditions in the lower extremities, via pinched nerves either from purtruding discs, foriminal narrowing, etc.

Rentalguy, I'm sure would agree.

So, the bottom line...

DO NOT see a doctor. See a SPECIALIST! If possible, see a Professor that teaches the topic!

Lastly...I THANK THE GODS, for MRI's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!!! B)