ptsd Should I Claim This? Ptsd? Treated By Psychiatrist

[MDB1968NM]

Hi Everybody,

Well, I should be getting a copy of my SMRs this week and I have few questions but will start with this one.  In 2006, I had major orthopedic surgery that created a ton of pain.  I was on all sorts of pain killers and anti nausea medicines and was "found" the next day in "respiratory arrest" and "ashen colored" in my recovery room (I was not on monitoring).  The eventual outcome was a morphine overdose (still have not received all the information from Wilford Hall Med Center) and I spent several days in the ICU.  I had some "cardiac ischemia" and after 3 months of testing I was given a clean bill of health.   It was all very scary and up until Dec 2008, I never spoke of the "incident".  I went to see the psychiatrist at the base for some chronic pain problems (looking for relaxation and coping skills) and walked out of there crying my eyes out.  Yup....I had a problem.  We conducted "Exposure Therapy" for months and I finally was able to relive the "incidents" and discuss them without crying my eyes out.

A VSO rep stated ( I have not chosen one yet ) that I should most definitely claim this as PTSD.  I was not in combat at the time and the rep stated that does not matter.....it was a traumatic incident "dying" in the hospital.  I feel pretty OK about the whole situation but at times I still get a bit anxious about it when discussed.

My psychiatrist and I think that I am good to go now...much better than before, but I am trying to understand if this should be mentioned on my claim.  I don't want to frivolously place things on a govt document.  Like I stated earlier I feel pretty OK about the whole incident and can talk about it without breaking down so essentially I feel that I am OK!

I appreciate all your thoughts on the matter and want to do the right thing.

Thank you.....

:P

[Berta]

Forgot to ask- do you have documented residuals of the shoulder injury?

[JamesBreckenridge]

Re the PTSD... it doesn't sound like you're back to "normal." It sounds like you still have some re-experiencing, and anxiety regarding hospitals. No, it's not debilitating... but it pretty obviously had an affect on you.

I think you should claim it, because it HAPPENED, and you've got good documentation on it. Let the examiner decide how bad the symptoms are now that you've been treated and probably reached maximum medical benefit. Let us go ahead and service connect you for non-combat PTSD, even if it's just at 0 percent. If you wind up having to be on medication for it, or if during stressful episodes it affects your social or occupational life, that's worth 10 percent. You don't know the future, and the thing about PTSD is that it can sneak up on you years later. It might get worse.

[jim n ok]

Re the PTSD... it doesn't sound like you're back to "normal." It sounds like you still have some re-experiencing, and anxiety regarding hospitals. No, it's not debilitating... but it pretty obviously had an affect on you.

I think you should claim it, because it HAPPENED, and you've got good documentation on it. Let the examiner decide how bad the symptoms are now that you've been treated and probably reached maximum medical benefit. Let us go ahead and service connect you for non-combat PTSD, even if it's just at 0 percent. If you wind up having to be on medication for it, or if during stressful episodes it affects your social or occupational life, that's worth 10 percent. You don't know the future, and the thing about PTSD is that it can sneak up on you years later. It might get worse.

good answer james

[MDB1968NM]

Hmmmm...for some reason the multi quote is not working so please bear with me...

For everyone this may change or help assist the discussion:  I am STILL on Active Duty.  I got accepted for retirement on Friday!!!  In June I will have 20 years and ONE day....LOL.  Terminal Leave starts in Feb 2010.  

Berta:  As far as the in-service treatment....100% yes.  It is documented, the Summary of Conditions they now have on the top of each entry has Aircraft Incident.  I have been operated on each shoulder...once with a USAF Ortho Surgeon and the other from a civilian Ortho surgeon....both within the past year.  They have done MRIs of the brain...the most recent one was about 3 weeks ago as I have another issue going on and they wanted to see if there were any changes to it.  Everything appears normal...no tumors, no masses, nothing out of the ordinary.

My Civ Ortho Surgeon who just happened to do my total knee replacement 3 months ago also was the one that did my shoulder.  He will be seeing me again in a month or so and indicated that he may have to go back in because of the pain and issues that are going on with them.  I am half tempted to just say screw it but being on pain medication (narcotics) is really no way to go through life.  They ease the pain...do not make me feel any different...but they make me very constipated and if I do not take them as scheduled, withdrawls happen very fast.  I am seeing a pain management specialist for all of the pain issues to include severe lower back and groin pain (we start injections in November).  I am STILL waiting to see the urologist after some "issues" with incontinence a month ago.  Those episodes have passed thankfully as they were highly embarrassing to say the least.  ( I received 2 emergency MRI's, Xrays, and a CT scan as well as lots of blood tests all showed normal indications).  The Ultrasound of my groin showed varioceles, hydroceles, a 4mm stone in the left testicle, some cysts etc.  I have no earthly idea if these causing some of the symptoms.  Again I am awaiting the Urologist....very frustrating wait.

Lets just say I have some med issues to sort through....most of which are frustrating and confusing.

As far as meds....they have had me on NUMEROUS ones for over a year now.  I have looked at the side effects but to be honest, I wouldn't even begin to understand them all.  Current medications are Ambien for sleep (have not been able to sleep w/o it for over a year due to pain), morphine twice daily, percocet up to 6 times daily for breakthrough pain (I take one or two a day now), clonazepam for "anxiety" but it is actually used to help me through the detox as my dosages are reduced.  It was successful in getting me off of the Oxycontin which is the worst substance known to man as far as I am concerned (this was used for the knee pain prior to the total knee replacement).  So I am on a significant amt of drugs all regulated by my wife and the pain management doctor who I see every three weeks or so.  He is a former Army Anesthesiologist and has been my constant anchor throughout this whole ordeal (he is in civilian practice now...I have been referred to him since the beginning of the year).

Berta...I am not sure what documented residuals are?  Civilian OS is aware of my situation, base PT has been treating me for it with no success for many months now, and as I mentioned earlier I will most likely be recommended for surgery again (not sure if I want to go through that).  You also bring up an excellent point.  I saw a neurologist about a year ago at the same time of the migraines because I was losing feeling in my hands and had elbow pain/tingling.  He conducted EMG testing and said my nerves were firing just fine but diagnosed me with Carpal Tunnel syndrome...which I wear braces on the wrists when I sleep since.  They seem to have helped a bit, but I still get tingling/numbness in the hands each day (not anywhere near as bad as prior).

I am sorry to hear of your loss.  If I did not make it through the situation, my wife would probably feel pretty strongly as you do.  I, however, am fortunate to be here and count my blessings every day.

James.....very good point.  I think you are spot on with your recommendation and I think that is what the VSO was getting at with me.

Thanks for everyone's help....believe it or not it is just good to talk about this.....makes feel better that people care!

:P

[john999]

I think taking all those narcotics will cause depression over time. I have chronic pain and morphine is hell. I think you have a great claim for a mental health condition secondary to the physical injuries. Also, the aircraft incident would be good as a PTSD claim since you were badly injured. What happened in the hospital I am not sure about as far as a PTSD claim. Usually, things like accidents where you are severely injured are a easily verifiable stressor. I have never heard of a surgery being seen as a stressor. You have a lot of claims to make. Make all of them. Make sure all these things are documented before you get discharged.

[MDB1968NM]

Thanks John,

I really don't feel saddened or depressed.  I am praying that in a couple of months they will be able to get me off of the narcotics altogether.  Yes that would mean some increased pain but to be honest not having to be constipated all the time would be nice  (probably too much information...LOL).  As far as the aircraft incident...it is listed in my medical records as "Aircraft Accident" but really is just part of doing the job.  What I mean by this, is that the severe turbulence and the injuries that were a result of that, did not or does not cause me to feel any angst whatsoever.  I was more scared getting shot at than this.  It is just the nature of the beast....sometimes crap just happens when flying.

I have a copy of a part of my SMRs that my last base was kind enough to make for me on CD.  What is a bit troubling are the errors contained within.  Everything from missing information to contradictory information from one doctor to the next.  Funny how many errors actually do happen.  There were pages from other people in there....last time I checked I was not being reviewed for a PAP smear...LOL! (Some woman's information is in there, tomorrow I will make sure that the current records have that sent to her base).

I really will need some help developing this claim.  I hope to find a great VSO to help walk me through this (with my assistance) as there are 3 huge volumes of things in there....literally.  I will take the folks advice here seriously.  You have all been down this road before and I truly value all of your advice.  THANK YOU for that!!!!!

:P