At The End Of My Rope

[Colorado1135]

to start off I'm a 31 y/o Navy vet, I injured my back while in the Navy. I fell while responding to a fire out to sea with all my gear on, pain started getting worse everyday until I went in to medical. the sawbones told me it was a pulled muscle and gave me motrin. this went on for a year until the radiating pain, numbness and loss of mobility made me demand to see a specialist. I got in to see one, he said I should have come in a year ago when I was hurt by now it was too late to fix it and it would bother me the rest of my life. after a year and a half of countless injections, manipulations, physical therapy nothing worked and I was discharged at 20% for degenerative disk disease, and a few other back problems that were part of it. on one of my last doctor visits my orthopedist said I likely need surgery, was going to put me in for a consult but said there wasn't enough time and after I was discharged the VA would take care of it (I was out of limdu time to be able to recuperate.) I get lost in the system for 2.5 years, I called numerous places trying to get in to a VA doctor and I must not have been talking to the right people. I had filed all my VA paper work before separating, but didn't get any findings back until 1.5 years later. they diagnosed me with a "lumbar strain" gave me 10% and then said they would keep my compensation payment until 2014 to "recoup" the separation pay. I filed an appeal, but later found out I needed to file for a reevaluation, so I do that. yesterday the results come back. they said since the MRI and xrays looked ok, that there must not be anything wrong with me, they found no evidence of DJD and maintained it was a lumbar sprain. and because I was in noticeable pain and my abilities shown during the exam didn't reflect my xrays that they suspected me of malingering or faking it. they even went as far as saying I made no mention of radiating pain or episodes of extreme pain. so because they disagreed with my orthopedist in the Navy then

I have chronic pain that never goes away. a few times a day my back will pop out of place and back in within seconds to several minutes, causing excruciating debilitating pain. I have to wear a back brace to limit this popping out that happens. walking isn't too hard most of the time, sometimes it can hurt just to put pressure on my legs and stand. the pain is so severe it has caused me to get light headed and is nauseating at times and will stiffen way up, sometimes taking days to go down, chiropractor visits help from time to time to reduce the intensity of the constant pain, but do nothing for the extreme pain episodes. I can't lift anything without risking my back to go out, sometimes the popping is audible when it goes. If I try to do chores around the yard/house the pain grows in intensity and if I don't stop and take all pressure off the spine I'm in for a world of hurt. I don't know what to do. I finish college in December, I'm afraid of how much pain or further damage I will do once I start working full time, since I can barely go to class and take care of myself and my 2y/o son. I can see the writing on the wall unless something happens

[retiredat44]

While I have many other fish to fry and am fighting for intestinal disease a and neuro problems, I to have a bad back. I had degenerative disc disease.. when I was on active duty I had horrible kee pain. I asked the doctors for help.. but they said they could not find anythign wrong.. and a few year later it turned out my muscles were weak and I also had degenreative disc disease... not sure how to get them to link it, but it is very common for back problems to give leg pain... I suppose you need a doctor to link the pain to the back, leg etc..

also, I had a disc removed that broke and pushed into my spinal cord.. in a surgery 20 years ago..

But, since I have many other problems, this will go on the back burner (so to speak..) also , every couple of months I have to get injectionsin my spine for the pain and muscles..

[Colorado1135]

While I have many other fish to fry and am fighting for intestinal disease a and neuro problems, I to have a bad back. I had degenerative disc disease.. when I was on active duty I had horrible kee pain. I asked the doctors for help.. but they said they could not find anythign wrong.. and a few year later it turned out my muscles were weak and I also had degenreative disc disease... not sure how to get them to link it, but it is very common for back problems to give leg pain... I suppose you need a doctor to link the pain to the back, leg etc..

also, I had a disc removed that broke and pushed into my spinal cord.. in a surgery 20 years ago..

But, since I have many other problems, this will go on the back burner (so to speak..) also , every couple of months I have to get injectionsin my spine for the pain and muscles..

I've had so many needles in my back injecting drugs to help my back, nothing worked. I feel so helpless right now. I see no way I can even support myself after I graduate college in december. I've looked at every option and I come up with nothing. I guess i can plan on December as the deadline for something to happen. after that my future looks extremely grim.

[retiredat44]

I've had so many needles in my back injecting drugs to help my back, nothing worked. I feel so helpless right now. I see no way I can even support myself after I graduate college in december. I've looked at every option and I come up with nothing. I guess i can plan on December as the deadline for something to happen. after that my future looks extremely grim.

I can only offer support, but you have two choices, try to find a job that lets you sit down... or go on disability... I know that's very very cold.. but not much else..

even sititng dfown with a bad back can be hell, you have no chance of being able to work where you have to walk around.. unless you can find a doctor that wil lgive you better pain relief.. but that's very hard to do.. and if you get strong meds, you can't work well on strong pain killers... maybe you could get a job like couseling.. lots of jobs like that,, (when there are jobs open..)..

of course you need a higher degree because of competition... sorry, just thinking...

accounting is another..

[retiredat44]

it was given to me by the Navy Doc, and the VA gave me another one, along with one of those units that shocks the back muscles. kinda acts as a massager if you turn it up all the way, but it doesn't do anything else for me. been having to wear one daily since 2006

the other 10% is for tenitis, I can only assume I got from working in the engine room of a steam ship, even though I had hearing protection there was a decline in my threshold and a constant ringing. I keep a fan on at night so the hum of it offsets the ringing.

yes, I too use a fan.. very soothing blocks out noise and gives moving air.. and keeps me cool...

I wasn't treated fo back problems, only had complaints of leg pain and stomach issues and toxic checmicals with petroleum chemicals illnesses. So, I owuld have to have th eleg pain connected to my degenerative disc disease, that didn't dhow up until after I got out..

[Colorado1135]

yes, I too use a fan.. very soothing blocks out noise and gives moving air.. and keeps me cool...

I wasn't treated fo back problems, only had complaints of leg pain and stomach issues and toxic checmicals with petroleum chemicals illnesses. So, I owuld have to have th eleg pain connected to my degenerative disc disease, that didn't dhow up until after I got out..

I have done more research on my own, because the doctors don't know whats wrong. I have found information on unstable spine, and the symptoms match mine almost to a T. even to the point of it not being able to show up on normal xrays and MRI's. I called my rep and now the hurdle seems to be overcoming the wrong diagnosis. we'll see how it goes but it looks to be an even lengthier process and I could still end up being screwed under their disability rating. correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't being say 50% disabled mean your body operates at 50% capacity?

[pacmanx1]

Have you had a bone scan of your condition? My spine was hurting for years even though I proved to VA that I fell on my spine while in the military but they still denied my claim. After having a bone scan and several X-Rays, VA granted my claim for service connected spine injury.