cervical strain Cervical Issues

[2vetsin1home]

in 2007 I was awarded 10% for a cervical strain, 10% for shoulder strain and 10% for DDD. I had a flare up of issues although I have always hurt. I have a copy of all my PT while I was in from 2001-2005 and I was seeing a VA PT for 2 months, doing traction and stretches. One day I woke up and I was in sever pain a few days later I couldn't feel my R arm or pinky and ring finger. So I went to the VA ER , since it is service connected. BIG MISTAKE! I had an MRI done and they said I had nothing wrong with me, in the ER paperwork he stated I had pain whil unrinating, never even talked about urinating and didn't have any pain when I did pee.. So I got the next day and get a copy of my MRI because I know something is wrong. I get it as well as the MRI report. It says I have bulging at C-7/t-1 so I make an appointment with a orth sport medicine doc to see if he can see something. He puts me on lyrica while I await an MRI of my brachial Plexus. I do that and everything looks ok but I am still in pain going on 8 years with severe pain going on about 5 months now. He can't do anything for me since I have done it all, all anti-inflammatory, pain meds, chiropractor, massage, you name it I have done it. So he sent me to the spine hospital and I went yesterday and he told me I had an annular tear at C5, which no one has ever said anythign about and it is causing the problem. He said I have most likely had it all this time and it has not healed on its own and I may need surgery, we did an epidural injection yesterday and I am dying today and my arms were numb all last night.

My question is should I file for an increase on the claims I already have or file for a new issue and how do I even go about doing that?

[john999]

I would ask for an increase in the cervical strain issue. I have the same problems. You know the drill. Next thing will be an injection into your neck. I have stenosis C-5,C-6 and pressure on BP like you. I have pain under my shoulder blade and then running down my arm on the left side. I have had this for over ten years. Surgery is the very last resort and not by some intern at the VA either.

[2vetsin1home]

I would ask for an increase in the cervical strain issue. I have the same problems. You know the drill. Next thing will be an injection into your neck. I have stenosis C-5,C-6 and pressure on BP like you. I have pain under my shoulder blade and then running down my arm on the left side. I have had this for over ten years. Surgery is the very last resort and not by some intern at the VA either.

I just had the injection in my neck yesterday. My doctor (not at the VA) said it probably would not help since it has been liek this for so long, that it wont heal on its own. I too have the pain under my shoulder blade and on top of my shoulder and down my arm.. It sucks.. So an increase on the cervical strain issue. Thanks so much for your input!

[COOL BREEZE]

I would ask for an increase in the cervical strain issue. I have the same problems. You know the drill. Next thing will be an injection into your neck. I have stenosis C-5,C-6 and pressure on BP like you. I have pain under my shoulder blade and then running down my arm on the left side. I have had this for over ten years. Surgery is the very last resort and not by some intern at the VA either.

I agree, any cutting that needs to be done to me will not be done by the VA. If they botch that procedure good luck in suing them-impossible. And most type of surgeries done for this issue end up causing more complications including confining member to a wheel chair, if not already'

[Berta]

You stated:

"He can't do anything for me since I have done it all, all anti-inflammatory, pain meds, chiropractor, massage, you name it I have done it. So he sent me to the spine hospital and I went yesterday and he told me I had an annular tear at C5, which no one has ever said anythign about and it is causing the problem. He said I have most likely had it all this time and it has not healed on its own and I may need surgery, we did an epidural injection yesterday and I am dying today and my arms were numb all last night. "

I would suggest that you read over the Section 1151 info in our FTCA forum and if you can determine that VA should have picked up on the annular tear sooner and their lack of diagnosis and treatment for it has directly caused you additional problems,

then you could file Section 1151 claim in addition to the claim for increase.

"He said I have most likely had it all this time"

Did he determine this via an MRI?

[Mr cue]

i have the same problem ay c5 c6 with foraminal stensios i took many year of different thing before va gave me the mri ctscan and emg.

i would not let the va touch me i have been at the va for over 18 yrs and seen the veterans who let them touch them. they dont look good.

like other veteran say last resort.

[john999]

Yulooking

C-5 and C-6 is where I have my problem and it affect the whole left side of my upper back and into my shoulder. Just typing makes it hurt. I got Dragon program but I never use it. The nerves are being squeezed and irritated. Then the spastic cramp starts in my shoulders. If someone does something it should be a neurosergeon. They usually don't do anything unless you are really in severe trouble because of obvious risk. I don't want to be in an iron long or on a respirator.