Lower Back; Help Please

[Aremihc]

This is my first post and I apologize if it's in the wrong area.

I researched other peoples issues but I find mine to be a bit unique.

I will do this chronologically and as summarized as possible:

I left the U.S. Army Infantry in May of 2009, after serving since Jan 2006.

I had not found any work but I was attending school (GI bill was coming in nice). When I received a recall packet (not unexpected at all) I dropped school happily to have my back checked out. Soon enough, they found the problem and released me.

9 Oct 2009

FINDINGS: There is bilateral spondylolysis at L5 with grade 1- spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1.

IMPRESSION: 1. Bilateral spondylolysis at L5 with grade 1 anterolisthesis of L5

on S1. 2. Indistinctness of the superior endplate of L5, this may be

artifactual, however a CT scan of the lumbar spine should be obtained for more

complete evaluation.

15 Oct 2009

Radiologic Examination Report

Procedure: CT L-Spine w/o contrast

CAT scan lumbar spine

There is grade 1 spondylolisthesis. No abnormality otherwise identified.

Transcription Date/Time: 15 Oct 2009

23 Oct 2009

Provisional Diagnosis:

ACQUIRED DEFORMITY - SPONDYLOLISTHESIS

Reason for Request:

23 yeat old USIRR male with grade 1 spondylolisthesis, please evaluate and provide recommendations for deployability.

---

Consult(s): -Referred To: PHYSICAL THEMPY CONSULT (72 Hours) Specialty: Clinic: PHYSICAL THERAPY

Primary Diagnosis: ACQUIRED DEFORMITY - SPONDYLOLISTHESIS

2. sleep disturbances: Pt reports trouble sleeping seocndary to his physical symptoms. Has tried Ambien in past, was not able to

tolerate med due to adverse side effects. Will start trial of Lunesta.

Medication(s): -ESZOPTCLONE (LUNESTA) 1MG--PO 1MG TAB - TAKE 1 TABLET By MOUTH AT BEDTIME #30

RFO Ql 30 Rf: 0

&

MedBoarded

Now, I spent some time trying to get school back organized (disaster) when I got back.

That and I took on the big ole VA alone:

Dear Mr. (so and so)

We made a decision on your claim for service connected compensation received on

December 10,2009.

We determined that the following condition was not related to your military service, so service

connection couldn't be granted: Spondylolisthesis (claimed as back and spinal condition)

During this time I was being made a cuckold by my now ex-wife who thankfully; bore none of my children.

So I deal with my divorce and struggle to survive. Having still worked absolutely no jobs, I try for school again.

Only this time I received my GI Bill a day after the last day to drop classes.

I'm basically living out of my car when Dec 2011 rolls around and----

*Ring ring ring*

"We want you to be Intelligence for the reserves"

Ummmm.... unemployed for 3 years; yea, i'll go intelligence.

BUT

I want my back taken care of first because it's worse than ever.

VA denied me so I never tried any support other than a chiropractor.

I'm a 11B grunt, what do people expect??

Reserves say: No problem

VA looks at my file like a train wreck, my unit gets SRP so probably deploying; my back gets checked:

LOD - now they're looking at a medboard (#2 by my recollection).

I'm stressed, I started to smoke marijuana because my g-ma that raised me (I moved one block from her nursing center to help feed/entertain) died a few months ago. I self referred to my command and now i'm in OSAP.

While OSAP will help me quite smoking cigarettes, I doubt it will be as useful for me with marijuana.

(My joke: Nicotine gum was my gateway drug.... didn't go over well)

I know i'm going to smoke, it helps better than all the meds.

My unit revoked my security so no longer can I "run S-2". Instead I'll be tasked to menial 11B labor for a stoner.

I came to work, I busted ass; I even said "I'll come in for the flag". What did I get in return?

First Ibuprofen, then;

Tramadol

Baclofen

Meloxicam

I initially opted out (myself!) of all of the higher end drugs because of my addictive personality.

I'll pass on the surgeries, i'm 25; I should be able to do therapy! (Not a therapy 2 hours away, making the event worthless because the drive back will destroy everything they do....)

All the meds either make me sick; or make me loopy.

I only take baclofen now for bedtime when necessary...

-----------

Now i'm supposed to talk to someone in the benefits section eh?

It's been 3 years, I feel pain in my UPPER back, shoulders, neck, and arms as well as my lower extremities. My spine looked dominoed at my chiropractors and now the VA tells me:

Treat it psychosomatically

The pressure has me curling my toes all day long, I am in pain, I have trouble finding and holding suitable work that doesn't make me feel like a bus ran over me.

They have had me shredding paper in the reserves because they know about my problem.

When I've been asked about my back from VA, they say "Can you touch your toes".

Never have they asked, "How far can you go before it hurts"....

I always touched my toes and said "Thanks, now my back feels like ice" to those bastards!

Any helpful data would be nice, I want to apply for 100% (Not looking to be a lifer people, I just have NO SUPPORT FOR MY CONDITION). I just want resolution so I can get back to a REGULAR life.

My doctor should write me a bed rest prescription; it will prevent me from being hard labored at Drill these next few months thank god.

Lastly; I exited the military over 200 pounds. Today I weigh 145.

I've done the exact OPPOSITE of the boy who cried wolf; yet i'm treated as a malingerer the ENTIRE process.

Any help at all, I will no doubt be homeless again soon when the paychecks stop coming next month.

[john999]

0341

You reopened your claim for increase with new evidence, correct? What is your new evidence that your back is worse than 10%. Do you see a doctor for your back on regular basis? To win you want to show with medical documentation that your back is getting worse from original SC injury! Are you able to work? Do you require bedrest? The VA is about 40 years behind on current treatment modality for back injuries when it comes to rating the injury.

John

[ntyler0341]

Yes I have documentation of doctor visits for my back. Never bedrest from a doctor per se, but i for sure have been hobbled up in bed many times, for 2-3 days.

[ntyler0341]

BTW, i havent held a job during the past 2 years. I cant afford to allow the VA to go strictly off the QTC mobility test. That tells a very small story to the overall picture

[Aremihc]

Wow...

LOD - Getting released from Reserves soon.........YAY! (Medboard, again (got medboard from active once before))

Next week, Spinal Fusion! Lumbar shits getting fused with some bolts!

(Went through a ton of injections already (7 series of hydro/steroid/epidural 3-6 shots each series))

Waste of my fuckin time.

Hopefully Post 9-11 GI Bill kicks in and I get to be on that while I recuperate.

I am using my parents blue cross blue shield and just cataloging everything.

Writing a fuckin bio for the masses. My Anti-Recruiting ad.

Went back to the VA with my mother (seriously, she didn't believe me when I explained the VA process).

Suprise suprise, my Physician has been "removed"....

Soooooooooooooooooooo-

I wanna xxxx these bastards hardcore

Where do I complain?????????

Psychosomatic just got psycho-expensive motha-FUCKERS!!

Cha-ching! Bitches gonna pay in green or red at this point. Can I get a HELL YEA!

No?.... lol

(Just a note, my Reserve unit is xxxxxxx awesome nonetheless; these people (a select few higher command) have been keeping me paid with menial task. I LOVE the Military; not this VA crap.)

Edited August 14, 2012 by Aremihc

[Hoppy]

Aremihc,

It sounds like you made some progress with treatment over the last couple months. I read this post from oldest to newest. I could relate to what quint7 said about getting a neurologist. I was not sure what was worse your upper back or lower back. If you have no income or feel you cannot work I was going to suggest you apply for Social Security Disability and or a non service connected pension. I was not sure what to say about your VA claim. The info you posted was a little disorganized.

I have had all the symptoms you are talking about and went through 3 years of the VA run around before they made an accurate diagnosis. When talking to a doctor about bed rest you might need to tell the doctor what bed rest is. There is "strict bedrest" which means not to get out of bed. Typically bed rest means to rest in bed as necessary to relieve pain. Many doctors and raters have no clue what the term "bed rest" means. They think that bed rest means not to get out of bed and they think that is worse than dealing with your back condition. I have fought my chronic upper and lower back conditions for thirty years without surgery or drugs. I guarantee you if I did not use bed rest to control symptoms I would have jumped of a bridge. Bedrest works. I can function well about 75% of the time. I have an impingement of the nerve root at C-4 with ridiculopathy and chronic mechanical lower back strains. Nerve root compression diagnosed by MRI and EMG. The worst time i went trhough I could not pick up a frying pan for two years with my left arm. I hope the surgery goes well for you.

http://medical-dicti...ry.com/bed rest

bed rest

restriction of a patient's activities, either partially or completely. A person on strict bed rest must remain in bed at all times. Many patients are placed on bed rest with bathroom privileges and are permitted to ambulate to a toilet in the bathroom.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Hoppy

[Aremihc]

Thank you for the response!

The whole bed rest crap has been going on for months now. My initial doctor said just what you explained "Oh that'll make it worse".. yea...

I have been doing bed rest just like a doc would prescribe anyways.

It's just a joke and what really pains me:

The next guy in line probably has something worse than me; and they're gonna screw him over.

Didn't even think to look at SS! I just hope GI Bill doesn't take 4 months again; I only have enough money for 2 months rent.

Thank goodness i'm christian, otherwise poverty would be such an annoyance. I feel very fortunate to be a borderline homeless veteran than to actually BE homeless again.