Exercising before an x-ray, good or bad idea?

[Lincoln6echo]

I suffered a broken pelvis from a parachuting operation back in the 90's. I've been rated 10% for about 20 years.  My pain has increased an incredible amount over the past year.  Many veterans are telling me to file a claim for an increase and giving me pointers to help my case. One being that the night before I get x-rayed,  they said to jog or run for as much as I can tolerate and that will make my arthritis show up better on an x-ray?  anybody know if this is true?

Thanks all!

Airborne! 

Edited November 2, 2023 by Lincoln6echo
spelling errors.

[pacmanx1]

Welcome to Hadit.com

The real question is does arthritis show up on x-rays? Unless there is some type of bone loss, I am not sure if the x-ray is done with some type of radiation chemical.  Don't go out and hurt yourself. Just make sure whenever you have flare ups you contact your doctor or be seen and treated by your doctor so he/she can note your increased symptoms in your progress reports/treatment notes. 

If you have not already filed a claim for depression, file a claim for depression secondary to your service-connected pelvis disability to increase your combined overall rating.

Edited November 1, 2023 by pacmanx1

[Dot09]

I don’t think exercise will show up however it could change your range of motion? I don’t think there is rom of the pelvis. Don’t go out and hurt yourself. I recommend that you document your symptoms and their severity. Try to describe your worst day of flare up and tell the dr. Personally intentionally hurting your self kind of borderlines fraud. Who ever told you to do that stop taking their advice. I mean no disrespect by my comments and wish you the best of luck. 
 

P.S. do you struggle with anything else physically or mentally?

[broncovet]

I can not recommend exercising to make your symptoms look worse.  Its a bad idea.  

While arthritis "which shows up on xray" is a significant symptom, my unsubstantiated opinion is that exercise would "tear down muscles" but not bones.  Bones are visible on xrays, tissue such as muscles are not.  

I had a knee problem "where a chuck of bone" broke off and was floating around in the joint causing pain.  I eventually got a knee replacement.  

As already pointed out, you could hurt yourself if you over do it with arthritis.  

Worse, if you do get SC'd based on this xray, later on down the road if you are xrayed again and it shows "actual improvement" you could be subject to a reduction.  

Never exaggerate your symptoms, but do tell the doc your symptoms on your worst day.  For example, the day of your exam, you feel fine.  

When the doc asks "how are you?" dont use the proverbial "fine".  Instead, tell the doc how you felt on Saturday (your worst day).  Never lie about getting benefits.  

Instead of saying "fine", say, "better today,   On Saturday, the pain was so bad I could not attend my son's baseball game."  Use your examples, not mine.  

 

[Dot09]

I suggest the op of the thread edit the first post and change the title. Some might take offense to the title as it could look like fraud. Just my suggestion. Changing it may make others want to offer advice

Edited November 2, 2023 by Dot09

[Dustoff1970]

Sounds like a bad idea as you can do yourself more physical harm.  Did you get that tip on Reddit or VBN or where ???

My comment is not legal advice as I am not a lawyer, paralegal or VSO

[Tbird]

This does NOT sound like a good idea.

Not for your physical health and Not from a legal perspective.

My point is that it would be seen as fraud. The same as a veteran who pulls up to the VA for their c&p exam hops out of their car, pops open their truck grabs a wheelchair, and then goes to the exam and says they can hardly move without the chair. This has happened and the c and p doc saw the veteran in the parking lot. It's best to assume your c&p exam begins the moment you enter VA property.