I’ve been lurking this forum to get situational awareness for various processes and I finally decided to post my situation for specific advice.
I’m an officer with 12-years TIS and I finally reached a crossroad in my career where my physical and mental states are simply exhausted.
Like many others, I avoided documenting issues in my junior/senior enlisted days because it was a stigma in my SOF unit. I did have some minor injuries addressed but nothing that precipitated long term profiles.
Post commissioning, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and it redirected my career since it is a condition that certain branches won’t issue waivers for during training. I’ve had issues with sleep apnea related conditions, such as excessive daytime drowsiness, since my diagnosis in 2021 but I couldn’t find time in my pipeline to address them with a PA. I’ve finally reached a point in my career where I’m putting my health and my family before my career. See below for my recent back findings;
Lower back MRI diagnosis: L4-L5: Mild diffuse bulging of the annulus. There are very mild facet joint hypertrophy. Mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.
L5-S1: Small left lateral or neural foraminal disc extrusion. Small focal annular fissure. Mild facet joint hypertrophy. Mild right moderate left neural foraminal stenosis
Impression: Mild lower lumbar spine degenerative changes with mild degenerative neural foraminal stenosis. L5-S1 small left lateral or neural foraminal disc extrusion with moderate left neural foraminal stenosis.
Lower back X-Ray diagnosis:
Mild L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc space loss. Mild L3-L4 through L5-S1 marginal osteophytosis.
Impression: Mild L3-L4 through L5-S1 spondylosis
Documented complaints/issues: I have mild Pes Planus documented in both feet, sciatica with bilateral radioculpathy, bursitis in one joint, and a sleep medicine examine to review my apap comprehensive report to determine if I have IP hypersomnolence.
BLUF: I’m scheduled to execute 4 weeks of PT before I can start pain management on my back even though I expressed my concern with its efficacy given the results of the MRI. But the PA said it’s the only route to pain management. I also expressed my concern of not having a profile since I’m in an IN unit and he provided one that didn’t limit much in my opinion. I’ve talked to my wife about what it means for my image at this unit (I’m relatively new) if I ask for a profile that limits me so I can truly let my body heal for once. I have some autonomy so it’s easier for me to hide how much my back is killing me let alone my daytime drowsiness. I have contemplated speaking to behavioral health for some things stemming from some deployments and my service in general but I haven’t crossed that bridge yet. At what point can I or should I discuss an MEB with my PA? I don’t know how much longer I can pretend or fake the funk.
I’m an officer with 12-years TIS and I finally reached a crossroad in my career where my physical and mental states are simply exhausted.
Like many others, I avoided documenting issues in my junior/senior enlisted days because it was a stigma in my SOF unit. I did have some minor injuries addressed but nothing that precipitated long term profiles.
Post commissioning, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and it redirected my career since it is a condition that certain branches won’t issue waivers for during training. I’ve had issues with sleep apnea related conditions, such as excessive daytime drowsiness, since my diagnosis in 2021 but I couldn’t find time in my pipeline to address them with a PA. I’ve finally reached a point in my career where I’m putting my health and my family before my career. See below for my recent back findings;
Lower back MRI diagnosis: L4-L5: Mild diffuse bulging of the annulus. There are very mild facet joint hypertrophy. Mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.
L5-S1: Small left lateral or neural foraminal disc extrusion. Small focal annular fissure. Mild facet joint hypertrophy. Mild right moderate left neural foraminal stenosis
Impression: Mild lower lumbar spine degenerative changes with mild degenerative neural foraminal stenosis. L5-S1 small left lateral or neural foraminal disc extrusion with moderate left neural foraminal stenosis.
Lower back X-Ray diagnosis:
Mild L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc space loss. Mild L3-L4 through L5-S1 marginal osteophytosis.
Impression: Mild L3-L4 through L5-S1 spondylosis
Documented complaints/issues: I have mild Pes Planus documented in both feet, sciatica with bilateral radioculpathy, bursitis in one joint, and a sleep medicine examine to review my apap comprehensive report to determine if I have IP hypersomnolence.
BLUF: I’m scheduled to execute 4 weeks of PT before I can start pain management on my back even though I expressed my concern with its efficacy given the results of the MRI. But the PA said it’s the only route to pain management. I also expressed my concern of not having a profile since I’m in an IN unit and he provided one that didn’t limit much in my opinion. I’ve talked to my wife about what it means for my image at this unit (I’m relatively new) if I ask for a profile that limits me so I can truly let my body heal for once. I have some autonomy so it’s easier for me to hide how much my back is killing me let alone my daytime drowsiness. I have contemplated speaking to behavioral health for some things stemming from some deployments and my service in general but I haven’t crossed that bridge yet. At what point can I or should I discuss an MEB with my PA? I don’t know how much longer I can pretend or fake the funk.