Air Force medications standards with pain killers

BrokeTACP

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I've looked around the forum periodically throughout the year. A little background on me, I've been in 9 years. At the beginning of this year, I was in an auto accident involving a semi truck and I had minor back issues discovered a couple months prior that I was just getting past. Needless to say, after the accident I have been in constant pain everyday. I have herniated discs and bulging discs pinching nerves and I have been on narcotics this entire year. I've been through 10 weeks phys therapy 6 that was inpatient style at my wing, I've seen 2 orthopedics, pain doctor and now I'm waiting on a neurosurgeon. I'm stationed at army installation so it is a nightmare having to relay army to civilian back to army and to Air Force with my medical stuff. I am currently on morphine sulfate extended release, hydrocodone 7.5, and muscle relaxers for he back spasms. Due to the pain and medications I rarely go into work and when I do it isn't long. I go in when I'm fighting the pain and to not take the meds. I've had outstanding top cover for most of the year. Air Force won't initiate my meb until I get the neurosurgeon note and now my supervisor has deployed which has left me in limbo because no one has hardly paid me any attention anymore until now. Someone is trying to probably say I'm faking it and what not which is a different issue in itself but this leads me to my question. Isn't there something in an afi somewhere that states I have to be allowed off when taking these narcotic and mind altering medications? I've notified my Air Force doctors and they know I don't go to work and he said he was surprised I even showed up at all. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
 
From the info that you have given it seems you are in pain. Sorry to hear that, also to be on pain killers for that long, Im surprised they even let you drive. It seems like you may need to try to get your doctors to wright you a letter stating you need off from work. Also remember if its not on paper it never happened. You need to make sure you gather all your paperwork and keep control of your Dr appt. Its very important you keep a good relationship with your Dr
You will find great info and guidance on this website. Hope everything works out for you.
 
I'm sorry to hear you are in pain. You should ask the provider that is prescribing the painkillers about driving. If he/she ways "no" you should ask for it in writing. The same applies to working while under the influence.

You may want to consider asking for a referral to pain management as well. I was in constant pain and and on narcotics and thanks to my pain management specialist, I'm now off pain meds and the pain is manageable most days.
 
Hey Bro,

I hope your sitch has improved. I was an AD TACP w L4/L5 L5/S1 herneated, constantly on painkillers and on waiver for several years to include a few before the MEB process started.

I'd think you can get a doctors note putting you on bedrest? If the active duty docs won't do it I'd advice taking your records to a civvy doc and getting a note from them, it's worth the trouble and money.

Unfortunately for us we HAVE to go through the Air Force process even on the Army base so just think of your job now as nothing but making sure you are on a PT Waiver full time and that you keep up with all your Army Doc, AF Doc, & Civvy Doc Appointment Records to show your continuum of care.

I had all my appointments ready to go so the MEB unfit determination didn't take too long at all. Hope that helps for you man.


-The Strong Shall Stand!

I've looked around the forum periodically throughout the year. A little background on me, I've been in 9 years. At the beginning of this year, I was in an auto accident involving a semi truck and I had minor back issues discovered a couple months prior that I was just getting past. Needless to say, after the accident I have been in constant pain everyday. I have herniated discs and bulging discs pinching nerves and I have been on narcotics this entire year. I've been through 10 weeks phys therapy 6 that was inpatient style at my wing, I've seen 2 orthopedics, pain doctor and now I'm waiting on a neurosurgeon. I'm stationed at army installation so it is a nightmare having to relay army to civilian back to army and to Air Force with my medical stuff. I am currently on morphine sulfate extended release, hydrocodone 7.5, and muscle relaxers for he back spasms. Due to the pain and medications I rarely go into work and when I do it isn't long. I go in when I'm fighting the pain and to not take the meds. I've had outstanding top cover for most of the year. Air Force won't initiate my meb until I get the neurosurgeon note and now my supervisor has deployed which has left me in limbo because no one has hardly paid me any attention anymore until now. Someone is trying to probably say I'm faking it and what not which is a different issue in itself but this leads me to my question. Isn't there something in an afi somewhere that states I have to be allowed off when taking these narcotic and mind altering medications? I've notified my Air Force doctors and they know I don't go to work and he said he was surprised I even showed up at all. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
 
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