I have been on profile for the past 11 months for lower back pain. I have been getting injections that I believe are starting to cause more problems and not helping AT ALL. Since I have started getting these injections I have been having random panic attacks. The first one being on an airplane and the most recent one yesterday going thru a tunnel. I've never had these things happen before I started getting "treated". I want to know do I have to continue these treatments that are obviously causing me more problems? Can I request I stop the treatments and get out on a MEDBOARD? I am interested to see what others have to say about this.
Current Profile/Treatment
- Thread starter shawn488
- Start date
You can refuse treatment.
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/600014p.pdf
f. Informed Consent. Patients have the right to any and all necessary information in non-clinical terms to make knowledgeable decisions on consent or refusal for treatments, or participation in clinical trials or other research investigations as applicable. Such information is to include any and all complications, risks, benefits, ethical issues, and alternative treatments as may be available.
How many injections have you had? Three is usually the limit per joint, some docs will only do two.
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/600014p.pdf
f. Informed Consent. Patients have the right to any and all necessary information in non-clinical terms to make knowledgeable decisions on consent or refusal for treatments, or participation in clinical trials or other research investigations as applicable. Such information is to include any and all complications, risks, benefits, ethical issues, and alternative treatments as may be available.
How many injections have you had? Three is usually the limit per joint, some docs will only do two.
Once you have reached maximum medical treatment they give a permanent profile. Normally a MEB is started based on the profile. Generally, it unwise to ask for a MEB. Try talking about treatment options and the likelihood of success instead IMO.
I have had 3 rounds of injections. They did injections at three sites on my left and 3 sites on my right side. They usually work for about a week or less then I'm back to where I started. I will try to get an appointment with my PCM on Monday and see where we can go. I have an appointment on Tuesday but I think I am going to cancel. There is no apparent award but lots of risk. Why would it be unwise to ask for a MEB? I have been getting treated for over a year for this. From physical therapists to these injections and nothing has worked thus far. Should I ask for a P3 profile instead since that will automatically trigger an MEB?
Concur with scoutCC, talk treatment options.
It's unfortunate you are not getting any relief from the injections. My L4/5 injections (3) were a total bust, but my L5/S1 injection was the ticket.
You're in the military, its part of the culture to always be on the look out for people milking the system. There is only room for those that contribute to the mission. Also, those that get to 20 years do so at tremendous sacrifice. There often is an unwillingness to help people gain retirement with less sacrifice than those who do 20 years.
I am not saying you are milking the system, or that you are undeserving of compensation. I am saying the judgements are present and it is wise to avoid them being laid in your direction.
Now, that being said, early in my treatment they asked me if I wanted to stay in or get out. I said I wanted to stay in. MEB was talked about a few times, mainly in how the doc can help me avoid one. When the time came, I called her up and said ok, this isn't working, lets do the MEB. There was no problems. However, me making it clear that it wasn't a goal and the doc letting me know it was a likely conclusion made the conversation ok.
Those who are perceived as hard chargers dedicated to the mission are treated better. You're already broken, they have been looking at you in a negative light for awhile if you unit is anything like mine. Fighting that perception is often more successful than giving into it. You know you are broken and you need out, how to you convey that and keep people on your side? Your mileage may vary, but from what I know of military docs, they want you on their side, with the mission being a successful recovery.
I am not saying you are milking the system, or that you are undeserving of compensation. I am saying the judgements are present and it is wise to avoid them being laid in your direction.
Now, that being said, early in my treatment they asked me if I wanted to stay in or get out. I said I wanted to stay in. MEB was talked about a few times, mainly in how the doc can help me avoid one. When the time came, I called her up and said ok, this isn't working, lets do the MEB. There was no problems. However, me making it clear that it wasn't a goal and the doc letting me know it was a likely conclusion made the conversation ok.
Those who are perceived as hard chargers dedicated to the mission are treated better. You're already broken, they have been looking at you in a negative light for awhile if you unit is anything like mine. Fighting that perception is often more successful than giving into it. You know you are broken and you need out, how to you convey that and keep people on your side? Your mileage may vary, but from what I know of military docs, they want you on their side, with the mission being a successful recovery.