I am an Active Duty 35N Paratrooper(also Air Assault) with 1 Previous deployment and 6yr's 4mo's TIS in the Army.
Current list of Diagnosis:
X-ray of Spine
Intervertebral disc spaces demonstrate narrowing of the disc space and loss of disc height starting at L1-L2 continues through to L5-S1. The discs all show signs of loss of disc height.
Radiculopathy, lumbar region
L-SPINE XRAYS WITH OA/DDD THROUGHOUT LUMBAR SPINE.
MRI of Spine
3 Bulging discs L3-L4/ L4-L5/L5-S1
L4-L5 Contributes to mild central stenosis
L4-L5 broad-based diffuse annular bulge with a tear of the annulus.(I assume means it previously Herniated)
Tiny limbus vertebrae at C5 and C6also noted(was told by my PCM it doesn't mean anything)
MRI of brain
Moderate Rightward Nasal septum Deviated
Chronic Frontoethmoidal sinusitis
Pulmonologist Assessments
Primary Snoring-R06.83
Cardiac arrythmia-I49.9
Cardiologists Assessments
Heart palpitatations-R00.2
Elevated blood pressure without diagnosis of hypertension-R03.0
Near syncope-R55
Abnormal EKG-R94.31
Constant Headaches and Migraines
Mental Health
Chronic PTSD
BACKY STORY:
From the Moment I joined up until approximately august of 2021, I've put my health to the side and always sucked up it up and had the good old army mentality of take some ranger candy and the pain and suffering will eventually pass up until i was taking almost 4 Advil a day and then my back locked up and i could barely walk and had to go to the urgent care. This resulted in originally my spine Xray coming back and my PCM sending me to physical therapy for 16 weeks, which did absolutely nothing but make the problem worse. I repeatedly told him how I felt and was disregarded. The physical therapist told me to ask for an MRI, which I did several times prior and during the extent of my PT sessions. My physical therapist also requested one. Finally finished, then officially told my PCM that he must give me an MRI. He finally agreed and that is when everything else came back in the spine MRI. He then realized he messed up then referred me to a spinal specialist where I was told 100 percent I will need to have surgery down the road and that all I can do for now is pain management via different types of injections until I choose to procced further with surgery. I have now done 2 injections so far in which have given me no relief. I also proceeded further in to my other medical concerns and have so far found the rest listed above. I am still awaiting results for a 30 day heart monitor and now have to visit an ENT for possible surgery on my sinuses as well as septum.
Originally back when I started treatment for my back my PCM issued me a Light Duty chit for Navy personnel. because I had only been to sick call maybe less that 10 times in my Army career previous to this i assumed it was a sick call slip/ profile. I WAS WRONG! When i then corrected this issue it had already been 4 months. He then issued me what i assumed to be the correct profile(I WAS WRONG AGAIN). Currently on my profile my my PULHES is 111111 and the text boxes below have listed all the old APFT standards and requirements/combat drills ect. of what I can and cannot do. Essentially a Deadman's profile in army terms. My PULHES has never been changed and I have now been receiving treatment for my back since August of 2021. It says I have only been on temporary profile for 186 days(22Jun2022). I was Forced today by my unit to signup for the new ACFT and told that my profile is outdated and filled in with all incorrect information. I am already overwhelmed and swimming in mountains of stress and now I find all of this out. I'm at the point of exploding. I'm in no condition to do any type of physical exercise and I am already trying to cope with mental stressors. I have already come to terms with most likely a MEB but have no idea how they are initiated. From what I have ready my PCM should be 100 percent on top of all of this and I feel like he has been in la la land since the moment I initiated contact with him back in August. He has also always looked at me funny and while questioning me, made facial expressions and spoke to me as if he were confused by what I was saying. 90 percent of the time I cannot speak directly to him, everything is relayed through the clinic front desk, I'm told I will receive all call back but don't. I'm flustered and have expressed my concern to older active duty members outside of my unit as well as retirees and have been told to take it all to IG. I just want to if possible start the process. I'm done dealing with my PCM because my health is clearly not of his importance.
Enough of my rambling, Anything and all advice will help.
Current list of Diagnosis:
X-ray of Spine
Intervertebral disc spaces demonstrate narrowing of the disc space and loss of disc height starting at L1-L2 continues through to L5-S1. The discs all show signs of loss of disc height.
Radiculopathy, lumbar region
L-SPINE XRAYS WITH OA/DDD THROUGHOUT LUMBAR SPINE.
MRI of Spine
3 Bulging discs L3-L4/ L4-L5/L5-S1
L4-L5 Contributes to mild central stenosis
L4-L5 broad-based diffuse annular bulge with a tear of the annulus.(I assume means it previously Herniated)
Tiny limbus vertebrae at C5 and C6also noted(was told by my PCM it doesn't mean anything)
MRI of brain
Moderate Rightward Nasal septum Deviated
Chronic Frontoethmoidal sinusitis
Pulmonologist Assessments
Primary Snoring-R06.83
Cardiac arrythmia-I49.9
Cardiologists Assessments
Heart palpitatations-R00.2
Elevated blood pressure without diagnosis of hypertension-R03.0
Near syncope-R55
Abnormal EKG-R94.31
Constant Headaches and Migraines
Mental Health
Chronic PTSD
BACKY STORY:
From the Moment I joined up until approximately august of 2021, I've put my health to the side and always sucked up it up and had the good old army mentality of take some ranger candy and the pain and suffering will eventually pass up until i was taking almost 4 Advil a day and then my back locked up and i could barely walk and had to go to the urgent care. This resulted in originally my spine Xray coming back and my PCM sending me to physical therapy for 16 weeks, which did absolutely nothing but make the problem worse. I repeatedly told him how I felt and was disregarded. The physical therapist told me to ask for an MRI, which I did several times prior and during the extent of my PT sessions. My physical therapist also requested one. Finally finished, then officially told my PCM that he must give me an MRI. He finally agreed and that is when everything else came back in the spine MRI. He then realized he messed up then referred me to a spinal specialist where I was told 100 percent I will need to have surgery down the road and that all I can do for now is pain management via different types of injections until I choose to procced further with surgery. I have now done 2 injections so far in which have given me no relief. I also proceeded further in to my other medical concerns and have so far found the rest listed above. I am still awaiting results for a 30 day heart monitor and now have to visit an ENT for possible surgery on my sinuses as well as septum.
Originally back when I started treatment for my back my PCM issued me a Light Duty chit for Navy personnel. because I had only been to sick call maybe less that 10 times in my Army career previous to this i assumed it was a sick call slip/ profile. I WAS WRONG! When i then corrected this issue it had already been 4 months. He then issued me what i assumed to be the correct profile(I WAS WRONG AGAIN). Currently on my profile my my PULHES is 111111 and the text boxes below have listed all the old APFT standards and requirements/combat drills ect. of what I can and cannot do. Essentially a Deadman's profile in army terms. My PULHES has never been changed and I have now been receiving treatment for my back since August of 2021. It says I have only been on temporary profile for 186 days(22Jun2022). I was Forced today by my unit to signup for the new ACFT and told that my profile is outdated and filled in with all incorrect information. I am already overwhelmed and swimming in mountains of stress and now I find all of this out. I'm at the point of exploding. I'm in no condition to do any type of physical exercise and I am already trying to cope with mental stressors. I have already come to terms with most likely a MEB but have no idea how they are initiated. From what I have ready my PCM should be 100 percent on top of all of this and I feel like he has been in la la land since the moment I initiated contact with him back in August. He has also always looked at me funny and while questioning me, made facial expressions and spoke to me as if he were confused by what I was saying. 90 percent of the time I cannot speak directly to him, everything is relayed through the clinic front desk, I'm told I will receive all call back but don't. I'm flustered and have expressed my concern to older active duty members outside of my unit as well as retirees and have been told to take it all to IG. I just want to if possible start the process. I'm done dealing with my PCM because my health is clearly not of his importance.
Enough of my rambling, Anything and all advice will help.
