This may have been answered in another post somewhere, and I'm sorry if it has but my Search-Fu isn't up to par tonight. Jason, if you read this, thank you for your previous replies to my questions in my other thread found here. My L5-S1 blew out, resulting in a P3 profile, resulting in an MEB...I WAS supposed to ETS in June but doesn't look like that'll happen. Anyways......
Back surgery and recovery is finally over with, so my "optimal care" has been reached. Meeting with PEBLO next week. Being boarded for degenerative disc disease; had a major herniated disc at L5-S1, severe left leg radiculopathy, severe spinal stenosis; still have bulging discs at L3-L4 and L4-L5, several schmorls nodes, sleep disturbance from constantly shifting (sleep study didn't reveal sleep apnea but I woke up 200 some odd times due to shifting b/c of pain), and several other secondary conditions. Was on pain killers, NSAIDs, went to pain management for injections, all without result. Had a microdiscectomy/laminectomy of L5-S1 in October, 30 days of convalescent leave. Surgeon put in his notes it is combat related, severely limiting, etc. P3 states I'm not allowed to do anything but walk, swim, or bike; no gear; non-deployable; no lifting over 30 lbs; and standing limited to 20 minutes. Now that THAT is out of the way...
I know for the MEB/VA pilot program, I will be evaluated by a VA doctor with a range of motion test. Main question with the ROM test - how exactly is it conducted? I know I will bend and twist this way and that. I can barely twist left and right, can't bend backwards to save my life, but bending forward is the issue. I can bend, with pain, most if not all the way forward. The big part of that is standing back up - I cannot do that without assistance from a table, pushing on my legs, etc - and it still hurts like hell...especially if I'm even slightly bent over doing something (had a baby in October, leaning slightly over to change her diaper and then standing back up is the worst).
So, do I stop at the point where I feel pain, or do I go until I can't possibly go anymore? I'm not looking to play games and cheat the system, I just want to know how to do it right and receive a fair rating.
I appreciate everyone putting up with this long post and thanks in advance for your answers/advice/tips. I will let everyone know my DES/VA pilot timeline, exam results, ratings, etc. as they come in. God bless!
Back surgery and recovery is finally over with, so my "optimal care" has been reached. Meeting with PEBLO next week. Being boarded for degenerative disc disease; had a major herniated disc at L5-S1, severe left leg radiculopathy, severe spinal stenosis; still have bulging discs at L3-L4 and L4-L5, several schmorls nodes, sleep disturbance from constantly shifting (sleep study didn't reveal sleep apnea but I woke up 200 some odd times due to shifting b/c of pain), and several other secondary conditions. Was on pain killers, NSAIDs, went to pain management for injections, all without result. Had a microdiscectomy/laminectomy of L5-S1 in October, 30 days of convalescent leave. Surgeon put in his notes it is combat related, severely limiting, etc. P3 states I'm not allowed to do anything but walk, swim, or bike; no gear; non-deployable; no lifting over 30 lbs; and standing limited to 20 minutes. Now that THAT is out of the way...
I know for the MEB/VA pilot program, I will be evaluated by a VA doctor with a range of motion test. Main question with the ROM test - how exactly is it conducted? I know I will bend and twist this way and that. I can barely twist left and right, can't bend backwards to save my life, but bending forward is the issue. I can bend, with pain, most if not all the way forward. The big part of that is standing back up - I cannot do that without assistance from a table, pushing on my legs, etc - and it still hurts like hell...especially if I'm even slightly bent over doing something (had a baby in October, leaning slightly over to change her diaper and then standing back up is the worst).
So, do I stop at the point where I feel pain, or do I go until I can't possibly go anymore? I'm not looking to play games and cheat the system, I just want to know how to do it right and receive a fair rating.
I appreciate everyone putting up with this long post and thanks in advance for your answers/advice/tips. I will let everyone know my DES/VA pilot timeline, exam results, ratings, etc. as they come in. God bless!