Spinal Hemangioma’s

brohner97

New Member
Registered Member
I just got my MRI results back from my L1-L5 vertebrae. It was reported that I have one atypical hemangioma on my L1, and another smaller hemangioma on my L2. I am currently waiting to be referred for a whole spinal MRI/CT to check my other vertebrae and my nerves. I was reading the AR 40-501 for this and found that in 3-34. d) History of benign or malignant neoplasms of the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings, is listed. Does this mean hemangioma’s are a boardable condition since they are considered neoplasms? I have been on profile for roughly 5 months due to excruciating back pain, radiculopathy, weakness in my arms/legs, and loss of feeling in extremities due to this issue. How would I go about talking to my PCM about a potential MEB as well? Any insight would be appreciated!
 
I don't know if that alone would put you into a medical board because they can be found on people with no issues as well. Most of the time they are benign (non-cancer). However Continue to push for the full back scan. Sometimes they miss things in the first scan. If you can get a 2nd opinion on your scans I would do that as well. If you have any burning and tingling in your arms, push for a neurologist. In my area those Dr's are usually backed up a bit. However if they find issues in your MRI's when you do your scan then they can put you on a P3 profile for that condition or conditions. Did you have any MRI notes on your discs at all? (disc protrusions, disc bulge, herniations?)
 
I don't know if that alone would put you into a medical board because they can be found on people with no issues as well. Most of the time they are benign (non-cancer). However Continue to push for the full back scan. Sometimes they miss things in the first scan. If you can get a 2nd opinion on your scans I would do that as well. If you have any burning and tingling in your arms, push for a neurologist. In my area those Dr's are usually backed up a bit. However if they find issues in your MRI's when you do your scan then they can put you on a P3 profile for that condition or conditions. Did you have any notes on your discs at all? (disc protrusions, disc bulge, herniations?)
My L1-L5 discs all seemed to have normal results, which is why I also want to push for a full back scan just in case there are other unseen issues causing the pain and numbness. I have Neurology end of this month so hopefully they can give me some direction as well.
 
Are you talking to the VA for these scans? Or a referred military doctor? As much as it would suck to do man I would go to your private Dr. if at all possible. If your full body comes back with nothing and your still experiencing pain. Sometimes the military Dr. and the VA Dr. Don't give a damn. But your the one in pain. I had to pocket out some money for my personal Dr. in order to get some of my ratings. Its not the right answer to have to do that, But it helped for my situation. Maybe yours too if you need to do that.

Keep us posted.
 
Are you talking to the VA for these scans? Or a referred military doctor? As much as it would suck to do man I would go to your private Dr. if at all possible. If your full body comes back with nothing and your still experiencing pain. Sometimes the military Dr. and the VA Dr. Don't give a damn. But your the one in pain. I had to pocket out some money for my personal Dr. in order to get some of my ratings. Its not the right answer to have to do that, But it helped for my situation. Maybe yours too if you need to do that.

Keep us posted.
I’m going through the providers at the student clinic to get referrals to off-post doctors and specialists. But it took me six months of complaining to even get that first MRI. I was thinking of maybe trying to get a patient advocate?
 
You certainly can. It never hurts to try. MRI's suck to get. Its really unfortunate. Most Primary care Dr'.s will refer you to a spine Dr. then they want you to do physical therapy etc. etc. etc. The reason why is they want to see if the pain goes away. When I finally got my MRI's done after 2 years of asking they found multiple damaged discs, Nerve damage in my head neck and legs, and a slipped vertebrae. Those kind of issues obviously are a problem. Someone with a small tear is not.

Not saying that's you. Just trying to explain how they look at it. An off-post Dr and/or Nuero specialist can put in for MRI's too. Its just gonna depend on whop it is and if they find it the be an appropriate thing to do or not. I know it sucks. but theres really nothing you can do except 1. keep complaining and hope it works out 2. find a doctor that will listen to you.

I would also make a list on how it affects you and how much. Maybe get some statements of people who see you in pain and what you look like. Do you have an LOD for this?
 
You certainly can. It never hurts to try. MRI's suck to get. Its really unfortunate. Most Primary care Dr'.s will refer you to a spine Dr. then they want you to do physical therapy etc. etc. etc. The reason why is they want to see if the pain goes away. When I finally got my MRI's done after 2 years of asking they found multiple damaged discs, Nerve damage in my head neck and legs, and a slipped vertebrae. Those kind of issues obviously are a problem. Someone with a small tear is not.

Not saying that's you. Just trying to explain how they look at it. An off-post Dr and/or Nuero specialist can put in for MRI's too. Its just gonna depend on whop it is and if they find it the be an appropriate thing to do or not. I know it sucks. but theres really nothing you can do except 1. keep complaining and hope it works out 2. find a doctor that will listen to you.

I would also make a list on how it affects you and how much. Maybe get some statements of people who see you in pain and what you look like. Do you have an LOD for this?
I do not. I’m currently in AIT on holdunder status. I was recycled from class because of persistent medical issues and not being able to feel my limbs, so I currently am not assigned to an MOS either.
 
Hmmm. That all I have man. I'm not too sure on how that works if you haven't gotten through basic and AIT. May be different rules on that. Did you have an accident? Fall off something? If not I'm not sure.
 
Top