Spondylolisthesis and other stuff

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Yeeted199

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hey how’s everyone doing?
So around mid June, I was told I had spondylosis (bilateral pars blah blah blah) and stopped training. I was told the condition should get better within the incoming month. Around Julyish. It did not. It got worse. I went to physical therapy everyday except saturdays and Sunday. The pain continued to worsen over time. I asked to see a specialist but was ignored. They continued with the pt and nothing worked. This about Septemberish. I would have days where I couldn’t properly walk because of my pain that was so intense. I had trouble sleeping and all of that. As time continued I noticed weakness in my right side of my body and numbness in my hands at times. I tried to go for a brisk walk and my lower half went numb and my arms started to go numb as well. I got prescribed Flexeril and ibuprofen. At first when I would workout it seemed to go away but it would come back more aggressively so to speak.
Long story short, I went to a specialist finally and he told me that he didn’t want me to leave thinking there was nothing wrong with me because there is but he didn’t want to do the surgery because it wouldn’t alleviate all of my symptoms. He stated that i have Spondylolisthesis, a minor herniation on my disk, and a compressed nerve. So I got scheduled for 2 more MRI’s and an EMG. (He noticed the weakness on my right side as well). I’ve been recently getting headaches that are constant and I’m having trouble focusing and concentrating on simple tasks. I felt all of it built up today and was completely confused on where I was at and who I was. So i got sent to medical and have another MRI for my brain.
I guess my question is at this point,
Would it even be worth trying to stay in? My quality of life is so bad. I literally feel like a burden. I’m depressed and sad all the time. I can’t sleep at times, I wake up super exhausted.
If surgery can’t be done then what else do I have left?
Would any of this be grounds for me to be recommended for a PEB or MEB?
- been in for 3 years
 
Yeeted199 said:
Hey how’s everyone doing?
So around mid June, I was told I had spondylosis (bilateral pars blah blah blah) and stopped training. I was told the condition should get better within the incoming month. Around Julyish. It did not. It got worse. I went to physical therapy everyday except saturdays and Sunday. The pain continued to worsen over time. I asked to see a specialist but was ignored. They continued with the pt and nothing worked. This about Septemberish. I would have days where I couldn’t properly walk because of my pain that was so intense. I had trouble sleeping and all of that. As time continued I noticed weakness in my right side of my body and numbness in my hands at times. I tried to go for a brisk walk and my lower half went numb and my arms started to go numb as well. I got prescribed Flexeril and ibuprofen. At first when I would workout it seemed to go away but it would come back more aggressively so to speak.
Long story short, I went to a specialist finally and he told me that he didn’t want me to leave thinking there was nothing wrong with me because there is but he didn’t want to do the surgery because it wouldn’t alleviate all of my symptoms. He stated that i have Spondylolisthesis, a minor herniation on my disk, and a compressed nerve. So I got scheduled for 2 more MRI’s and an EMG. (He noticed the weakness on my right side as well). I’ve been recently getting headaches that are constant and I’m having trouble focusing and concentrating on simple tasks. I felt all of it built up today and was completely confused on where I was at and who I was. So i got sent to medical and have another MRI for my brain.
I guess my question is at this point,
Would it even be worth trying to stay in? My quality of life is so bad. I literally feel like a burden. I’m depressed and sad all the time. I can’t sleep at times, I wake up super exhausted.
If surgery can’t be done then what else do I have left?
Would any of this be grounds for me to be recommended for a PEB or MEB?
- been in for 3 years
Click to expand...
Also PA stated I was with degenerate changes
Mild Spondylolisthesis
 
Hey @Yeeted199 Welcome to the forum.
I'm sorry that you are dealing with this and going through with back issues it is all to common in the military. I can speak from experience, I have and still do take Flexeril, Gabapentin and other medications to try help with the nerve pain and chronic back pain. It is tough. I fortunately have had surgery but it didn't help much with my pain level or symptoms so now I am pending surgery #2.

To answer your question regarding if it is worth staying in: That is entirely up to you.
I can say that you should continue to go to seek medical care if you are in pain, feeling depressed and all your other symptoms. The main reason you get referred to MEB/PEB is because your conditions prevent you from carrying out your job.

Your PCM or specialist would be the one that initially refers you for a PEB.

There are lots of great people on here, use the search function in the top right hand corner and read up on the process.
 
So far, it appears you have received PT and tests. Is there a treatment plan? If your request to see a specialist continue to be ignored, please consider talking to the patient advocate.

Your lack of quality sleep is contributing to your attitude. Sleep deprivation is insidious. Additionally, patients with chronic pain often experience depression. You might consider going to MH to learn how to deal with chronic pain.


Best wishes.
Mike
 
I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with all of that. I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis amongst other issues as well. Whether you want to stay in or not, the decision is up to you and your mental/physical pain tolerance. I got out on a medical retirement and placed on the TDRL, I knew that the limitations the pain was causing would negatively affect the career I wanted. Also, a conversation I had with my career planner helped me make the decision to get out, he had told me that the military is only a small part of my life that wouldn't last forever, he also told me that you only have one life and one body to live it. Unfortunately, PEBs (in my experience) do not take back injuries well. Medical could never find my spondylolisthesis, so I was told that it never existed if they couldn't find it. I was diagnosed at an off-base chiropractic facility that I paid out of pocket for because the diagnosis that on-base medical had given me and my pain levels did not seem to match. Long story short, going through a PEB with back issues is not always easy, but it was worth it to me.

As for treatment, the best that I've found is consistent chiropractic care. I try to exercise to prevent the muscles in my back from weakening, but it's a catch 22, it hurts to exercise and it's detrimental not to exercise. I've tried physical therapy and pain management, but they didn't help. Back injections were useless for me and caused more pain and financial burden. I refuse to get surgery.

I wish you the best of luck in your decisions!
 
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