I just wanted to see if there were any military members currently sharing this journey with me and learn from your experiences while trying to maintain an active duty career.
Hi Pam, I'm anxious to hear what responses you get. I am currently active duty, was just diagnosed, and have no clue how it is going to affect my career, as of yet. So far my Med Group doesn't know anything about it. I'm waiting till after I go to my NS appointment to hopefully have some more information. What have you experienced so far?
Hi Pam! Yes, we can walk through this together! What branch are you? How long have you been in? Air Force/Air National Guard for me...Guard now, but AGR, so just like active duty if you aren't familiar. And I've been in for 19 total years, with just shy of 13 active duty. Fortunately I'm on a really small base, and our Med Group doesn't actually do any treating. I have to go about 40 minutes away to an Army base for all my treatment. So far all I have is my MRI results, and a visit with my PCM. He was able to directly refer me to an NS without NL. Tricare approved it no problem. You may want to look into that. But yes, it took me 2 years as well to even get the MRI. I have a new PCM now and he is fantastic! My last one just told me my symptoms were from stress....what a jerk. Good thing he is retired now or I would go find him and punch him in the throat! As for MEB, I'm not 100% sure either. I guess it would depend on your position. We do not have any non mobility positions, so I will most likely end up MEB'd, but hopefully I can drag it out so I can make 15 years to get full medical retirement. We shall see.
Welcome home! I've done 7 deployments to the sandbox. :-) I checked your page and see where you are stationed. My sister is out there right now. Her husband is Active Duty. I've been out there a couple times for work related visits. Fortunately my pain doesn't seem to be as bad as yours (right now anyway) Last year around this time my pain was so bad I could barely walk. I have the headaches, which usually aren't too bad, vision issues, nausea, pain in my neck and shoulders, tingling in my arms and legs, drop attacks, dizzy and lightheaded...so aside from pain...about the same as you. And I agree, I'm glad to finally have an answer and hopefully a game plan soon. I have my first NS appt tomorrow....fingers crossed! I'm a little nervous! So...here's a pat on the back, a hug, and hang in there! We will get through it!
Hey Pam! It went ok. NS confirmed Chiari, and is sending me for a spine and thoracic MRI to check for a syrinx, and a nerve conduction study with an NL, and possibly some other blood work just to rule anything else out that could possibly be causing my symptoms. I asked about meds for the headaches and nausea, but he said he hasn't really seen any success with anything, at least not more than ibuprofen, without going to narcotics, which I don't want to do, so I'm going to try some Excedrin Migraine and see if that helps and stock up on everything ginger I can find. He said at this point he won't do surgery unless the symptoms get so bad that I can't deal with them. Which is a good thing. I didn't want to have to think about brain surgery right away. So, I go get the other tests, and then go back. So overall, pretty well! I'm so thankful that I actually have a Chiari specialist withing driving distance (a little over 3 hours) and Tricare covers him! :-) And don't be anxious...it is what it is...but, I did get my PCM to give me an anti depressant, and it has made a world of difference for my emotions. Don't feel bad to get a little help to deal with it.
Hello my name is Bryan . I was deployed to Iraq in 04-05. I was in a MVA in Iraq. Im a 88m, transportation. I was thrown around in my truck and hit my head pretty hard. Was confused and dizzy when I woke on the floor board. After returning home I was having problems in my neck and numbness in my finger tips and headaches. I got a MRI and it showed a bulding disc in my C3 C4. I then did therapy, epidurals, chiropractic, and countless other things. Nothing ever seemed to work. After getting fed up I went back to the VA, where im currently 40% percent due to my spine injury. They fianlly did a Brain MRI and found Chiari. It took 8 years for me to finally get some answers. Im currently filing for a increase in disabillity. Ive read several places where they say that its genetic, but I didnt have any of these symptoms until after the accident. But I found that I was unable to continue with my military duties due to headaches, stingers, neck spams, etc. However I know that I did have a option where i could of stayed in but put behind a desk. Not something I wanted but the military will work with you and I have found that there are doctors that will go the extra mile for you. It just sucks that it took 8 years for me to find the true answers.