Having trouble getting medical care after tour

[Kokanee]

Did you see a specialist? 

The only specialists I've been allowed to see have been a Neurologist (sleep disorder specialist wtf?) who told me it was head. And an Orthopedic pain specialist who diagnosed it as cervical facet joint syndrome due to decreased disc height.

 

[Kat Stevens]

It took 2 1/2 years for me to get in to see an ortho surgeon.  I was in his office a shade under 3 minutes.  "Bend over and touch your toes."  "If I could touch my toes, I wouldn't be here in your office, doc."  "You have what we call an unspecified mechanical lower back injury, might as well learn to live with it."  That's doctorese for 'we don't have a fucking clue what's wrong with your back'.

 

[Nemo888]

You really need an MRI. Without it you can't really tell what treatment is appropriate. I am always shocked at how hard it is to get imaging out of Army docs. Demand an MRI. Once I had my MRI if I had problems I would just email a few slices of the extensive damage. Made life much easier.(possibly why they are so reluctant to order them) Get your own copy before you leave the hospital. VAC didn't need much else. Plus a surgeon can't really do anything without good imaging. The lap surgeries are good if you can afford them and don't mind going to the States.  For implants they need good bone to anchor the metal to so the DDD should not be too advanced. It will not make you like you were before though. If you are highly functional now I wouldn't do it. I expect in about ten years we will start doing spinal lap surgeries here. Might be worth waiting as the golden period for surgery is already over anyway.

Revisit light physio about every 6 months. It made it worse for the first few years. Now it actually seems to be helping this round. The deal when we joined was "the best care available". Don't settle for this half assed push you out the door BS.

 

[57Chevy]

  Lower back problems are much harder to diagnose than the neck area spinal injuries.
One symptom of neck injury could be bi-lateral tennis elbow. Depending on which particular disc is
damaged or otherwise herniated. The orthopedist knows what symptoms to look for.
More information can be found at:
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/herniated-disc-symptoms

 

[Kokanee]

@Nemo888: I've had three MRI's total, so I'm good to go in that regard. I'm attaching a few choice cuts of the imaging to my VAC application for sure.

@57chevy: I'm having problems with my cervical discs, not my lumbar.

 

[ModlrMike]

The deal when we joined was "the best care available".

No, the deal was, and still is: the same care as every other Canadian. Ergo, if it's not accessible to every other Canadian, it's not accessible to us. To think otherwise perpetuates the misconception that we have access to every whizbang, gold plated, one successful outcome treatment there is. We don't, just like every other Canadian doesn't.

 

[the 48th regulator]

@Nemo888: I've had three MRI's total, so I'm good to go in that regard. I'm attaching a few choice cuts of the imaging to my VAC application for sure.

2 things.

Those MRI's, should be in your medical documentation, especially if you are Reg force, or a Reserve on Class C attached to the JPSU/IPSC.  If not, you may have to sign a consent form, for VAC to obtain those MRI results directly from the clinic you had them done.

Attaching them, on your own, may result in VAC not accepting them as legitimate results.

dileas

tess

 

[Kokanee]

Ah and there lies the rub, I agree with you completely that they should be on my med docs 100%. However they were "lost" and the imaging tech has been unable to order a new dvd from Ottawa as apparently they are in the process of changing how these sorts of imaging files are managed. Tired of no results, so I went to the MRI clinic, paid $10 and got my own copy of the disc.

I signed the consent form so I'm not anticipating any problems with VA; this is actually my second time down the road with them so I'm actually quite confident in a good res olution as far as they are concerned. Definitely a good point though, sometimes things slide under the radar.

Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to have my nerves in the affected area ablated, a procedure which I'll have to have done most likely every 6-8 months for the rest of my life; instead of just fixing the damned discs in one shot. My GP tells me that I can still be retained like this, but I highly doubt it as there is no way I'm deployable with that condition.

Heading to NY state next month to pay out of pocket for a neurosurgeon's consult; After 14 months I have yet to see an specialist in the required field....

Thanks everyone for the pointers.

 

[Kokanee]

Was finally able to meet w/ a case worker whom IPSC referred me to; she towed the line that some here have espoused; I have to make do w/ Ontario Health and wait my turn, even if it means I run out of TCATS before I see a competent professional.

As well, when I made it known that the length of time this has dragged on has been a source of stress on my relationship w/ my Fiance, she suggested I leave her and find someone else who can deal w/ it....

Needless to say, I'm not giving her the time of day again, next stop Base Chief Surgeon.