The V.A. fucking sucks fucking ass big time!!!!

Turning warriors into productive civilian leaders: Employment & Education, Dealing with Veteran's Administration, etc.

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Looon
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The V.A. fucking sucks fucking ass big time!!!!

Post by Looon »

As some of you know, I started going back to school on the VA. Well my back and legs really started fucking with me and I wasn't able to keep up with my class load. I contacted my counselor and told her I was dropping my classes. She said no prob. I could pick it up later no prob.

So anyway, I wanted to look into having surgery on my back to stablize my spine. Yeah right. :roll:

I made an appt last month at the closest clinic, which is 100 miles away. I wanted a referral for an Ortho for my legs and back, and a referral to see a shrink about the funk this is causing me.

Im no doctor, but I know that I should be considered totally disabled because of my back. :evil: At the clinic I asked the Doctor who could barely speak Engrish if I could have some good drugs for pain. She made a prescription and told me I would recieve it through the mail. After waiting in pain for two weeks, I called and asked WTF? They said that I should have already recieved them and that I needed to call the Medical Center. I did the next day and they told that they were on the way. That was 2 weeks ago. :roll:

Well, I went for the ortho appt today. 140 miles one fucking way. :x :x :x The Doc takes a look at my back xrays and informs me that he thinks that my injury is only minor and he couldn't fathom what my problem was. :roll:

It was as if I had never been seen about my back. That has always been my biggest problem. I have been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and degenerative joint disease. Severe Acute Arthritis blah, blah, fucking blah. But this fucker was acting as if there was no record. I even told that the last Doc I saw told me that I could become paralyzed because of my back condition. He acted like I was stupid.

Unfucking believable. On my way out the door, I asked him how I could take care of my not getting my meds. He told me I have to take it up with the Prescribing Doc. We're talking about Narcotics. I told him what a pain in the ass that would be for me, and he said 'not my problem'. I asked if he would prescribe me something and I would pick it up on my way out, and the fucker told me that he didn't think I needed it. :evil: :evil: :evil:

Im fucking tired of these muther fuckers. I literally want to go postal. :evil:
B Co 3/75
1989-1990
Just Cause Airlando Commando
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Steadfast
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Post by Steadfast »

Going postal would be the worst thing you could do unless of course on the way to the clink you told them you needed an ambulance to go to the hospital where you might by slim chance see a better doctor. I don't understand why you haven't bothered to get a copy of your medical records and make your own files Luna. The VA sucks by a long shot but keep on top of them. Go to your patient rep regarding the meds and not rec'g them. Write every misgiving down so you have a record and get fucking names. The VA mails narcotic meds FEDEx. I don't know why in your case you just don't wait the fuck for them when you ae at the VA. After the doctor gives you the meds here in nyc we gotta go see the pharmicist before the meds are put into the system on all medications not just narcotics. Since I don't get narcotics, I have all my meds mailed and they get here no later than 5 to 7 business days (excluding holdiays & weekends) after I see the pharmacist.

These long trips you are making Luna, are you going to appointments? If you are you are entitled to carfare or a percentage of it.

Whatever you do, don't go postal or the Post Office will never hire you.
RLTW
Steadfast

4/325 82d DIV 68-69
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Darksaga
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Post by Darksaga »

Ranger Luna

PM inbound
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -Henery Louis Mencken (1880-1956)

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msg_dman
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Post by msg_dman »

Problem with the back is that x-rays don't show squat. I had back surgery, but only after 2 months of crawling into the emergency room at 2 AM did they finally give me an MRI and have a real back specialist analyze it. He looked at me and said "Your back is really screwed up".
Ranger Class # 12-89
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Looon
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Post by Looon »

msg_dman wrote:Problem with the back is that x-rays don't show squat. I had back surgery, but only after 2 months of crawling into the emergency room at 2 AM did they finally give me an MRI and have a real back specialist analyze it. He looked at me and said "Your back is really screwed up".
the clown is supposed to set me up with an MRI. We'll see.
B Co 3/75
1989-1990
Just Cause Airlando Commando
Rangerguru
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Post by Rangerguru »

I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease a couple of years ago, my back specialist told me about a new procedure being done replacing your discs with artificial ones. He said that the success rate is really good, but he wanted me to wait until it has been done on more people before I get it done. I have been prescribed everything from percocet to Valium to flexeril, to morphine, but I don't take any of them, they are not going to fix the problem, and if I did take all that shit, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed and go to work, and the VA only gives me $950 a month to live on, so I just try to be careful and deal with the pain. I do loose feeling in my legs once and a while, but you get used to it. Did I mention that I had 18 years of service when the Army decided that I was taking a Ranger slot and couldn't do a Ranger job anymore, so they medically separated me( notice I didn't say retirement), not that I'm disgruntled or anything.
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Black 6
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Post by Black 6 »

Luna, that is the same shit they diagnosed/told me to a T, sounds cookie cutter if you ask me.

Did they tell you that you will end up in a wheel chair? My doc said "it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when" I have to have one.
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Looon
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Post by Looon »

Black 6 wrote:Luna, that is the same shit they diagnosed/told me to a T, sounds cookie cutter if you ask me.

Did they tell you that you will end up in a wheel chair? My doc said "it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when" I have to have one.
At my last dissability increase eval, the Doc told me that I could become paralyzed at any time.

I have been sitting in a chair for the last hour or so, and my back is screaming. :x :x :x

I can't sit, stand, or lay in any position for very long. If I was an employer, I wouldn't want me working for me. I would miss too much time from work. Hell, I couldn't even keep up with my college classes. 3 out of 4 were online. I have too much 'down' time.
B Co 3/75
1989-1990
Just Cause Airlando Commando
Scoty
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Post by Scoty »

XCrunner wrote:My grandma suffers from degenerative disk disease and is prescribed percocet for the pain. Something that has helped her is lower abdominal muscle workouts. There is some medical information supporting the correlation between lower abdominal muscles, and back pain. I'll try and find some writing that supports this. I wish you luck Ranger Luna, thank you for your service.
That's my scene.....degenerative this, herniated that, spondilosis,etc. I stripped my body fat down to bare bones and did a 6 month ab/back work out...complete re-build. Now I can run, PT my ass off, sling my son around, practice some occasional Judo, help my asshole neighbor move, etc. However, if I step off a curb wrong...I'm snivveling like a leg-bitch for weeks. There's a bunch of decent workout plans that might help with the pain until you get squared away with a Doc that spreaks engrish.

Hell...you might even consider suiting up in spandex with the Gixer...... :lol: 8)
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AntonA2W
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idea

Post by AntonA2W »

Im herniated C-5 thru 7, the VA wont fix ya but they'll medicate the hell outta ya. Guy at my VFW said he had degenerative disks and hernias in almost ALL his lumbar. Suggested ACCUPUNCTURE!! Did it, like 5 times and HAVEN'T HAD PAIN SINCE. Just a little numbness, but the shocky tingley shit is gone. just an idea, but ya gotta go 5-6 times.
"...Fuck it all and Fuckin no regrets..."

God Bless Dementia

1/75, A2W, 11Jul93-18Nov94 (started day 1 of a 34 day nap)
Darksaga
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Post by Darksaga »

Rangers...

Here is one very important factor. Weight. Correct me if I am wrong but if I recall correctly for every pound of belly weight puts 10lbs of pressure on your back. You loose the weight and it will help alleviate some of the pressure and pain on the spine.

You also need to keep moving and mobile. The spine is comprised of joints and when joints aren't used properly they will break down.

The truth is y'all have put your bodies through the wringer. You need to take a little added care now. Take the time to heal yourself through proper eating, cutting out alcohol, exercises that don't exasberate your conditions, massage, slowly start getting off the medications, manual physical therapy, yoga, chiropractor, accupuncture. Some of these will help better than others but they are all preferable to surgery.

***Note: I am not a phsycian***

I am just relating from my experiences having worked with people who have acquired disabilities. I would encourage you to examine all other possibilites first and, as well all know, sometimes surgery cannot be avoided.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -Henery Louis Mencken (1880-1956)

"I might not be Airborne however, it's whats on my right sleave!"
*1992-1996 USMC CPL
* 12/2005- present USAR Medic PL/ Human Terrain Teams
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rj50
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Post by rj50 »

Ranger,
Judging my your timelines in your sig line, I'm assuming you are a combat Veteran.

Just a thought, the media may be interested, and for all of their faults, things have a way of getting fixed quickly when scandals/BS bureaucracies are exposed.
11B, 25th ID (2/27 inf Aco & HHC "Scouts") 99-02. Current LEO.
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