Veterans and non-vets alike

[ohioseabee]

but I doubt anyone has missed me. I'm not a frequent poster. But I thought I might help someone with a problem common to us "seniors".

I've been treated by the VA for a "bad lower back" for many years, among other conditions related to my service. I have taken pain medications, ranging from ibuprofen to methadone, with no lasting success.

A couple of months ago I "had it out" with my VA primary care physician. Among my complaints was treating the symptoms rather than the underlying cause. I was losing almost all sensation in my hands and feet, falling and sporadic urinary incontinence. Well, luckily I managed to hook up with a couple young doctors who didn't brush off my complaints as just an old guy bitching.

A complete exam revealed that I was suffering from a cervical stenosis and I've spent the last six weeks undergoing a cervical laminectomy with rods and screws, (and yes, it's as bad as it sounds ) then rehab. Once the VA got off of their collective asses, they moved with unusual speed, helped along with the focus of the recent scandals.

In my case the outcome is still unknown. The nerves have been compressed for so long, it remains to be seen if they can recover.

Don't be satisfied with minimal treatment, demand what you're entitled to.

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

Good for you. The last time I went to the VA hospital, I told the Doctor that I had been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in the lungs. I wanted to know if this is covered under the Agent Orange list of ailments. He told me no and immediately got an attitude. After that visit I received a letter from the VA telling me that I could not use their facility anymore because they were only seeing vets that had service related disabilities???? That was probably 10 yrs ago. Recently, I got a letter from the VA inviting me to come in for a physical??? I think they are crazy.

 

[H Richard]

Good for you to get the treatment you need. I have had 5 back surgeries since 1985, and currently am fused from L2 to L5, with Ray cage, rod and screws. I still have some numbness in the outside edges of my feet, and if I stand in one place more than about 30-45 minutes my leg goes numb from my hip to my knee (before the last surgery the entire leg went numb and I was dragging it). I'm about the best I am going to get, but I don't let it get me down, best advice is to keep moving, walk, exercise what you can. Good luck with your recovery, and do all the Physical Therapy.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I've got scoliosis, stenosis, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, and spinal artritis. I received some relief from a round of coticosteroid injections a little over a year ago, but think I might have to try another round. I quit messing around the VA medical system some time ago, though. I see who I want to and let Medicare and Tricare For Life take care of it.

 

[rimfired]

Feel your pain. Recently diagnosed as 100% VA disabled. Could barely walk 5 months ago.

Finally diagnosed with spinal stinosis and arthritis in the lower Lumbar. Already have Agent Orange skin cancer, arthritis in the neck and hands. Had Malaria in Nam, that stays with you for life.

My local VA has been very good to me. Hoping to avoid surgery. Still getting around pretty well.

Best to all my fellow Vets!

 

[Herknav]

Sounds strangely like active-duty medicine. They buy 800mg ibuprofen by the truckload in order to avoid real doctorin'. Glad things are looking up for you.

 

[perrazi]

ohioseabee- good luck on your recovery and subsequent rehab. haven't had the appliances installed yet but have had two lower fusions with bone grafts. back surgeries are miserable. be sure to take your pain meds on whatever time frame as noted by your dr. one of the advantages of steel is that you are rigid from the get go and don't have to wait for the bone grafts to heal before you do some walking.

 

[Brian41]

Good luck with your treatment and as a patient we are responsible for our health care and that does mean speaking up for yourself like you did. Glad to hear it's working out for you too.
I've had two back surgeries now and have rods and screws. Not service related though but did have to retire on disability a year ago as I couldn't do my job any longer. I do okay now with certain physical limitations and have had to hire some things done like storm damage clean up and cutting down some trees.
I recently had my claim for hearing loss denied with the VA but did get a 10% disability for my tinnitus which was service connected. The extra money will be useful now I'm not working. My insurance company did pay for one hearing aid so it's worked out okay. I may need to buy the other though unless my new insurance will pay for it too.

 

[EQGuy]

Ohioseebee
I am glad to hear that they finally took care of you and I do hope that you are able to recover. I do remember what a relief it was to get rid of that cervical collar. I was getting tired of drinking coffee with a straw. I had three disks removed from my neck and a titanium plate installed in my neck this past July. I finished Physical Therapy last month and am on the road to recovery. My doctor does not want me to shoot at all and I am chomping at the bit to get out there again. I will have my 6 month post op appointment on Jan 19 and I hope to be able to go duck hunting for the last week of the season. My neck is still stiff but if it starts to pain I put on the cold pack around my neck and I get much relief. I was amazed at what compressed nerves in my neck caused.

 

[Long Barrel]

I take their money....

but not their care.

I run a gun club for a local well-to-do community. Lotsa doctors there. I choose my docs carefully, based on what the club's other docs tell me. VA rated me at 100% disabled, but they wouldn't let me choose my care if they were running my case.

I've had two open-heart ops, robotic surgery for prostate cancer, coronary stents and I'm diabetic. At least VA admits that it's likely that Agent Orange at least made this worse.

Don't get me wrong, I know some of the folks at the local VA hospital, and they are good, but the administration of your case could make a big difference in the patient outcome.

 

[SC_Mike]

My step-father was retired Navy WWII and complained about the VA all the time; I just thought he was old and grumpy.

In light of recent events I now understand why.

Glad it's getting better for you OSB.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm about to give up on the VA. I've been fighting with them for 3 years trying to get hearing aids for a service connected disability. All I get is a stone wall. This isn't right. I've served my country and paid every dime of taxes that were due.

I went to the clinic last week only to be told I had to enroll again and restart the process all over because according to them I didn't fill out the paperwork on schedule. Evidently once you get into the system you are only there on a temporary basis unless you update your status periodically. Well, they knew my status because I was going through tests to establish my disability. All I can say is there must be several VA administrations and they all keep there own set of records. They had no record of anything they had done or any test results and told me to start over.

Pretty amazing.

 

[Road Rat]

My step-father was retired Navy WWII and complained about the VA all the time; I just thought he was old and grumpy.

In light of recent events I now understand why.

Glad it's getting better for you OSB.

BUT, that doesn't mean he wasn't OLD and GRUMPY!!!

I retired in 1977 and am proud to say have never been in a VA hospital.............

 

[BE Mike]

Hope your outcome is most favorable. I have no experience with VA medical care. I pretty much thought that it was for those with service- related medical issues. Thanks for pointing out that one needs to take an active role in their medical issues. There are good and bad folks in the medical profession. Even the good ones can and do become complacent and need a swift kick in the rear, once in a while.