Degenerative disk disease

[jsharry04]

Im 22 yrs old and have been in the army for 3 years.  I was just recently diagnosed with degenerative disk disease.  The army sent me off post to see a doctor becuase the army couldnt figure out what was wrong with me.  Once the civilian doctor diagnosed me with this back issue i asked him what my restrictions would be in the army.  He straight up told me to do the best i can and at what i do.  Not only does this back pain keep me up at night but the army is a very physical demanding job.  I cant even conduct a physical fitness test becasue of how bad my back hurts.  Im afraid to go back to the army doctors since they couldnt even figure out what was wrong with me, but this civilian doctor doesnt seem to understand what army life is like.  Does anybody have any suggestions on what i should do??

[Screwed2]

Left out a word...which changes the entire sentence.  Your PULHES must NOT be above 2, or you get a MEB automatically.

You need to ENSURE that when you go for the profile none of your PULHES numbers are NOT above a 2, they are all 1's for perfectly healthy people.

Sorry left out that NOT...that is the key word for that sentence!

[Screwed2]

I have the same problem with degenerative discs and the Army.  Basically you only options are a permanent profile or MEB.  I was refered to a pain management doctor that helped a ton.  I recieved epidural steroid injections which only numb out the pain a good bit.  I can still feel it, but as far as daily stuff goes it helps a ton.  I still can not run, the impact still hurts like hell.  Which is where the permenant profile comes in.  However this is tricky because of the regs.  AR 40-501 paragraph 3-39, part "h" states that if your condition can not be managed and it severely limits your physical activities then you are to be refered to a MEB.  You need to ENSURE that when you go for the profile none of your PULHES numbers are above a 2, they are all 1's for perfectly healthy people.  Your profile also needs to say you are deployable and able to carry a full combat load (even if your MOS is desk bound like mine).  I think the breaking point is a 48 lbs load for 2 miles.  This does not include the weight of the body armor, ammo, water, and all that fun stuff!  So that adds another 40-50 lbs easy.  If you can not do that, then you have to get 3's, which is an automatic MEB.  Even with a permanent profile you command may try to get you booted out.  Just depends on if they are the retarded bureaucrats or actual soldiers...we have all seen them.  If that is the case then www.pebforum.com may give you better help on dealing with that fiasco.