Veteran question

RCJIM · 09-16-2011, 11:15 AM

Like most of veterans I am tired of dealing with back pain. For those of you that have met me you know I live a very active life, workout 5 days a week, hunt my ass off, compete in the highland heavy games, etc... I have always had a "nerve" issue in my back usually happens 2 maybe three times a year, I will twist wrong or pick something up wrong and bam, I am out for 3 or 4 days. Its not muscle its total nerve pain, in the last two weeks I have done it twice. Of course I own my own company and dont have enough money to have regular insurance and given that i have a 40% veteran disabled status I use the VA system which offers "back school" and my favorite.. motrin and water. any one out there have the same issue with the VA and figured out a better treatment? One last thought my Marine Corps scuba bubble and jump wings should have come with a cane.

paintguy · 09-16-2011, 05:17 PM

Same injury? Same spot? What were you doing to cause those injuries?
More information please. I have suffered from the same, but not twice in 2 weeks.
More info please. I am not a doctor. But I have been through the same issues.
Doctors will ask you the same thing..

Hope you get it figured out.
paintguy

vmkeith · 09-16-2011, 11:09 PM

Back injuries are tricky at best. I injured my back when I was in the Corps, running the Piranha Pit obstacle course at Cherry Point. I was coming off the top of one of the obstacles to a metal bar that was about 20ft high...turned out the bar was slightly icy. When I fell, I ended up landed on my feet, which turned into a tuck and roll. I don't think I've felt pain quite that bad before in my life...it definitely hurt. After a trip to medical and xrays, I was told I had compressed two disks in my lower back. This was in '97, and I still have problems with my back every now and then.

As for the VA...remember, they are a government agency just like the military. Medicine is approached the same way, vitamin M. Those of you not familiar with the military, vitamin M is Motrin...and they usually prescribe the huge 750mg tablets. Now a days, I'm pretty careful when it comes to my back...everything from the activities I like to do, furniture I sit in, and the mattress on my bed. I also make 2 trips to the chiropractor a month regardless if I need to or not.

With all that said, take a daily dosage of Ibuprofen similar to taking vitamins...just keep the dosage low. It's an anti-inflammatory, and even though it's primarily used for muscular strains and swelling, those can put pressure on nerve endings, which causes pain. Also, if you can, find a chiropractor you can go to...a chiropractor can give you helpful tips on back health.

deadshot2 · 09-17-2011, 06:11 AM

I have some chronic pain issues left over from my service days in the 60's as well as some wrestling matches with motorcycles and a few hard landings on my Snowmobile.

Needless to say they all add up. Only two med's have made it possible to walk with little or no pain. One is Meloxicam (Generic for Mobic which was the predecessor to Celebrex) Generic costs me $4 at Fred Meyer or Walmart. Another is Tramadol (generic for Ultram) which also is one of the "$4 Generics". Next time you see your Dr. ask about these. The Meloxicam is a great anti-inflammatory and is used for arthritis while the Tramadol is a non-narcotic pain killer which knocks down the pain without rendering you "looney".

09-16-2011, 11:15 AM	#1
RCJIM Rifleman Joined: Mar 2009 From: lake tapps, wa Posts: 172	Veteran question Like most of veterans I am tired of dealing with back pain. For those of you that have met me you know I live a very active life, workout 5 days a week, hunt my ass off, compete in the highland heavy games, etc... I have always had a "nerve" issue in my back usually happens 2 maybe three times a year, I will twist wrong or pick something up wrong and bam, I am out for 3 or 4 days. Its not muscle its total nerve pain, in the last two weeks I have done it twice. Of course I own my own company and dont have enough money to have regular insurance and given that i have a 40% veteran disabled status I use the VA system which offers "back school" and my favorite.. motrin and water. any one out there have the same issue with the VA and figured out a better treatment? One last thought my Marine Corps scuba bubble and jump wings should have come with a cane.

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09-16-2011, 05:17 PM	#2
paintguy Gunslinger Joined: Jan 2011 From: Spokane, WA Posts: 29	Same injury? Same spot? What were you doing to cause those injuries? More information please. I have suffered from the same, but not twice in 2 weeks. More info please. I am not a doctor. But I have been through the same issues. Doctors will ask you the same thing.. Hope you get it figured out. paintguy

09-16-2011, 11:09 PM	#3
vmkeith Gunslinger Joined: Jun 2011 From: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 49	Back injuries are tricky at best. I injured my back when I was in the Corps, running the Piranha Pit obstacle course at Cherry Point. I was coming off the top of one of the obstacles to a metal bar that was about 20ft high...turned out the bar was slightly icy. When I fell, I ended up landed on my feet, which turned into a tuck and roll. I don't think I've felt pain quite that bad before in my life...it definitely hurt. After a trip to medical and xrays, I was told I had compressed two disks in my lower back. This was in '97, and I still have problems with my back every now and then. As for the VA...remember, they are a government agency just like the military. Medicine is approached the same way, vitamin M. Those of you not familiar with the military, vitamin M is Motrin...and they usually prescribe the huge 750mg tablets. Now a days, I'm pretty careful when it comes to my back...everything from the activities I like to do, furniture I sit in, and the mattress on my bed. I also make 2 trips to the chiropractor a month regardless if I need to or not. With all that said, take a daily dosage of Ibuprofen similar to taking vitamins...just keep the dosage low. It's an anti-inflammatory, and even though it's primarily used for muscular strains and swelling, those can put pressure on nerve endings, which causes pain. Also, if you can, find a chiropractor you can go to...a chiropractor can give you helpful tips on back health.

09-17-2011, 06:11 AM	#4
deadshot2 Marksman Joined: May 2011 From: NW Quadrant WA State Posts: 288	I have some chronic pain issues left over from my service days in the 60's as well as some wrestling matches with motorcycles and a few hard landings on my Snowmobile. Needless to say they all add up. Only two med's have made it possible to walk with little or no pain. One is Meloxicam (Generic for Mobic which was the predecessor to Celebrex) Generic costs me $4 at Fred Meyer or Walmart. Another is Tramadol (generic for Ultram) which also is one of the "$4 Generics". Next time you see your Dr. ask about these. The Meloxicam is a great anti-inflammatory and is used for arthritis while the Tramadol is a non-narcotic pain killer which knocks down the pain without rendering you "looney".