Herniated Disc

[Anthony2000]

Hello, I have a question about herniated disc. I read the NAMI guide, read previous post on herniated disc…

Has anyone got their herniated disc removed and got a waiver approved? I know symptomatic pain is DQ. I haven’t seen much on people who have had a herniated disc and got a waiver after surgery.

Thanks
Anthony

 

[jsnchwen]

Hi Anthony - was wondering if you ever found an answer to this question.

Unfortunately, the threads I'm reading don't really provide much recent experiences.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Anthony2000]

Hi Anthony - was wondering if you ever found an answer to this question.

Unfortunately, the threads I'm reading don't really provide much recent experiences.

Thanks,
Jason

I have not heard anything. Right now I’m doing at home stuff to help with the pain. I’ve heard it’s a case by case thing. I’ve never actually gone into the doctors for it I rested at home for weeks until I could walk again. This happened 3 years ago also but I’ve never actually had something in writing so I’m holding off

Yes I know self diagnosis… but reading stuff online I’m pretty sure that’s what I did. I ran a 5k not too long ago. I’m lifting with mild pain now.

 

[ChuckMK23]

I have not heard anything. Right now I’m doing at home stuff to help with the pain. I’ve heard it’s a case by case thing. I’ve never actually gone into the doctors for it I rested at home for weeks until I could walk again. This happened 3 years ago also but I’ve never actually had something in writing so I’m holding off

Yes I know self diagnosis… but reading stuff online I’m pretty sure that’s what I did. I ran a 5k not too long ago. I’m lifting with mild pain now.

My advice - is to get aggressive with treatment but avoid surgery. Physical therapy is worthless IMHO. Find a good neurologist who will treat with powerful steroids and anti inflammatory medication injected in the effected epidural space. Not the greatest procedure but the best outcome I believe. And then use primary care docs as needed to be prescribed general oral or injection of steroids. Avoid "conservative" medical treatment. Get on a low inflammatory diet. My 2 cents only and I'm not a doctor.

 

[Anthony2000]

My advice - is to get aggressive with treatment but avoid surgery. Physical therapy is worthless IMHO. Find a good neurologist who will treat with powerful steroids and anti inflammatory medication injected in the effected epidural space. Not the greatest procedure but the best outcome I believe. And then use primary care docs as needed to be prescribed general oral or injection of steroids. Avoid "conservative" medical treatment. Get on a low inflammatory diet. My 2 cents only and I'm not a doctor.

If you get an epidural that requires an MRI, and an epidural combined with an MRI to not have that not show up the only option is out of pocket and that would cost a lot.

Most things are case by case. If you been at least 12 months pain free, no further care/meds, and x-rays show good health then you will usually get a waiver approved. I am NO doc but I do have waivers and they were passed pretty easily and that’s what I got told by docs. No meds, x-rays clean, mobility and range full, and no need for further care or treatment in the past 12 months.

I know current pilots with rods and screws still in from broken bones. All sorts of stuff and it all was by case by case basis.


Bulging disc and herniated disc 90% heal on their own but it TAKES TIME. Months of care. Ice, and don’t stop icing reduce the inflammation. If it is inflamed the nerves will be under pressure resulting in your body not wanting to heal. Aleve, ice, COLLEGEN huge(buy bone broth powder on Amazon), vitamin D, and move you have to walk and move.

There’s stuff called alpha lopiac acid I believe a lot of nueropathic docs tell to take. It’s for your nerves to keep them in good health.

Also do Superman’s, lower back exercises, and core but focus on planks and not too much bending at the waste don’t bend at the waste that will make it worse

 

[Anthony2000]

If you get an epidural that requires an MRI, and an epidural combined with an MRI to not have that not show up the only option is out of pocket and that would cost a lot.

Most things are case by case. If you been at least 12 months pain free, no further care/meds, and x-rays show good health then you will usually get a waiver approved. I am NO doc but I do have waivers and they were passed pretty easily and that’s what I got told by docs. No meds, x-rays clean, mobility and range full, and no need for further care or treatment in the past 12 months.

I know current pilots with rods and screws still in from broken bones. All sorts of stuff and it all was by case by case basis.


Bulging disc and herniated disc 90% heal on their own but it TAKES TIME. Months of care. Ice, and don’t stop icing reduce the inflammation. If it is inflamed the nerves will be under pressure resulting in your body not wanting to heal. Aleve, ice, COLLEGEN huge(buy bone broth powder on Amazon), vitamin D, and move you have to walk and move.

There’s stuff called alpha lopiac acid I believe a lot of nueropathic docs tell to take. It’s for your nerves to keep them in good health.

I am no doctor so take what I said for what it’s worth, not advising you on anything either, just my 2 cents

 

[taxi1]

This book is gouge on fixing your back. He has other books too that are great.

Back Mechanic: Fix Back Pain With The Step-By-Step McGill Method

Fix back pain with the Back Mechanic book as it guides you through self-assessment of your pain triggers, then shows you specific exercises to rehabilitate.

www.backfitpro.com

 

[robav8r]

My advice - is to get aggressive with treatment but avoid surgery. Physical therapy is worthless IMHO. Find a good neurologist who will treat with powerful steroids and anti inflammatory medication injected in the effected epidural space. Not the greatest procedure but the best outcome I believe. And then use primary care docs as needed to be prescribed general oral or injection of steroids. Avoid "conservative" medical treatment. Get on a low inflammatory diet. My 2 cents only and I'm not a doctor.

Chuck - no. You can't treat a herniated disc, especially at the L4/L5 or L5/S1 level with steroids. Find a good doctor, preferable a spine specialist that can get you an MRI with contrast and diagnose you correctly. To the OP, I had a dual herniation at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 due to my rescue swimmer days, had a great surgery and have been asymptomatic since 1990. At the time I was an SH-60B AW and Rescue Swimmer and subsequently got a waiver to fly in S-3B's as an AVOPS LDO.

 

[zipmartin]

Excellent advice, and I would add that a neurosurgeon is far better qualified to do any procedures on the spine, where nerves are involved, than an orthopedic specialist.

 

[jsnchwen]

If you get an epidural that requires an MRI, and an epidural combined with an MRI to not have that not show up the only option is out of pocket and that would cost a lot.

Most things are case by case. If you been at least 12 months pain free, no further care/meds, and x-rays show good health then you will usually get a waiver approved. I am NO doc but I do have waivers and they were passed pretty easily and that’s what I got told by docs. No meds, x-rays clean, mobility and range full, and no need for further care or treatment in the past 12 months.

I know current pilots with rods and screws still in from broken bones. All sorts of stuff and it all was by case by case basis.


Bulging disc and herniated disc 90% heal on their own but it TAKES TIME. Months of care. Ice, and don’t stop icing reduce the inflammation. If it is inflamed the nerves will be under pressure resulting in your body not wanting to heal. Aleve, ice, COLLEGEN huge(buy bone broth powder on Amazon), vitamin D, and move you have to walk and move.

There’s stuff called alpha lopiac acid I believe a lot of nueropathic docs tell to take. It’s for your nerves to keep them in good health.

Also do Superman’s, lower back exercises, and core but focus on planks and not too much bending at the waste don’t bend at the waste that will make it worse

Are you already a current pilot or are you in the process of applying for it?

I'm asking because I recently herniated my L4/L5, and it's all documented (mri, diagnosis by doctor and everything; no surgery)

I was planning on submitting a package soon, but that's obviously being pushed back now.

I've read the NAMI guide (and all the threads here as well) and talked to my recruiter, but I'm just looking around to see if anyone's had any success with getting a waiver for this and applying.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Are you already a current pilot or are you in the process of applying for it?

I'm asking because I recently herniated my L4/L5, and it's all documented (mri, diagnosis by doctor and everything; no surgery)

I was planning on submitting a package soon, but that's obviously being pushed back now.

I've read the NAMI guide (and all the threads here as well) and talked to my recruiter, but I'm just looking around to see if anyone's had any success with getting a waiver for this and applying.

As a civilian you have to get through the Medical Manual to meet basic entrance requirements, then you would be looked at for NAMI requirements, the Medical Manual say history or current herniation is disqualifying and they do not say a waiver is an option, NAMI is case by case but references the Medical Manual and says you must those requirements and if not there can be no waiver.

 

[Anthony2000]

I’ve seen people get through with a herniated disc. It requires a 12-month period with no pain or treatment. That I do know

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I’ve seen people get through with a herniated disc. It requires a 12-month period with no pain or treatment. That I do know

I can tell you the medical manual says any current or history of is disqualifying and most of the time they won't budge on that, if they say it is a DQ they feel the risk is too great and if they do waive a condition and the condition becomes an issue now the government will be on the hook for any disability associated with that issue.

 

[jsnchwen]

I’ve seen people get through with a herniated disc. It requires a 12-month period with no pain or treatment. That I do know

Get through as in getting a waiver as a civilian?

I know it's a crapshoot, but would you be able to specify what exactly led to them getting a waiver? Or is it just purely luck?

 

[Anthony2000]

Get through as in getting a waiver as a civilian?

I know it's a crapshoot, but would you be able to specify what exactly led to them getting a waiver? Or is it just purely luck?

Yeah it was 12-months pain free and had to be a single level herniation not multi level. It’s in the NAMI guide also, single level is waiverable. DoD(MEPS) is also single level, 12-month pain free.