Need advice from the "been there done that" people

[tpf]

In the past year I have done two hearing tests, one MRI, been in and out of my OSO's office, and had correspondence with the NAMI folks. I'm not complaining since I found out about a month ago that I would be able to get a waiver for some slight hearing loss in my left ear.

However, it was at about the same time I found this out that I started having some pain in my left shoulder (I guess it was from all those pull-ups I was doing to prepare for the PFT). Not a big deal except that I'm now staring down the barrel of my 29th birthday (13 October) and any slim chance I had of possibly getting an age waiver might be lost.

I saw a doctor a week ago about my shoulder and he told me to take Aleve for a week and see if it alleviates the problem, otherwise I would have to get an MRI (and it's looking that way).

So my question is what are my chances if I should have to get something as drastic as shoulder surgery? I currently have full range of motion and the pain isn't debilitating, but persistent. Any suggestions/comments on what I should do next? Sorry that this is another late twenty something chasing a rabbit down a hole, but I think it is a worthwhile rabbit to chase. And persistence seems to be the name of the game (it got me to a hearing waiver).

Thanks

 

[MIDNJAC]

Lay off the workout routine for now, if you truly think that is the problem. Don't be stupid. That is all I have for you.

 

[picklesuit]

Man up...quit buggin' the doc...

 

[Recovering LSO]

1. DONT tell the Navy about your shoulder.
2. If you get an MRI - keep the results in a folder under your bed.
3. Lay off the pushups and pull ups for while. If you're in decent shape to start with a few weeks without doing either isn't going to kill you.
4. Press - before you get any older.

 

[ChunksJR]

I'm goin to be the naysayer here...I disagree with previous recommendations. No career, Naval Aviation or otherwise, is worth "hiding" significant "persistant" pain. You can take all the meds you want, but you damn well better tell your flight surgeon you're doing it and why...otherwise I see 2 "extreme" examples of something that "could" happen.

1) Copilot: "Eject, eject, eject!"
You: "Oh @%@#%. I've lost the range of motion to do so." Damn, should have probably got that fixed...

2) Squadron SDO: "LT, based on your Class C mishap yesterday, we need you to pee in this cup."
You: "Oh yeah, I was taking OTC meds..."
Doc: "For what?"
You: "uggggh....."

The above ^^ 2 posts are, IMHO, piss poor advice. Except for the laying off what makes it hurt. Remember the RICE principle of sports injuries

 

[Ventilee]

I was recently granted a waiver for a reverse bankhart surgery on my right shoulder that I received in June of 2008. For those of us that don't speak Doctor that means after dislocating my shoulder 10 times, I had damaged the tissue that was holding it in place and it had to be surgically repaired. In order to get the waiver(for me, your case may be different) I had to be at least 1-year out of surgery with no problems. AKA, I had to go an entire year with no contact sports. In order to complete the waiver process I had to be flown out to Quantico in order for the USMC doctors to look at my shoulder and say it was ok. Then, more paperwork had to be filed and it was probably another month or two before I was officially granted the waiver.

To help back up my cause I had letters from two orthopedic surgeons, one of whom is a former Flight Surgeon/Naval Aviator, saying that I am cleared for anything physical. I also had a waiver from the Naval Academy because I had recently applied for admission but was denied.

So, from time of surgery to time of waiver was about 15 months or so. Keep in mind that I did not start my application for PLC until about 10 months after the surgery.

I can't say what is wrong with your shoulder, nor give you advice as to what to do about it but I do have a feeling it is not the same problem that I had.

 

[Boog]

Most common cause of shoulder pain is tendonitis. Ask your doc about a cortisone shot (in the shoulder) and physical therapy. If no improvement, then an MRI might be in order to rule out a rotator cuff tear.

 

[feddoc]

As others have said, ease up on the workouts. Don't turn in to a slug, just make your workouts pain mediated.

The experience Ventilee had is pretty typcial of the process, should you have to have surgery. Dunno if that fits with your timeline or not.

 

[ChunksJR]

Location: On my stool.

Anyone else bothered by this? Shit, I'm on my stool too...

 

[Recovering LSO]

I'm goin to be the naysayer here...I disagree with previous recommendations.

The above ^^ 2 posts are, IMHO, piss poor advice. Except for the laying off what makes it hurt. Remember the RICE principle of sports injuries

First he states in his email that he has no range of motion issues.

Second, you keep this under the radar until you are in the pipeline and too expensive to shit can, then you 'develop' your shoulder problem and get it taken care of.

 

[ChunksJR]

First he states in his email that he has no range of motion issues.

Second, you keep this under the radar until you are in the pipeline and too expensive to shit can, then you 'develop' your shoulder problem and get it taken care of.

Doc's orders were doc's orders. Aleve for a week, then MRI. And since it's "looking that way" for ole boy here, I still think that hiding anything is a bad idea.

Painkillers will probably be a staple...but Doc's gonna wonder why he's prescribing 800mg IB tabs every month after a while...and I hope that he's not "keeping it under the radar" if and when a mishap happens. That's why I thought it was poor advice.