Shoulder surgery

[KDX220]

Hello, I am a newb here but have already gained tremendous insight looking at posts while unregistered.

I spoke with my local USMC OSO, who is actually in a different state, his office is in Fort Collins, CO, and I am in Wyoming. Everything checked out until I mentioned my shoulder surgery. Prior to my surgery which was in 2003, I dislocated my shoulder 10 times. I told the OSO that I had about three serious dislocations, one of which had to be reset by a doctor. My OSO then told me he would disqualify me. Since my surgery I have not had any problems and I have full strength, but not range of motion, as there is one direction that is about 95% for me.

I would like to pursue a waiver for this and I believe I have two reasons for this:

One, I spoke to a Gunny in the Denver office about a year prior to speaking with the Wyoming OSO and he said the shoulder would not be a problem, however, I decided to not go to OCS and finish my degree.

Two, my surgeon told me that he performed the same surgery (which is actually quite minor, I have no hardware, basically my tendons were reefed to tighten them) on his nephew, who later went on the the USAFA without a problem.

My question is where do I go from here? Should I contact my current local OSO and request a waiver, or should I go to a different recruiting office, as I may be moving? Or perhaps I should wait and get my private pilot's license (I am just thinking out loud here.) I am 25 and understand time is a factor.

I apologize for the essay, and also thank anyone for their information in advance.

-Joe

 

[Herc_Dude]

Getting a PPL would not change anything as far as your shoulder is concerned, and it might not do that much for your overall package. If you are moving ask your OSO if you should switch to a different office and have him contact the OSO in the area you are moving. Good luck hope it all works out for you. Keep pursuing the waiver - you are going to be your best advocate as far as getting it.
s/f

 

[whitesoxnation]

I had shoulder surgery and my shoulder was pretty messed up. My OSO said I would have to get a waiver too, but it sounded like a bigger deal than it actually was.

The best thing you can do is make sure your doing 20+ pullups and you have full range of motion so theres no imminent reason you can get NPQ

 

[feddoc]

http://navmedmpte.med.navy.mil/nomi/nami/WaiverGuideTopics/pdfs/Waiver Guide - Ortho.pdf

Go there and look up 'RECURRENT SHOULDER DISLOCATION'.

"WAIVER: More than one episode of dislocation is CD for both applicants and designated personnel. The condition, or history thereof, is CD regardless of interval since repair, but may be considered for a waiver. If a unilateral condition has been corrected surgically and heals without complications and full range of motion, the aviator may request a waiver."

Don't give up on applying for your waiver, but, it appears as though you have a tough road ahead of you. As in nearly all ortho cases, full ROM and being asymptomatic are key to getting a waiver. Maybe your ortho doc can whip up a good letter indicating the above and, possibly, his impressions of the possibility of another dislocation.

good luck to you

 

[Jeff29]

My OSO then told me he would disqualify me.

Is your OSO a doctor? I doubt it, and I'm pretty sure it's not his job to make medical decisions. If you are otherwise qualified, what he should be doing is helping you do whatever is necessary in order to apply for a waiver.

I had two ankle surgeries (one scope, one reconstruction - on the same ankle), a titanium screw in my wrist, history of hayfever, history of visiting a chiropractor, and PRK. I got in. Apply for the waivers and see what happens. Of course, I lost my waiver for the PRK after they found out the doc screwed up, but that's a different story.

 

[2ndGen]

KDX220,

I too had a shoulder reconstruction, mine was in 2001 for a pretty bad dislocation that tore up the socket pretty good. I am actually shipping out of the Denver OSO, so I know GySgt. Robinson that you talked to. He is however not there anymore as he went terminal almost a year ago. When I told his predecessor SSGt Palmer about my surgery he too told me that it would be a show stopper. I went and got another check by the surgeon that performed the op., he checked it out and gave his ok IN WRITING that I was fit for whatever the USMC threw at me; sent in my waiver application to the bereu of Naval Medicine and got the waiver. So it can be done.

Denver OSO: 303.832.7131

Captain C.B. Timothy
Staff Sergeant Jeff Palmer
Sandy is their office lady

 

[Ufoz8mycow]

Dont give up on the waiver... I had the same situation where my OSO told me I'd probably be disqualified for my ACL surgery I had a couple years back but I got all the paperwork, had followups and 2nd opinions from other Ortho doctors and Physical therapists and I got my waiver in the end.

 

[donnyglaze]

Yea, these waivers are a hassle, especially with shoulder injuries. I recently delt with something similar, but not as bad. I dislocated my shoulder 7 years ago and never had problems with it again and no surgery. 2 weeks ago I had to drive down to Quantico from CT with my OSO to get looked at by the OCS doc there. 5 and a half hours of driving each way to get looked at for 20 minutes. I was just told to get used to this kind of stuff. But good luck and keep after it!

 

[sevenhelmet]

A PPL will make no difference aeromedically speaking, but if you are persistent and can prove to the right doc that your shoulder is not a liability, then you should be able to fight for a waiver. It's been done, I had shoulder surgery 2.5 years ago and just had my first flight in the Hornet yesterday.

Good luck!

 

[Conaway]

Is your OSO a doctor? I doubt it, and I'm pretty sure it's not his job to make medical decisions. If you are otherwise qualified, what he should be doing is helping you do whatever is necessary in order to apply for a waiver.

I had two ankle surgeries (one scope, one reconstruction - on the same ankle), a titanium screw in my wrist, history of hayfever, history of visiting a chiropractor, and PRK. I got in. Apply for the waivers and see what happens. Of course, I lost my waiver for the PRK after they found out the doc screwed up, but that's a different story.

He's completely right. The reason they try to automatically DQ you is because shoulder waivers are a giant pain and there have been cases where candidates who had shoulder problems prior to OCS made them worse doing something totally normal at OCS. This comes straight from the shoulder specialist who saw me for my waiver at OCS medical.

Yea, these waivers are a hassle, especially with shoulder injuries. I recently delt with something similar, but not as bad. I dislocated my shoulder 7 years ago and never had problems with it again and no surgery. 2 weeks ago I had to drive down to Quantico from CT with my OSO to get looked at by the OCS doc there. 5 and a half hours of driving each way to get looked at for 20 minutes. I was just told to get used to this kind of stuff. But good luck and keep after it!

I hear that. I drove 10 hrs from GA to Quantico on my own tab after being DQ'd in Pensacola. It was worth it though. I got the waiver 2 weeks later. Moral of the story, be persistent, very persistent.

 

[tk628]

Keeping with everyone else.. I was in ROTC and messed up my shoulder pretty bad. After 2 shoulder surgeries.. (which I'll never repeat.. I've moved on to elbows if as anyone in meridian who knows my story will attest)... I have a waiver no problem didnt even take that long.. I have it all.. sinus infection waiver, shoulder waiver, and retained hardware.. where theres a will theres a waiver!

Dont give up until the 300th no...

 

[sevenhelmet]

I spent 289 days in API before they let me go fly T-34s. The 300th no is probably about right.

 

[bjschilling]

Take it from my experience. I had two shoulder surgeries while seriving in the Marines, and as long as you score a first class on the PFT you will get the waiver. On the range of motion all I can tell you is to just suck it up to get the extra 5%. Also get good letters from your current doc stating you will have no problems and you will get the waiver. Don't let the OSO deter you, be persistent he will admire it in the end.