Surgery while in PEB

I

iyaoyas

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
A few months ago my shoulder began to hurt pretty bad. At one point I was having trouble lifting it due to pain. I went to Urgent Care and was told I needed an MRI and to see an Ortho Surgeon. I went to PCM and was told I have to do eight weeks of Physical Therapy first. I did the PT and then went back with even worse pain than before. Was sent for an MRI and got results today which shows an anterior tear in my labrum. The pain worsens daily.

My package just left the local and was sent to Corpus last week. Talked to my PEBLO here and she contacted the one in Corpus. She says that no surgery unless it is life or limb. Wouldn't me losing more and more of the function of my arm due to pain constitute the limb part?

What's the best way to approach this since this board process could take months, meanwhile I live in constant pain?

Thanks for any help.
 
If you're looking for TEMPORARY relief you can ask for an injection of cortisone...I have a labrum in tear in my shoulder that goes all the way around...Ortho refused surgery until I tried an injection. Get referred to orthopedics, ask for an injection, then ask for a prescription of lido derm patches to hold you over
 
Life or limb is a figure of speech. The limb part refers to saving one that is at risk for amputation or paralysis.

Typically surgery is off limits during the MEB, unless the physician believes it will allow you to return to duty within 12 months. An example of this would be something like excising a benign tumor.

You can still push for the surgery, more than likely they will want to control the pain and request you do it post separation.

It may be to your benefit ratings wise to wait, as surgery typically reduces the symptoms related to the condition and will give a lower rating.
 
I am in a similiar situation. I can no longer raise my arm above my head. My ortho wants to do surgery at the same time they scope my shoulder. I am unable to do an MRI due to shrapnel in my jaw. My C&P exams are next week. I see civilian doctors so scheduling it to get done isnt a problem. Are there any cons to having it done aftercmy C&P exams?
 
Thank you everyone for the help.

I sent the Ortho report on Friday and this morning (Monday) my PEBLO gets an email saying I am Fit to return to duty for retirement. Not sure if they just basically stopped my PEB for the surgery or what. Waiting to get a return call from Corpus, so we will see. Not sure how I was found fit so quickly with the fact that I can barely move my back without pain.
 
As a baseline, would need to know more about your case and your situation to offer more specific thoughts. (Branch, grade, MOS/job, where you are at in the process, etc.).

That said, I will try to make some educated guesses.

iyaoyas said:
She says that no surgery unless it is life or limb.
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This is kinda wrong... The "normal terms" are "emergent" vs. "elective" surgery. Without digging in too far, emergent would impact saving your life, eyesight, or function of your limbs.

iyaoyas said:
What's the best way to approach this since this board process could take months, meanwhile I live in constant pain?
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What do you want? Is it surgery? If so, try to get the doctors to authorize it as emergent vice elective surgery.

iyaoyas said:
PEBLO gets an email saying I am Fit to return to duty for retirement.
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This is strange....can you clarify? Was this the IPEB's findings? Are you close to ETS/EAOS, retirement for length of service?

iyaoyas said:
Not sure how I was found fit so quickly with the fact that I can barely move my back without pain.
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Provide more details.
 
Yes, I have just shy of 24 years so I will end up with a 60% retirement for LOS. My package went to Corpus in TX and apparently they conducted a board sometime between Friday at 1330 and Monday morning. So I was told that I am fit for retirement. The really screwed up thing is I probably would have gotten more than 60% if they found me unfit.
 
Have you been sent to the VA for Compensation and Pension exam. The key things to look at, does the medical condition impact you from performing your MOS. If it does not then they will find you fit, and sometimes just one medical issue does not find you unfit for duty, but several conditions. Since you have over 20 years of military service, it is easier for them to retire you then medically find you unfit.
 
Yes, I have had the C&Ps and there were 4 things I was being boarded for. Any of the four keep me from doing my Rate/MOS. They found me fit for retirement so I have to basically drop my retirement papers and wait until February of 2017. I talked to VA rep and he said I will have to do all of my C&Ps again since it's longer than six months away.
 
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