What's up
@912GreenSkell? Back pain is unfortunately something else we have in common. I have avoided surgery for those exact reasons. I got hit (not that hard) by a military van when I was in the corps. Missed a couple days duty due to lower back pain and tightness. I was 18....no biggie. I got out of the Marine Corps about 10 months later at 21 years old. Flash forward 4 years, I lie face down on my living room floor after a 12 hour 3rd shift, and fall asleep for maybe 20 minutes. When I wake up and start to get to my knees, it felt like my lower spine was bending the wrong way, and about to snap. My wife had to call an ambulance, and I was off to the emergency room. The crazy part was that on the ride in, I was laying there talking to the emt, and just like that, I felt the pressure instantly go away, like someone had opened a pressure valve all the way. I sat up and I was fine. The mri showed that I have disc damage in my L4 and L5; so right at the lowest point of my back, where all your back movement starts. The Marine Corps denied all responsibility, and I had no proof, because I had misplaced my files over the years. I had med record sent to me, but all it showed was that I went to sick call and had lower back strain from a fall. I was young, and didn't think I could fight Uncle Sam, so I did not pursue a claim. I am 53 now, and have had lower back problems since my mid 20s. I have lost jobs because I stay physically fit, so I looked strong as hell, not like the typical severe back pain sufferer you picture; hunched over all the time, wearing a back brace and using a cane. I wasn't in pain all, or even most of the time, but when I was, it was (is) excruciating and almost unbearable pain. I now have arthritis in both disc, and for those who don't have that......let me just say, the disc pain with the addition of the arthritis made me understand why some people in pain think about suicide, and I don't mean that as any kind of joke.
On a much more positive note, my mom recently went through boxes in her attic, and found some of my old things. Amoung those things was a box of comic books that had a couple military files mixed in.The original medical file was in there. It had a additional document that they didn't send when I made my request. The opening statement said, and I quote "This marine was struck in lower back and knocked down by duty van, while bending to pick up trash on police call." No Sh**!!! I now have a claim against the corps, and a great lawyer that took the case with no cash up front, once she read just the opening statement. Anyway, didn't mean to be so chatty, just got more pissed the more that I typed. Hope you find some relief my friend.
