Spinal facet injections??

D

Dial the gate

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Jan 29, 2013
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Hello everyone, it has been awhile since I have posted. Son is doing well, just completed his freshman year in NROTC.
In March he hurt his back at a SEAL training weekend. He saw the campus doc, who recommended chiropractic care (which his cadre frowned upon and suggested he wait until he got home). Now that he is home for the summer, he has seen a spine specialist that recommended physical therapy; PT did not help. Doc is now recommending a facet injection. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with the military medical side of this? Doc seems very confident that this will relieve his pain then PT to strengthen the back and all will be well. He is waiting on the write up of today's visit to send to his advisor.
Thank you!!
 
What did the X-rays, CT, MRI, etc. say?

Any diagnosis or just recommended treatment?
 
Specifically, what symptoms does he have? Is it pain localized to the low back? Or does he have pain, numbness, tingling, etc going down one leg?

Ideally, he’ll need one injection along with rest and more physical therapy and that’ll be it.

What I’ve seen with facet joint injections is these are repeated treatments where you go back every 4-6 months for the procedure. You don’t want to go down that route. Your DS probably won’t get past DODMERB if he has to go through another exam prior to commissioning.
 
GoCubbies, no we certainly don't! Doc said that he should have good results being young and healthy...I am banking on that! I am hoping physical therapy over the next couple months will strengthen his back and elleviate future pain as well as the need for future doc visits!
 
I think your DS will be ok. Like you said, he’s young and healthy.

He’ll get over this acute episode and be good as new.
 
My oldest had this diagnosis as a high school freshman. DR had him pull out of football and told him he would never play again.

We saw a different DR for another issue, who looked at his X-rays and saw nothing.

From then on, we always got a second opinion on the big things. And he also continued to play football. What a difference in opinions! And that was 7 yrs ago. Back is fine. We learned a valuable lesson.
 
Update
After a long summer of physical therapy and duplicated tests from a second and then third opinion, son is pain free with 2 PT tests passed.
The second opinion doc who recommended and performed the spinal injections was arrogantly insulted when they didn’t work. Actually frowned at son and said, “What do mean you are still in pain? Why?”
Third opinion was a neurosurgeon who requested his own staff repeat the MRI with contrast and bone scan. His diagnosis was muscle strain. Son did intense (and very cool) physical therapy at the Illinois Back Institute (anyone who lives in the Chicago-land area, cannot express how amazing this place is!)
In mid August he was cleared by all 3 docs; thought we would cover our military bases and have him go back to the first 2 for good measure.
Son is now waiting for Pensacola to release him and deem him fit for full duty. They received his paperwork in early September. We are now getting a little stressed because he cannot go on cruise this summer until they clear him.
 
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