I was rated by the VA about ten years ago. I had heard all the horror stories and believed them all. I simply refused to go there for any reason. About five years ago I developed such severe pain in my back (the reason for my rating) that I had to do something. I had previously been told by a civilian doctor to find a neurosurgeon and get operated on. I chose not to take that path for various reasons. I was unable to get into see my regular doctor that day and my neighbor, a regular at the VA for years suggested that I go to the Emergency room at the VA hospital. The pain was terrible, so I went. I was amazed at the care I received. The ER Dr ordered new xrays, (I took my MRI with me)and told me what my regular Dr said. When I told him that I had no desire for surgery he set me up with a physical therapist. I went several times a week for 8 weeks. The result was the pain became tolerable. I have since been going to the VA for all my medical needs, which thankfully are not really that much. They treat me great, I actually have accused several of the employees of taking too many nice pills that day. I am sorry to hear that some of you are not getting good service, but if you are in need of care let me suggest one of the three VA hospitals in the Pittsburgh area, or one of several clinics. The care and the people here are great.
Gary

Wray,

Good Luck with the back and if the yacht needs a fill in Capt while you recover, I am sure 30-40 reired Coasties here could help out. I wish you the best of luck.

Dave Waldrip

Wray:
As someone who has not always seen eye to eye with you I do agree with you on VA care. I have been retired for a year and a half now and the VA has been nothing but outstanding to me here in Colorado. They have meet and exceeded my expectations with everything I have gone to them with. I wish you all the best in your treatment. I know how painful back problems can be from personal experience. It sounds like you are in good hands and thank you for sharing your experiences with some who may be a little more than skeptical about VA care and treatment.

Cajun, thanks....Glad you too have good VA care.

John, Sorry, I didn't mean to put words in your mouth.. Apparently you are one of the rare cases where you are not getting good service...in your opinion. There are a few ways around that, but I will leave them up to you to resolve.I wish you luck.

Today I meet my doctors. We were put up in a nice hotel last night and again tonight.. So far so good for my experience...

Wray...

Well, I don't think 4 or 5 people on here making positive statements about the quality of care they recieved at the VA does not a good healthcare system make.

It ain't hard to google "VA healthcare" and find stories all over the place about the lack of quality in the VA Healthcare system:

http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAR08/nf030408-1.htm

another one:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/feb/04/va-taleshowstrouble/

So it ain't exclusively my opinion about the VA healthcare system.

I wish you nothing but an extremely easy and sucessful surgery, with a quick recovery back to "full duty" and no further back problems.

I've been living with back issues and pain for so long I wouldn't know what ta do if I didn't have it. And like I said before, I wouldn't let the VA where I'm at touch my back ya held a gun to my head.

And "options" available to me, I've tried 'em all.

Patient advocate, medical center directors, VA healthcare officials in DC, my elected leaders, you name it, I've tried it. All to no avail.

You have to travel over 100 miles for appts and surgery and you claim that the VA has put you up ina hotel for 2 nights.

Where I live Vets from out lying regions that need specialty appts and have to come to Boston to be seen at the "BIG" VA Hospital have to get up very early, drive to their local VA medical facilty, like White River Junction Vt, or Togus Me, get ona bus, ride 3, 4, maybe 5 hours to Boston, be seen at whatever appts they have, wait till everybody else that was on the bus gets done with their appts, get back on the bus, and repeat the process in reverse.

Last time I was at my VA Facility in Boston, I was talking to one of them.

Got up @ 0300 and drove 2 hours to get to the VA facility @ White River Junction, Vt., got on the bus at said facility, drove on the bus to Boston(3-4 hours), got seen by the Doctor and picked up some meds, told me they'd probably be there "till about 3", get back on the bus, ride 3-4 hours back up to Vt, get back in his vehicle, and ride a couple more hours to home. Said he'd probably get home between 2000 & 2200.

And he said he did this about "once every 6 to 8 weeks".

And everyday, five days a week, buses come rolling into this VAMC from White River Junc Vt,Togus Me, and the western part of Ma full of vets doing the exact same thing. And its been going on for as long as I can remember at this VAMC.

And you tell us that since ya live more than 100 miles from where the VA wants you ta be the VA's put you up ina hotel for 2 nights. And then when ya do finally get in for your appt your seen bya resident, fresh outa college with absolutely ZERO "real world" experience.

My current Neuro Doc isa resident, but she'll be leaving in July so by the next time I have a neuro appt it will be witha new Doctor that will also be a resident.The 2 other clinics I go to, ortho & pain clinic, are exactly the same. ALL residents, one VA staff Doc "overseeing" the residents.

And ya know what my Neuro Resident Doctor is gonna specialize in when shes done with her training???- Child epilepsy. NOTHING to do with even adult neurological issues, never mind veteran, she's gonna focus on children with epilepsy.

These things ain't my opinion Wray. The bus shuttles, the all resident clinics, the residents just doing their time "in the trenches" till they can move onto bigger and better things, Veterans spending 18 hours in a day just for 2 or three 20 minute Doctors Appts, those are FACTS-JRC

John:
I am not trying to pick on you or criticize your way of life, but think about this. If you were disabled when you left active duty would it not make sense to move to an area near a major VA medical facility. I know many people that retired from the military with medical problems that made their choice on location based not on personal desire but on the availability of military medical facilities. It seems to me that it would make a lot of sense for those guys that are spending 10-14 hours a day riding a bus or waiting for the bus to leave to put themselves in a location that affords them better access to the VA medical facilities. I know it is easy for me to say this living in what I would call VA heaven. If I ever relocate from the Pittsburgh are as Wray continues to hound me to do one of the major factors in the decision would be medical facilities.
Gary

Well, it's 1:19.... I just got back to my motel room. This morning I met with my Doctor, and the resident. They filled me in with everything that will be done, showed me my MRI's, explained the pre & post op procedures. Perhaps the resident will be doing a lot of the work on me... but even if he is, I know the one over seeing things is a very knowledgable professional.

After meeting with the doctors I had to get a chest x-ray and go to the lab for my bloodwork. I should be all set. I need to be back at the hospital at 8am tomorrow.

Oh, John... we (the Daytona Beach clinic) do drive people from Daytona to Gainesville for appointments. These are done with a DAV van. I have never used it, so I'm not sure who qualifies for it...


Wray...

No, the buses I'm talking about are Dept Of Veterans Affairs buses driven by VA employees, called shuttle buses. Ya go to the VA medical facility I go to(VAMC Jamaica Plain, Mass-part of Boston)and on the average day you'll see somewhere between 15 to 20 of 'em parked out behind the hospital. Vets get bused in from all New England states; except Conn I think, ona daily basis to be seen at this VAMC.

Which is one of four VAMC's in the greater Boston Area.

And they have the DAV vans as well. On the average day you'll see 10 or so of them parked out back as well. I've never used 'em either.

I don't live outlying, I live around 17 miles from the VAMC I go to. If I ever did move again close proximity to a VAMC would ABSOLUTELY be pretty high on top of the "where do I want to move" priority list.

I REALLY don't get the gist of the VA actually paying for somebody to stay ina hotel room a single night; let alone multiple nights, on the taxpayers dime. For something that sounds like it ain't even service connected(Yet!!!).

Last time I had service connected surgery in 2005 it was day surgery "scope" both knees. They didn't even provide me with crutches, I had to bring my own. My son had to take the day offa work to get me back & forth to the VAMC for the surgery. I was gonna take public transportation in(the "T"), but they wouldn't even give me a ride home!!!

And thats the Vex of my whole issue here- yer geographical location SHOULD NOT dictate the level of quality or continuity of care ya recieve. I should get that same level of care that Wray has told us he's getting in Florida, just as the vet that lives in Northern Vt should, just as the vet in Ohio should, just as the vet living ANYWHERE in the USA should.

Anyways, best of luck to ya "under the knife" tomorrow Wray-JRC

BMCM- my son moved to Pittsburgh from Cambridge Mass a year ago, with wife and daughter. He REALLY likes it there. Works for "The Hartford" down there around Pitts someplace

quote:

And thats the Vex of my whole issue here- yer geographical location SHOULD NOT dictate the level of quality or continuity of care ya recieve. I should get that same level of care that Wray has told us he's getting in Florida, just as the vet that lives in Northern Vt should, just as the vet in Ohio should, just as the vet living ANYWHERE in the USA should.

John, I couldn't agree more. Why your VA does what it does I have no idea, just as I have no idea why my VA does what it does... like the motel room. I suspect they all fall under the same guidelines. Why they differ from them is beyond me. When you ask your local VA, be sure to let us know what they say.

We do not have any VA busses in Daytona. Our one DAV van is driven by a VA volunteer.

Wray...

John:
I get your upset with the VA healthcare system and possible why but just to help you understand where some of us are coming from. The VA healthcare system is still better than nothing which is what some Vets would have without it. I don’t think it is perfect by far but it’s still better than nothing. I live in a very remote area of the Colorado high country. I have to get up early and drive three hours (with a bad back) to get to my VA care facility and if I need anything beyond what the clinic I go to can handle I then have to drive 3.5 hours to Denver. Where I choose to live is not the VA’s concern I chose to live there and knew the logistics of it so I cannot hold them responsible. IMHO the VA is more than generous by giving me travel pay. I understand you feel disenfranchised but let me ask you this, were it not for the VA what health care would you have? There are always horror stories with any large organization and you always hear about them but you rarely hear about the vast number of success stories. I think it is important to get the word out to Shipmates who have not used the VA yet and let them know there are success stories out there. I am sorry you have had a tough go with the VA. While I do not think your case is isolated in my opinion it is not the norm for VA care. My suggestion would be for you to contact the DAV, your Congressman/Senator and voice your frustration through those channels. You are correct everyone in the VA healthcare system deserves equal care and treatment but if you are not willing to let them treat you [quote]I wouldn't let the VA where I'm at touch my back ya held a gun to my head.[quote] then you can’t expect any results. If you want health care you have to let them care for you. If you don’t trust them then you will have to get care through other avenues. I wish you all luck in your endeavors and hope you are able to get the care you need and deserve.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cajun_MK,

Hey Wray I hope all goes well tomorrow!

Keep us posted.

Ouch.... For all.. surgery went well. The disc was already broken, so alll they had to do was remove the section that had broken off, and was pushing on the sciatac nerve...

My leg & knee got instant relief. My back is obviously sore from the incision. It is still VERY sore. They had to cut the bone in 4 places to remove it....

But, it is all done, I'm back at home, just waiting for the back pain to subside. I went in the OR at 1300 and awoke in the recovery room at 1600, 1700 & 1800.

I just glad it is over.. Will write more later...

Thanks for all the support.

Wray....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wray,

Wray, no better time than now to learn the healing effects of Bacardi vs Capt Morgan. Just throw away all those pain pills!!!

VERY GLADto hear it went well , Wray.

We may have different opinions of the VA but the absolute last thing I'd EVER wanna hear is anybody having a bad time under the knife at the VA.

Ain't nothing make ya sit up and pay attention right quick than something pressing against that sciatic nerve. No more lifting or jumping for you!!!-JRC

Good luck in rehab Wray. They don't want you mixing the drinks and pills because it feels so good!
Peace,
Dick

Glad to hear your surgery went well Wray.

Now a piece of advice... DO NOT lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for the next month. They probably told you that but trust me, follow doctors orders. I had my surgery and made the mistake of trying to help my wife change the sheets on our bed 2 weeks after the operation. You don't want to go through the pain you will have if you injure it while in recovery.

How ya feeling, Wray???-JRC

John,
Doing pretty good, thanks.... Every day my back pain gets less and less... I do still have some pain in my leg, but nothing like what I had prior to my surgery. I suspect I will go back to work next Monday....

This Friday (21st) I have a "post op" appointment in Gainesville with my neuro surgeon. Time for my 28 staples to come out...

I'll mention it to him... perhaps he will do another mri, maybe this time on my knee.. not sure.. I'm also guessing he will put me on some sort of physical therapy for my sciatic nerve.

I'll keep ya posted and let ya know what he says Friday...

Hey Wray,

It looks like somebody stapled your back while you were sleeping. pull them out and the hurt will go away. I have the same problem around here, but the staples left around by my kids end up in my feet.

My kids gave me a great Birthday this year. The Youngest puked in my bed, I was sick for 3 days, then I was told I had Strep Throat.

Glad to hear your on the mend.

Hey Wray,

GLAD to hear yer feeling better than ya did and hope the recovery/rehab goes as well as it sounds like the surgery did.

And as everyone here has said, do EXACTLY what the Doctors and physical therapists tell ya ta do. Doing yer post-op stuff and the physical therapy is probably at least as important to your full recovery as having the surgery done correctly is.

As foolish as it might seem to ya as you start to feel better , if they tell ya to do a certain exercise so many reps, so many times a day for so many weeks, DO IT!!!

If they tell ya NOT ta do something for such and such a period of time, riding yer bike, getting U/W, etc, etc, etc, then DON'T DO IT.

I tell ya this only cause ya said you've never had any kind of "corrective" surgery like this before. What ya do after the surgery is as important as the surgery itself.

Oh, and the stuff with the sciatic nerve can take a L-O-N-G time to go away and get better, depending on the extent(if any) of the damage the disk pressing up against it caused-JRC