Injuries

[Jimmy1]

Well I hope you are all aware that your injuries add another layer to your depression.
Some veterans have shrapnel or bullets lodged in them, some have poor hearing from hearing very loud bangs and others of us are just plain worn out from many years of playing soldier.

My back was a non stop problem for me until I had what was called an ALIF luckily paid for by the VA. The go in through your guts and remove the problem disc's. They replaced them with titanium cages with bone graft material on them.

I still get pain, but nothing like that burning sciatic pain.

Here is a pic, it proves I am not spineless.

 

[Fargo1]

RoboJimmy!

 

[Jimmy1]

Mate, I just wanted the pain that crippled me and made me walk around like a question mark to be gone.
I still wake in the morning stiff as a board, but after a hot shower, a coffee and some minor analgesics, all is well.
I go to a gym 4 days a week and the pool 1 day a week. I can't do a whole heap yet, but my goal is to do a triathalon next September. That will be a mission considering I have not been able to jog since 2008.

 

[Fargo1]

I hear you brother. Sorry I was joking not ripping on you.

I know the pain you are going through. Two knee reconstructions, a back surgery, and a knife removed from my stomach. You will get there mate. It is a suck ass time doing the rehab, but I am sure you have the intestinal fortitude to do it.

 

[Wagon]

One day in my household.

Wife: Do you have a hearing problem?
Me: What?!! Who's got a problem? I can't hear you.

I actually wonder what silence is like because my ears are blown. Constant ringing. Any cures for that one?? I guess I'll go under the knife next year sometime. Two blown knees and one ankle. Very lucky not to have the back problem. The chronic shoulder problem is enough pain sometimes.

When we are young we actually believe at times we are immortal. Nothing can hurt us it seems.........Then comes pay back time. I hate pay back.

Wagon

 

[Sarg]

Gads, when I hear what you guys are going through, I am so thankful all I have is arthiritus. Hurts, but can't be anything like what you all are going through. Jimmy hope you can compete. Probably be a huge boost mentally as well.

Take Care,

Sarg

 

[Jimmy1]

I was fine till just after diagnosis of my PTSD, then came shoulder surgery (2nd time), bowel surgery, knee surgery, then my back. Oh, I forgot to mention I surgery on my nuts too. lmao.

Wagon, my hearing is pretty shot at times too, along with my eyesight.

I used to pride myself on all things, now I pride myself on the parts that are not injured.

 

[BV101]

Jimmy, was all that caused by the army? Do they not see that with this kind of physical damage, there would be a load of mental pain as well? You are australian, not a robot. Surely they could see it was all a package?

 

[Jimmy1]

Mate, I had two lots of shoulder surgery, that was Army related. Knee was Army. Back was Army.
The bowel was due to diverticulitis which they say was amplified by poor diet when out field and in other countries.

I have IBS now which is due to stress they reckon.

Stress f*cks us in all different ways.

They look after me at least. It has not cost me a bit monetary wise, but psychological well who knows.

Some veterans have no idea that physical pain amplifies depression and are too hard headed to have surgery. Its a big viscous circle.

 

[Ned]

Sometimes it seems the bigger the military organisation, the more like a naughty toddler they can be.
'What! We trained you up and sent you off for a scrap and now you've got INJURED?'
'Well, we didn't TELL you to get injured, are you sure you were doing it right?'
They spend millions perfecting the repairability of AFVs & rifles and that, pull a wagon out of service if its ballistic integrity is compromised, ensure that electronics will last a thousand years.
But stand around scratching their heads when the bloke succumbs to wear & tear.
Glad you're getting the repairs now, though, Jimmy.
Just don't let the pikeys find out about your titanium enhancements..........

 

[Jimmy1]

I don't know what it's like where you serve, but with our military, its the rehabilitation that sucks.
You injure yourself it has to be bad otherwise your branded a pussy. But if it is bad, there is not enough room with the physiotherapists. You get one treatment, then they tell you to come back in two weeks. So for the soldier, once her feels good he is back into it. The problem is that it was never strengthened of healed properly.
The first time I injured my back was digging wholes and lifting generators. I got two weeks rest then back into it.
Then the next time, the same, so over the course of 20 years it was progressively deteriorating. Now they are paying for it.

Now they have seen the light and have a huge rehab facility for both physical and mental. I hope it works for the young ones sake.

Its like PTSD. I am 45 and out of a career. What about a 25 year old, what has he got to look forward to???

f*ck knows.

 

[Ned]

I think the thing that's changing is that it gets talked about more. The establishments are still catching up, but amongst the blokes it's a more recognised thing.
Maybe that'll help avoid a few of the mistakes? I hope I can pass on some of what I've learned to younger blokes, help a bit.......