RANGER AGAINST WAR: Pain in the Neck <

Monday, December 14, 2009

Pain in the Neck


Annie you've never been good for me

But I still wanna be wrong

And Annie you've never been true to me

But I still buy your lies

--I Hear Goodnight
, Ingram Hill

I'm a-gonna tell you how it's gonna be

you're gonna give your love to me

a love to last a-more than one day

a love that's love - not fade away

--Not Fade Away
, Buddy Holly

Precious and fragile things

Need special handling

My God what have we done to You?

--Precious
, Depeche Mode
______________

Ranger admits up front he is cranky and self-absorbed, and accepts any criticism (if not graciously.)

My back and neck injuries are service-connected and parachute-related, therefore, combat-related by U.S. law. Still, I'm reluctant to complain as these injuries were not wound-related nor are they as significant and debilitating as those incurred by many veterans.

Ranger will complain anyway, as it is his right to do so.

About three years ago the Department of Veterans Affairs authorized chiropractic and massage therapy on a fee basis, thereby authorizing treatment outside the VA system. This treatment was beneficial and supposed to be long-term. However, December 2009 finds Ranger finding the DVA not supporting this troop.

Our injuries are legitimate, but the VA's response is not. The VA claims it will no longer fund my treatment, although my spine injuries didn't get the message that they are no longer valid problems. My spine injuries will only continue to deteriorate as a result of againg and Ranger's general nasty attitude.

This little vignette gives the lie to the rhetoric that the DVA is a crackerjack health care system. Nuts! If the little things are not STRAC, how can the big things be?

Interestingly, Tricare will not pay for chiropractic or massage, either. Medicare will provide services, but with a co-pay. Some readers will say, "Fair enough!", but is it? Army service injuries should be treated at no cost to me, the veteran; that was the deal. I held up my end of the bargain.

Remember America, you claim you support the troops, and that means even those who aren't bright-shiny-new. Yet too often, older vets are too proud to complain when the system fails them. Many feel that others with more severe injuries deserve the treatment more, but by law, all of us should be treated equally.

Bear in mind this is the same VA which is funded at the discretion of Congress, and the same DVA that claims service-connected amputees will receive $250,000 prosthetic devices for the rest of their lives. That's the promise, anyway.

Ranger doesn't have a crystal ball, but he can see the future. Sometime after he is long dead there will be a paratrooper in the year 2050 writing this very same thing. Assuming there will still be a U.S.A. in 2050.

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Assuming there will still be a U.S.A. in 2050.

Yep health care for vets should be free and if they ended all of the wars closed 900 bases around the world every Amerikan could have free health care.

If we are still around it sure will look different and I'm glad I won't live to see it.
jo6pac

Monday, December 14, 2009 at 11:14:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Jo,
I hate to quibble but Veterans health care is not free-WE PAID FOR IT WITH OUR ASSES ON THE LINE.
I agree that we should close down 80% of our overseas bases and allow the rest of the world to defend themselves.
jim

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 10:11:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So true re; 2050....my last interaction with the VA took an inordinate amount of time to get a response. The reason, I was told, is that there are just too many new vets in need of services and staffing levels haven't been adjusted up to deal with the volume.

Anyone could have predicted that hugely increased volume would be a result of the endless PWOT. If they cared, they would have prepared.

Avedis

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 7:51:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Avedis,
Amen.
jim

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 12:39:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

To all;update.
As of today the DVA has authorized my chiropractic care BUT still no massage.
That's progress.
jim

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 4:28:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JIm, I'd like to offer you some advice if I may; keeping in mind that I'm not a clinician of any type.

Be very cautious if they offer you spinal surgery. Avoid this option if at all possible. Get yourself fully informed. Beware promises of a post-surgical pain free life.

Spinal surgery is becoming more of a routine standard practice for many physicians seing patients with chronic spinal issues. HOWEVER, there is a very high failure rate. Unacceptably high in my opinion.

Failed spinal surgery leads you down a road of subsequent surgeries and can leave you much worse off than you were prior to the first surgery. Your life can become a nightmare of constant pain, narcotics and restricted activity.

Even when deemed successful, spinal surgery often yields positive results (meaning pain alleviation, increased mobility) that, one year post surgery, are barely significantly better than control groups that had the same symptoms, but did not have surgery (may have had opted for alternatives like exercise, massage, chiropracters, etc). You never want to go under the knife if you don't absolutely have to.

I know the above to be a fact from actuarial studies I performed when working in the healthcare insurance sector. Others have found similar when examining data across the country.

Don't let the surgeons buffalo you. Remember, they need to pay for those Mercedes and country club memberships some how. Seriously, if they present the option, get a second opinion. Get a third. Do some research yourself.

Good luck, Avedis

Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 6:39:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

avedis,
Thanks for the info.
I have no plans to go under the knife, I just accept the pain and do what old farts do- i just bitch a lot.
I appreciate the concern.
jim

Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 11:24:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Andy said...

Jim,

Glad to hear you got Chiropractic care - hope you get the massage soon.

You have every right to bitch about this stuff- never think that you don't or let anyone tell you otherwise. You paid your dues and sacrificed part of your body and deserve to be taken care of for that.

Friday, December 18, 2009 at 11:00:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Andy,
Thanks for the kind words.
This is still chewing at me so I wrote a follow on art this AM.
Watch for it .
jim

Friday, December 18, 2009 at 1:19:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous nyc personal injury lawyer said...

That's a rare case if you don't complain...it's your greatness..

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:40:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

NYC,
i have a dec 29 comp exam at the va in gainesvlle on my awol left testicle.
i hope it doesn't grow back before then.
i barely miss it and seldom wish that i had 2.
jim

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:57:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

NYC,
i have a dec 29 comp exam at the va in gainesvlle on my awol left testicle.
i hope it doesn't grow back before then.
i barely miss it and seldom wish that i had 2.
jim

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:57:00 AM GMT-5  

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