- Joined
- Oct 7, 2002
- Messages
- 316
- Reaction score
- 1
Hello future military D.O.'s,
As some of you know I was in the military, but now I am a military dependent. Anyway, I have degenerative disc disease with chronic back spasms although I've stretched/strengthened to alleviate the pain. It just so happens I obtained this problem shortly after leaving active duty AF to enter a commissioning program in Dec 99.'
Shortly after my bout with severe back spasms, my military PCP drugged me with flexeril, then robaxin (spellings), and finally gave me motrin(helps some) for pain and so forth. This failed so they sent me to PT, then a chiropractor, back to PT with no results. I eventually had x-rays and an MRI done within this time frame.
Recently, I had a flare-up due to uncertain causes. I wanted to
go to a DO who specializes in manipulation, but I had to see if my military Tricare Prime covered me to see a civilian D.O. The Tricare insurance people told me I had to get a referral from the military PCP. Then, I had to coordinate my appointments set-ups with the Tricare office within the same building as my PCP. Finally, I could get some reimburstments using the D.O. receipt with codes for insurance purposes. They didn't know what percent I would get back from Tricare.
I called the appointment desk and they set me up with a PA for the same day. I told the PA what I wanted to do and so forth. She made one comment I didn't like--something in the effect of not taking the motrin consistently. I said, "It's not a solution to the problem." She says, "There is no solution because you have degen. disc. disease." I do agree with the comment, but I expect medical folks to understand that some people don't want to live on drugs. If it wasn't for my excellent military bearing, I would have spouted, "I don't want to live on stinking Motrin for the rest of my life!!!!!!"
If she was not a cold person it would have not irritated me. By the way, I had to see this lady for my wrist before--still just as unfriendly. She says there are DOs and MD's here, but they don't use manipulation. Anway, she mentioned that the Army center has a manipulation type program that could help me. After this fun time, I went to the Tricare office down the hall. The people there told me that I'll be going to PT at the Army facility. I thought, "What the heck?" The Tricare lady then tells me that the program has PTs who has obtained Ph.D's in some manipulation (less than a DO) and other stuff. So, I've decided to try although I wanted a D.O. with more training.
DrZippy and others are in the military, etc. What do you think?
As some of you know I was in the military, but now I am a military dependent. Anyway, I have degenerative disc disease with chronic back spasms although I've stretched/strengthened to alleviate the pain. It just so happens I obtained this problem shortly after leaving active duty AF to enter a commissioning program in Dec 99.'
Shortly after my bout with severe back spasms, my military PCP drugged me with flexeril, then robaxin (spellings), and finally gave me motrin(helps some) for pain and so forth. This failed so they sent me to PT, then a chiropractor, back to PT with no results. I eventually had x-rays and an MRI done within this time frame.
Recently, I had a flare-up due to uncertain causes. I wanted to
go to a DO who specializes in manipulation, but I had to see if my military Tricare Prime covered me to see a civilian D.O. The Tricare insurance people told me I had to get a referral from the military PCP. Then, I had to coordinate my appointments set-ups with the Tricare office within the same building as my PCP. Finally, I could get some reimburstments using the D.O. receipt with codes for insurance purposes. They didn't know what percent I would get back from Tricare.
I called the appointment desk and they set me up with a PA for the same day. I told the PA what I wanted to do and so forth. She made one comment I didn't like--something in the effect of not taking the motrin consistently. I said, "It's not a solution to the problem." She says, "There is no solution because you have degen. disc. disease." I do agree with the comment, but I expect medical folks to understand that some people don't want to live on drugs. If it wasn't for my excellent military bearing, I would have spouted, "I don't want to live on stinking Motrin for the rest of my life!!!!!!"
If she was not a cold person it would have not irritated me. By the way, I had to see this lady for my wrist before--still just as unfriendly. She says there are DOs and MD's here, but they don't use manipulation. Anway, she mentioned that the Army center has a manipulation type program that could help me. After this fun time, I went to the Tricare office down the hall. The people there told me that I'll be going to PT at the Army facility. I thought, "What the heck?" The Tricare lady then tells me that the program has PTs who has obtained Ph.D's in some manipulation (less than a DO) and other stuff. So, I've decided to try although I wanted a D.O. with more training. DrZippy and others are in the military, etc. What do you think?
