injured in BCT...what's next?

[cfduggan08]

i shipped to bct at ft. jackson august 4th. everything was going well for the first 7 weeks, but then it happened...

i developed a pain that felt like was coming from my groin. didn't think much of it at first as i thought it was just a pulled muscle and would be fine in a couple of days. i waited 6 days before i went to sick call and even then, i was just hoping for a bottle of motrin. i ended up getting sent to see a doctor who ordered an mri of my hips. the mri came back showing marrow edema of the femoral neck. no stress fracture was found, although i've heard that it can take days for a stress fracture to develop to the point that it is detectable on an mri. i also complained of left knee pain, but the doctor seemed more concerned with my hip then my knee. on september 18 i was sent home on convalescent leave and am due back this next sunday. my condition since i've been home has not gotten any better and i would go as far to say that it's gotten worse. the civilian doctor i saw at home thinks that i've probably damaged some cartilage in my knee.

time for my question...what am i to expect when i get back to ft. jackson? my drill sergeant told me before i left to not be surprised if they end up sending me home for good due to the nature of hip injuries. i didn't like hearing that, but i appreciated his honesty. between what's going on with my hip and my knee, what are the chances that they'll medically separate me? any insight is appreciated. thank you.

pvt duggan

[ECKSRAY]

When you returned to your BCT unit at Ft Jackson, you will see the doctor that ordered the MRI and physical therapy in the first couple days you are back.

If it is determined that your femoral neck injury has healed sufficiently they may:

1. Send you to the Physical Training Rehab Program (PTRP) at the Fitness Training Company (FTC) at 120th AG (the reception battalion when you first got to Ft Jackson). This will allow you to be medically cleared while reintroducing your body to the physical requirements of training under the supervision of medical personnel. Once you are medically cleared in the FTC, (you could be there 1 week to 4 months) they will get you to another BCT company to continue training.

or

2. Medically clear you and put you in the New Start Program. This program sends you to one of the other BCT battalions that have a company conducting training in the same phase of training in which you were put on profile. This will allow you to resume training were you left off.

or

3. They may New Start you in Red Phase in another battalion/company just so you can get the additional PT and reinforcement training of task you are already familiar with in BCT.

If it is determined that your injury has not healed sufficiently that may:

1. Send you on con leave for another 30 days and reevaluate you when you return starting this process all over.

or

2. Recommend surgery. Once the Army cuts on you, the whole medical board/ fitness for duty issue comes into play based on how well you recover from the injury/surgery. If this route is taken, after the surgery they will put you on con leave again and the whole what if game starts all over. This is when they will look at medically separating you with benefits. (Reference the VA benefits website for more info).

Be sure to ask all the what if questions when talking with your DS. He/she should know all of the specifics, but if not, ask to speak to the CDR/1SG. You are not the first Soldier on Fort Jackson to have an injury of this type so they will be able to get you the right answers.

Make sure you ask all the what if questions when talking to the medical people. I would recommend taking a family member with you to all these appointments that first week you are back. It is always good to have a second set of ears listening to the doctors, especially if they are talking about some sort of surgery.

Your company shouldn’t give you a difficult time with have your family go with you in light of your injury.

PTRP and the New Start programs are recommendations have to go to the approval authorities. The Battalion Commander approves PTRP packets and the CSM approves the New Start Program.

Regardless of what happens it is all going to take some time, so don’t get discouraged. Remember why you joined the Army, stay motivated and let the system work.

Hope this provides so insight for you. Best of luck to you!

[cfduggan08]

hooah...thank you very much for your thorough response. i feel a little bit better now (not so nervous about returning). the one issue i have with the possibility of con leave is that i had to cover my travel expenses even though i was ordered to go on leave. didn't make much sense to me or my DS, but it is what it is. i really don't see how they'll medically clear me at this point. i can't run much less walk without experiencing any pain. i'm trying to not get discouraged, but i basically spent all of 2009 trying to get into the army. there were numerous close-calls and i barely made it through the enlistment process. now that i actually made it in only to get injured is a tough pill to swallow. hopefully everything works out the way it's supposed to. thanks again for your reply. if anyone else has any information/insight/similar experiences to share, PLEASE do.

pvt duggan