Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

[Switchblade]

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/vide...fore-their-time

The latest studies suggest there is a connection between PTSD/TBI and faster aging. Interesting, as this is one of the things that makes the Allied Health field so interesting, especially in the department of genetics, and tissue health issues

 

[NorthernBorn]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Don't have to tell me about faster aging and the tissue health issues. 24 years old with arthritis developing in both hands, degenerative disc disease that already forced me into one spine surgery, and nerve damage in my back, hips, legs and elblows that causes involuntary spasms in my hands. None of which I had before I enlisted and deployed.

Don't regret a single minute since I raised my right hand.

 

[cav.scout]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

I'm rite there with you brother. I'm 30 digenerative disc disease, arthritis, nerve damage, and sciatica. But I don't regret a minute of it!

 

[eddieo]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Jim

I'm going to put your furniture post down to PTSD , too much whiskey , and a lack of sleep and sex !

Worry me again like that and I'll go I've there and shoot you myself !

On the topic at hand ..... Doctor tells me with the exception of IED and GSW injuries which fuck me up I'm as healthy as a fucking thoroughbred stallion !

 

[Grimm]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

No huge surprise. Grey hair at 20 and RA so bad in my hands I can't even get cash out of my wallet some days. In other news the military isn't kind on marriage, surprised?

 

[rero360]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Yep, grey hair, bad back, all joints going bad, hair falling out (VA doc says Alopecia Areata, never happened before Iraq) GI tract issues, hearing going, Iraq destroyed my sense of smell. But, when I went in for a commissioning physical the doc said I had the best lab work he had ever seen, but the bad heart stopped me becoming an officer.

Add in the multiple relation failures as a direct result. Still would do it all again though.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NorthernBorn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't have to tell me about faster aging and the tissue health issues. 24 years old with arthritis developing in both hands, degenerative disc disease that already forced me into one spine surgery, and nerve damage in my back, hips, legs and elblows that causes involuntary spasms in my hands. None of which I had before I enlisted and deployed.

Don't regret a single minute since I raised my right hand.
</div></div>

Interesting about the hands. My hands hurt a lot too, never quite sure what caused it. Grew up on a farm that was hard on them, boxed in college, flew fighters, my hands feel like they are 60 years old even though I am late thirties. Not sure if it is injuries, years of overuse, or stuff I was exposed to in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

I'd do it again too.

 

[cavscout1983]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

I dunno... I think I look damn good for 28:

My hair loss started in high school with the beginning of thinness. If anything the helmet wearing helped it along, but I was pretty much starting on the baldness train before my first tour in 05.

The humvee trunk coming down on my head and taking out curvature of the cervical spine helped nothing, and I get a headache from hell at least once a month when the muscles tighten up and spasm, etc.

The hearing loss is just part and parcel as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I wore ear-pro. I suppose it worked better than not. WHAT?!?

More likely all the vaccination crap they inject in soldiers is worse for us than combat. Haven't had a vaccination since 2008, and never will again. No flu shots, etc. No more. They can shove their needles and non-FDA approved concoctions of crap up their collective governmental asses.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Yeah I wonder about all those shots...anthrax, smallpox, yellow fever, and god knows what else I don't even remember now, and often given at the same time. I wonder about the anthrax in particular...those shots caused a lot of inflammation and body aches at the time. I don't know if there have been any studies on them or not, to get any truth about such a study would have to be done by some private group without .mil finding out about it, which would be unlikely considering the kind of data they would need.
I do remember that at the time there was controversy over whether the anthrax series for weaponized anthrax would even be effective since there are apparently lots of strains.
I do know this...you are more likely to find out the whether the aliens landed at Roswell before you will get the military to admit that all those vaccines had long term health consequences.

 

[cavscout1983]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYpatriot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah I wonder about all those shots...anthrax, smallpox, yellow fever, and god knows what else I don't even remember now, and often given at the same time. I wonder about the anthrax in particular...those shots caused a lot of inflammation and body aches at the time. I don't know if there have been any studies on them or not, to get any truth about such a study would have to be done by some private group without .mil finding out about it, which would be unlikely considering the kind of data they would need.
I do remember that at the time there was controversy over whether the anthrax series for weaponized anthrax would even be effective since there are apparently lots of strains.
I do know this...you are more likely to find out the whether the aliens landed at Roswell before you will get the military to admit that all those vaccines had long term health consequences. </div></div>

Saw a stud become a total zero after the Anthrax series. Dude got super fat, couldn't go in the sun without getting a horrible sunburn (... and he was Mexican) and peeling, headaches all the time, etc.

 

[mission_fail]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Fumes from the trash pits on the FOB's probably don't help either.

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Polytraumatic TBI's, cervical and lumbar spine degenration, bi lateral knee degeneration, and 'minor' CPD(both nasal AND corto steroids) is the bad stuff, but Doc says I am extremely healthy, and have a solid heart at too damn close to 50 to really care.
Grey hair for me started within three days of the first mine strike. We were on patrol and I swear I heard the mine getting ready to go off, slightly turned, tucked in and then BOOM! shit rained down and it felt like we got hit by a plywood board doing about a buck fifty...2nd one hit us a month later, same spot, but maybe a few feet more away.
I looked in the mirror a few days later, and saw a small patch of grey on my right lower temple. It was a thin linear sliver. Right over my heart was a perfect oval. It hasn't really gotten any worse which suprises the hell out of me.
I am putting it all down to bourbon, cigars, weight lifting, and walking until it hurts too much to go further...damn knees just scream and don't want to move.

Like the rest of you, I wouldn't trade a day of any of it, adn would do it all over again and again if asked

 

[NorthernBorn]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Here's an honest question for you older guys that have already transitioned back to the civilian world and are also living with all the after effects of serving...

How has the VA been treating you when it comes to medical care for these obvious service related issues? I'll be making the switch myself and heading back home to Michigan in the next few months and that's a pretty big concern of mine.

 

[WillAdams]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Quit going to VA. Got out of active in 83 but was still doing stuff til 88-89 (IMA to Active unit at Ft Bragg). Back about 2000 I went for re-eval of disability. (25% and holding) Because I could BEND my knee, it was fine. Didn't matter that it could & would bend laterally without me wanting it to !! IF it wouldn't bend .. that was another story. After that and the fat retard of a MD, never went back. Hell, I don't even contact them for meds scribed to me. Just one of the VN era vets that says , "SCREW 'EM, I've been hassled ENOUGH".

 

[gimpy]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

With the VA, it seems as if nothing is "obvious service related." I've even had to fight with them to get my prosthetic supplies at time. Be your own advocate every chance you can because nobody else will.

 

[stefan73]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Run enough miles and jump enough and your knees start to go, carry enough heavy ass ruck sacks and people and your back starts to go. Jump over crap, do crazy stuff for over twenty years and "no shit" you suffer for it more in the end!

Live hard, die fast!

If its to loud, your just to damn old!

Couldn't tell you all my injuries since I tend to not go to sick call!

 

[Spanky84]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Stress, I am loosing hair at the cyclic rate and my crows feet have crows feet

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NorthernBorn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
How has the VA been treating you when it comes to medical care for these obvious service related issues? </div></div>

I got my case in Ft Campbell with a QUICK CLAIM from the local rep on base. Within two months I was in the Murphressboro evaluation clinic for polytraumatic TBI issues. That was the full 40% there.
Then on to NAshville for bilateral knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine. 10% each, but their little percentage vs. what you are going to get paid chart makes it 60%, not the 80% of the actual percentage per.

Then it was through the OIF.OEF Clinic for testing that went over a year. Then the real bullshit started. With documented time spent in the direct path of burn piles with no incenerators, the CPD issues I have were, by some SOB who isnt even a Doctor, nor a medical specialist, A God Damned administrator, denied my claim because it wasn't within 6 months of me getting out.
I wrote a letter and everything detailing the events and timeleyness of VA appointments, and the fucking enema nozzle still denied it.
At this point I have given up with that asshole, but still get medication and care if needed free of charge. The worst thing is haveing to take the dang steroids each morning or have breathing issues

 

[Mobbs]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

What is the link between PTSD and TBI? They aren't one in the same, correct? I have a TBI from 07' but I've never been diagnosed nor do I exhibit symptoms of PTSD.

As for the other stuff, I think I made it through my career relatively healthy all things considered. Eight years in the infantry and four combat tours later I don't have much to complain about, certainly could have been worse.

 

[RedGoat]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

28 years old: walk on a cane (arthritis, missing bone, shredded cartilage in right ankle), nerve damage in left elbow, bursitis/tendonitis in left shoulder (surgery pending), TBI with frequent migraines, and tinnitus in both ears.

No doubt military service will put some extra miles on you.

The VA is what it is. They have so many people in there for bullshit reasons everyone gets treated like shit... It drives me crazy sitting in the waiting rooms and listening to the bullshit spew out of peoples mouths about the crazy shit they experienced in the military then find out they were a cook or a truck driver or worked in the supply room. But by God they were all some high speed operator mother fuckers that went on classified missions and worked with SF...

/rantoff

Sorry about that been stuck up at the VA quite a bit lately....

 

[Jmilera]

Re: Veteran's Aging faster than 'normal?

Stress induced free radicals brothers .