Aviation Medicine

I had an MRI done yesterday on my right wrist. The report says I may have a ligament tear. I'm going to be meeting with my doc on Monday who is probably going to want me to get an arthrogram on the wrist. (I hear they're painful?) I am presently scheduled to attend BOT 08-01 at Maxwell sometime in late August and then on to UPT. I was told by my recruiter that breaking a bone may affect my position as a pilot select. So the question is, will having some reconstructive surgery on my wrist keep me from getting into UPT? I would think not assuming a full recovery, but thought I'd check with the flight docs here at Baseops. EDIT: I just got off the phone with my doctor's s…

Hello, I orginally posted this in the other forum, but think it probably makes more sense to be here... ----------------- My career dream is to be a test pilot or at least some sort of pilot of high performance aircraft. I have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a 4.0 GPA from a top school and I am currently obtaining my private pilot's license (13 hours with solo to date). Unfortunately, I have an eye condition called amblyopia, which means I have significantly reduced eyesight in one eye. Without correction, my vision is 20/40 in my left eye (good eye) and 20/80 in my right eye (bad eye). My left eye is near sighted and my right eye is farsighte…

Howdy Everybody! I'm an 06OT05 pilot select with a foot problem. First, the medical background. I have a case of Hallux Limitus in my right big toe. Basically, I don't have the range-of-motion to bend my toe beyond 20 degrees or so. Due to this I cannot run very fast if at all; basically I "shuffle" more than I run because of my toe. I cannot "shuffle" at the pace required for 1.5-mile run that is part of the PFT. There are two treatments available; an orthotic or a cheilectomy. The orthotic, a non-surgical option, is already on order. It may allow me to run at a pace that may meet the Air Force PFT standards. The orthotic will not, however, heal my Hall…

Anyone have any experience with a hip replacement or hip resurfacing, and getting back on flight status? I know about the Mountain Home guy in 1998 that was the first in an ejection seat. And I've talked to the Tyndall F-22 guy that had his about 5 years ago. I'm looking for new info. Thanks.

I have my FC1 in 1 week. Last week, I had my wisdom teeth pulled and was prescribed Vicodin for pain and Amoxicilin for antibiotics. I was under general anesthesia, so I was also given Valium and some IV sedatives (Demerol, Midazolam) on the morning of the surgery. I know that Vicodin is a narcotic...will this cause a problem on the drug-screen? I don't know much about drugs...what about the other drugs like the Valium or Midazolam? I stopped taking Vicodin the morning after the surgery b/c Advil worked better. It'll be 2 weeks exactly between my last dose of Vicodin and the morning of my FC1. I have a letter from my dentist that explains the procedure and lists all…

I recently had an echocardiogram done to determine the cause of a heart murmur that I have been told it innocent. The results say I have a thickened mitral valve with no sign of mitral valve prolape. I know MVP is a disqualifier for FC1 ( I want to be a pilot) but is a thickend valve also a DQ'er, I have looked at the waiver guide and so no guidance on this. The murmur was not detected in my DODMERB physical it has been intermitten since I was a teenager.

About 14 yrs ago (as a 10 yr old boy) I had a neuro-anyeurism operation. The problem was completely resolved, and now, 14 yrs later I'm 100% healthy, with 100% neuroogical function intact. My medical records were sent to MEPS for a determination; not wanting to make a determination MEPS is now forwarding my records to the AF SG. I'm hoping that something that happened over a decade ago (and is resolved w/o any affects) will not stand in my way of being selected for OTS. Do you folks recommend I provide the SG with a letter from the neurosurgeon saying that I am fully neurologically OK? (since the SG will never see me, all he sees is my records from 14 yrs ago, i feel …

I'm asking this for a female friend ;) ; Can a chick get a boob job and fly? Fighters? Take Gs?

While I was boxing recreationally, a blow to my right eye gave me, in additional to a swollen black eye, a blowout fracture in the orbital floor. I wasn't knocked out by the hit. I was lucky in that there was no muscle entrapment, and the double vision I got AFTER swelling (but not after the hit) went away three days later. My vision is still 20/20 in both eyes and the doctors found no damage to the eye itself. However, in order to decrease the chance of getting a sunken eye due to the size of the fracture, I'm going to be getting surgery to insert a medpor mesh material to seal up the fracture. My doctor told me he advises against scuba diving after such damage to the e…

Walk for 1 hour at least 2 hours before you go to the doctors’ office to have your blood pressure checked. Your pulse may be high but your blood pressure will be low. When I say walk, I mean walk. It's BEST to walk on a treadmill, if you are breaking a sweat that is good. Can the flight MD back me up on this idea which has worked for me? It helps me to get that extra adrenaline out of my body. I wouldn't advise running before hand. [ 04. January 2007, 09:30: Message edited by: Tlicious1020 ]

I am trying to find out how serious a varicocele is when pulling high g-forces. I recently overheard someone talking about his friend who had surgery to fix this same problem before going on to high g force aircraft because of the possibility of it rupturing. Somehow I have made it through all of my physicals without the doctors noticing that I do in fact have a varicocele (have had it since I was an adolescent). I am very hesitant to go in to the Flt Docs now. How much should I worry about this, and if I go back to a high g force aircraft do I need to get this fixed before going back to the centrifuge? Is it threatening to my career as a pilot.. ie could I lose …

I would like a serious answer on this because it will define my career from here on out. I wish to fly in the AF and need a no bullshit answer on whether or not this will disqualify me from flying in the AF. About four years ago, I was having trouble dealing with some issues. the doc had put me on meds, which actually made me feel worse. Finally, it got bad and I attempted to commit suicide. (I tried to hit a semi head on) After this failed, i realized I need help and ON MY OWN ACCORD, went to life skills and got the help i needed. They sent me to a hospital for behavioral health for a week and when I came back i was 110 percent better. This was four years ago, and I h…

I am not in the military yet. However, I plan on applying for a flight slot. Basically, I was wondering if I had this mole removed would it pose any problems later. In other words, would I be disqualified? Would I need a waiver? Does it matter how I have it removed? I was thinking about laser removal, however, does it matter that the technology is fairly new? Any help on this would be very helpful. Thanks.

Regarding how to read a perscription... Yes, I have already "searched" - my specific question has not been dealt with. Okay, I have (cyclo) +2.75 -1.50 by 097 OD. I simply want to know: a.) would I need a "excessive refraction" waiver? To my understanding, I would not because +2.75 (+) -1.50 = +1.25 which is under the +2.00 cutoff. Is that correct? Do you add the hyperopia (2.75) to the astig (-1.50) to get the "meridian" total?? b.) my manifest refraction was under the standards both individually, and added together. As I am aware, I have not been looked at for a waiver. Thus, I am assuming that the above is how it is done-I also got some of my info fr…

Hey all, I have just been diagnosed with vasculitis and was wondering if it was disqualifying. Only my skin has been affected and none of my internal organs so I got lucky. My skin is healing nicely and the doc's think it may be HS Purpura i'll find out in a few days. If it is disqualifying is there any chance for a waiver? I tried a search with no luck.

Does having a hard cast on your hand definetly DNIF one from all AF aircraft until it's removed?

Any Flt Docs, About two weeks ago, I suffered a concussion from an ATV accident. Short-term mem loss (remember going to bed night before, that's it), puking (about 5 min after), and a bad-ass head ache were my symptoms. felt groggy and out of it over the next couple of days, but i am feeling better now. what are the repercussions if i report this? does this prevent me from flying (i am on PRP)? any info you can give me is greatly appreciated. thanks. -smoke [ 31. October 2006, 12:43: Message edited by: buffjock ]

I've already got my wings and am currently flying in my MWS (multi-crew member aircraft...not pointy nose type). I've suffered many ankle sprains playing football in college. The orthopedic surgeon at one time suggested that I would need to seriously look into have a "modified brostrum" procedure to be performed on my ankle. If I lay down on a table, with my ankle overhanging the edge, all a doctor would have to do is place his one hand and push down on my shin, and with the other, pull up behind the heel and see my enitre foot slip up and down about a good inch or so. I guess this is due to the amount and number of times the ligaments on the outer portion of th…

I'm headed to Brooks in a couple weeks and have a question about the Pre-exam report (where you are asked about 70 questions about your medical history). One question asks for broken bones, dates, explanations etc.. My question is, what differences does the AF make between "Broken bones", "Stress fractures", and "Hairline fractures"? Here's my situation: 1985 - Broken right wrist 1995 - Broken right arm 1997 - Broken left arm (hairline fracture) 2002 - Stress fracture in left ankle All healed completley with no pins or surgury, so my next question is.. are these disqualifying? Any help would be great, thanks!

I recently went on PDT with AFROTC and was disqualified for my Jet Orientation ride because of a "heart murmur" that was heard by the flight doc using a stethoscope. I had never heard anything from any of my other doctors about it both before and after his finding and the ones after looked very hard to find it. They heard nothing, but to be sure they sent to me get an echocardiogram done. I had already taken 2 electrocardiograms too be sure nothing was wrong and they both came back normal, even though they do not diagnos heart murmurs. The echocardiogram results were just given to me and it said the following: Description Of Procedure: Technical quality of study is g…

I recently found out I have esotropia in my left eye. Now it sounds like I have to go in for 3 different depth perception tests, the red lens test, and something else. I did a search for this topic and didn't get any hits. I know the reg has lots of references to diplopia, but my optometrist said it isn't the same and there are no references to esotropia in the reg. I've passed the five horizontal dot depth perception test (after a few tries), and am concerned about taking all these tests. Should I be terribly concerned? Please advise... What [ 09. August 2006, 21:28: Message edited by: JLoweCSU ]

what are the legal requirements concerning immunizations? i.e. can your legally decline immunization when you commission?

Is Tinea Versicolor going to DQ me on the flight physical, or even the initial physical for ROTC? I know other skin irritations do, but I didn't find anything on here about this one. I'll get into the specifics of my case (very mild) if there is reason for concern later. Thanks!

Background; I got back from a mission and on the third day of my crew rest I was in the ER, discovering I had a kidney stone. I tried to pass it for 3 weeks but wasn't able to, so they went in and got it. However, during the pre-op CT scan, they informed me that I have "multiple stones in each kidney." They (Urologists at a nearby Army hosp) obviuosly needed more tests to be done but I had to wait a month to recover. During this time I did my research and found the Waiver Guide on Brooks web page. I gave a copy to the docs so they knew what tests to do for my waiver request. Present; I have completed all of the tests needed for waiver submission. Here's the interesti…

Is Speech Impediment from past hearing loss consider DQ'd? And if so, can I get it wavied?