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…

Anyone know if Plantar Fasciitis is a DNIFing condition? A few weeks ago I hurt my foot playing volleyball and ever since I've had a slight pain in my heel. It doesn't affect me on a daily basis, just when I try to run or do any physical activity that involves my feet. I'm planning on going to the Flight Doc, but I'm just wondering if there is any written guidance on this.

From AFI 48-123v2: A3.28.18. Current symptomatic plantar wart(s) (078.19) is disqualifying. Two questions: 1. What constitues symptomatic? 2. Is this issue waiverable? Thanks.

I donate plasma for a little bit of extra money while I am in school. Is this going to affect my physical results? I am just wondering if it is still okay to do before I go to Brooks at the end of the summer.

I have had two episodes of a spontaneous pneumothorax, one in each lung. After each episode I underwent Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery which was a mechanical abrasion pleurodesis. I understand these will require a waiver and lots of patience, but are there any flight doc’s that could tell me what the chances are that I’ll actually get a waiver? After both these episodes I have still maintained my FAA class 1 medical and have completed hundreds of flight hours and gained my commercial pilots license as well as multi-engine and instrument ratings. *currently applying to the new CPW program for the USAF. I should also note that I haven’t had any issues in rel…

I have had 2 pneumothoraxes 3 years apart. Will this be a problem down the road?

Poland’s syndrome (Brachymesophalangeal triphalangy type), a congenital deformity consisting of ipsilateral absence of the pectoralis major muscle and in some cases syndactyly. My brother has the above condition. He was able to attain an FAA Class 1 flying physical but is required to get a 1,000 test done every year to renew it. It's a long shot...but is that wavierable?

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

Hello, by chance is there a pollen allergy waivers to be a Navy aviator?

Couldn't find anything via search. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Polycystic Kidney Disease earlier this week. My kidney function is normal and my blood pressure is good, but I have over a dozen cysts in and on both kidneys. I discovered it during a BFM flight (pain) and it got worse a few days later, which led to the CT Scan and ultimate diagnosis. I'm also in the middle of a transfer from the Navy Reserve to AF. 1) Assuming the MRI/MRA is good and I have no signs of aneurysm or neural cysts, what are my odds of continuing to fly fighters? Has anyone gone through that waiver process here? How long does it take? 2) WRT the transfer - assuming NAMI approves a waiver, would A…

I was flying today and as I did my 45 deg turn I plugged up my ears. I didn't realize until I landed and took off my headset that I could barely hear anything. I do have some type of head cold, not a bad one.. It's prob allergies. Anyway I managed to pop my ears back to normal, one tends to plug back up. Is there anything to do to prevent this.. any tricks? besides not flying. Also what are some tricks to popping your ears back to normal? Thanks guys.

I'm scheduled for an annual dental exam in a few days and just in time because i'm having pain in a back tooth, this tooth is however in an awkward spot on the roof of my mouth, and ive been told by a civilian dentist prior to service that to have it removed would leave a hole requiring some kind of surgery to heal, my question is that knowing this, is that kind of dental work something that can permanantely dnif you? ive read that you may need to apply for an exception to policy letter to continue flying, if no further treatment is necessary.

A few years ago while pulling G's I felt a pop and compression in my lower spine. It really scared me and I felt immediate pain. I could hardly get out of the jet after this happened due to my lower back muscles tightening and cramping up and once I got home, which was very difficult, I could hardly get into bed let alone get out of bed. I went into the flight doc the next day because of the extreme pain that I was in and he didn't seem too concerned after I answered his questions, and he said that he was going to treat it acutely. Basically I took ibuprofen for a while. After about one week I could function normally again but still experienced pain and have always h…

I had LASIK Surgery in July of 2017 and corrected to 20/20 in both eyes. I have a contracted flight spot coming out of AFROTC graduating and am commissioning June of 2020. I received my final IFC-1 clearance in October. I passed the vision component with 20/20 vision but it has since degraded to 20/40 in my right eye. I have free enhancements under the original procedure plan. Do I have to have approval from the Air Force to undergo this procedure and would I lose my FC-1 classification? What is the right way to go about getting this enhancement without endangering my medical clearance? Thanks for any help in advance.

Hey guys got a question, My eyes are well within limits of the Airforce post op limits for PRK and LASIK but the only thing is I have Hashimotos disease which means that untreated I have hypothroyidism. But I have been taking medicine for a long time and my levels area ll steady and normal. However I havr hashimotos and this seems to DQ me for the eye surgery according to the airforce. But i know for a fact that if your hashimotos is controlled the civ doctors let u get PRK and LASIK. Heres the USAF page that says hashimotos disqualifies me https://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6MaoRtKTk4B...-080306-023.doc So if I am gonna try to do this do i need to 1) get the surge…

I saw a policy memo from AFPC of an upcoming guidance memorandum for AFI 36-2110, Assignments, expected to publish on 30 June. Post-pregnancy deferments for Deployment and PCS (aka Assignment Limitation Code "A") will increase from 6 months to a full year. This action will be retro-active for any child-births from March 2015 to present. Note that para 2.39.5. allows for members to voluntarily request removal of this deferment, which certainly will be a very important option as a year is a very LONG time and assignment possibilities will arise in that time. The change was also supposedly spear-headed by SECAF James. It's also very important that this deferment is not pushe…

Hey guys, I hate to start a new thread but searched for a while and didnt find anything exactly like what I was looking for. Your insight would be greatly appreciated. I have an upcoming FC1 at Wright-Patt the first week of December. I believe I am right on the boarderline regarding my refraction error and am unsure which way it will go. That is my only issue. Other than that I should be completely fine during the FC1. My question to you is, since I am 26 and 1/2 years old and will be 27 in May 2013, I was wondering what options I have if I DQd because of my refraction error. I have not had PRK but would be willing to get it done ASAP after the FC1. I am a civ…

I will be graduating from college this June, and have already received a pilot slot in the AF through AFROTC. As anyone who has gone the AFROTC route knows, long leave periods after graduation for pilot select guys such as me are not uncommon, and I'm no different - I don't EAD until December 18th. During my six months off, I was thinking about getting some minor surgery done to correct a couple of things while I'm waiting. First, I have a bunyon on my right foot that isn't especially painful, but it is annoying and inconvenient, and I would like to have it fixed before I start my AF career. Also, I broke my nose some time ago, and my septum is still deviated, which is al…

Anyone had any experience with a pre-separation physical? What does it entail?

If you have fluctuating A1C levels with the highest being 5.7, that technically puts you right at the bottom of "pre-diabetic" range. Most doctors would say, hey you need to monitor that and change diet etc to lower that value before you get closer to actual diabetic range. I also think the FAA requires you to fill out a special form with your AME if you are in the pre-diabetic range. Are there any Air Force specific requirements, further testing, or waivers needed if you are in the pre-diabetic range (but require no medicine and are not experiencing any associated symptoms)? The waiver guide has a huge discussion on pre-diabetes but doesn't say anything specifi…

What happens to a military pilot who becomes pregnant? Is she immediately off flight status? How long is she at home after the baby is born?

Hi All, I'm awaiting my FC1 for my guard job. I'm always around lots of people everyday for my job so I think sooner or late I may get exposed to COVID. Let's say this happens and I test positive and recover with no issue. When I go for my FC1 in a couple months, will having a previous positive COVID test cause issues for getting my FC1? I have yet to find any guidance on COVID and FC1. Thanks.

Problem solved

Does anyone know the process for prior enlisted? Do we still have to go to MEPS even though we had to when we enlisted? Does the FC1 staff just take our medical history from when we enlisted? If there are any enlisted guys on here who went through the process or if anyone knows that would he great.

I was in an accident and given a run/walk waver which extends for about a year. shortly after I was given the waiver I was selected for promotion (6 months from now). the waiver covers through the period of the promotion date. my question is, can the promotion be held up until I am able to perform the PT test without any waivers or restrictions? I read through the fitness reg and could not find anything that is a clear go/no go. this is for the Air Force BTW and any help sure would be appreciated.