Well this just plain stinks

[Big Jay]

Some of you who know me remember I've had some medical problems in my life with my shoulders. When I was 18 i was involved in a motorcycle wreck that left me with two surgeries on my left shoulder. I did my best and some how managed to compete in bodybuilding and rehabbed it great.

Last night while working out in the gym doing pull ups (preparation for something I'll explain in the next part), my right shoulder let go. It snapped/tore during mid pull up and was dead. I rushed to the ER where they confirmed it was still in the socket but probably suffered an acute tear of the rotator cuff and possibly labrum.

Now this all really sucks but what makes it worse is that: 1) It's my right shoulder, which WAS the good one 2) I had met with a Marine OSO earlier this week and was basically given the green light to go to MEPS for the first step going into Marine OCS. I had my waiver signed by my Doctor for my left shoulder. Basically, I was on my way and now thats gone.

So now I sit here kind of uncertain as to what lies in store for my right shoulder now.

Could be worse. I am not one to be kept down but this is starting to get a little redundant.

[Ponce]

Work with your OSO, depending on your qualifications and the Corps needs, almost anything is waverable. You may just be delayed until you are healed. Good luck hope it all works out.

[Big Jay]

Work with your OSO, depending on your qualifications and the Corps needs, almost anything is waverable. You may just be delayed until you are healed. Good luck hope it all works out.

Believe me, i would love to. It was hard enough getting a waiver for my left shoulder. It has 3 metal anchors which they REALLY did not like.

I see my ortho today and I'll probably get sent for an MRI. If it's a full thickness tear then its going to be surgery.

My OSO was pretty calm and said take it day by day for now but I don't have a great feeling about this.

[Hallnass282]

I feel for ya man. I did cuff and labrum in both. 3 Anchors in the left and 5 in the right. Both wrestling in high school.

MEPS was a nightmare for me. I wanted to do the same thing as you but they couldnt make it happen.

Goodluck and Im hoping for the best.

[Captain Fred Archer]

Good luck, Jay.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

that really blows, but I'm sure you will be fine man.

Mike

[seapower]

Persaverence! Frank

[Big Jay]

Got back from the ortho. Diagnosis pending an MRI is a partially ruptured lat. dorsi tendon and subscapularis tear. Amazingly, the shoulder is stable. Labrum is intact.

He said in his 15 years of practice he's seen one ruptured lat, this is the second.

Basically he said tread very carefully for quite some time because if the lat tendon completely ruptures then it's going to be a HUGE issue.

Thank you for all the words and support.

[nautiduck]

Bad luck man! So how long is quite some time? Does this put an end to the dream? I hope things work out.

[longfisher]

...and every rifleman must be fit for close combat."

Saw that sign hanging over the "casualty platoon" barracks at Camp Pendleton when I was a young Sgt. and was assigned to oversee the "residents" there while waiting for my own OCS class to start.

I thought I was going to be overseeing just a bunch of druggies and alcoholics and other non-contents. Sure, some of those being processed out were in those categories. But easily most of the men being sent out were either psychologically or physically impaired, much like the author of this thread. Joint malidies and injuries were the primary reason most of them had to go, knees in particular.

Many a good and decorated and senior Marine was let go because he could no longer be expected to pull his weight, even though in almost no case was the Marine at fault.

I doubt it's changed much. The job's the same. Kill in close combat and march until you want to drop to get there to do that job.

Sorry about your injuries, bud. But not going might be the best thing for both you and the Corps, especially as you might become an officer. Enlisted men are pretty squemish about serving with an officer, particularly an infantry officer, who can't hack it.

It's not your fault. Maybe Providence has a more important thing for you to do than serve in that way. Think public service or elected office. Same crap. But at least you're not expecting to be blown up every day and you get to go home to that pretty wife and family each night.

LongFisher