Could I be rejected because of arm?!

[funeone01]

Hello everyone, I have been training to become a SEAL for a good 6 months now (havent talked a recruiter yet or signed anything, just training) and I I've been reading this forum and am now worried about being rejected because of my arm. I had surgery on it about 8 years ago and have a titanium plate with screws in there. It doesn't bother me and can still do everything I used to do with it and more..but, do you think this could get me disqualifed from even trying out to be a SEAL?

I read this pdf (http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/NAMI/WaiverGuideTopics/MANMED%20Change%20126.pdf), and it said that "late effect of fracture of upper extremities" is disqualifying. What does that mean exactly?

Thanks in advance!

-Mike

**Can having allergies cause you to get rejected as well?**

[funeone01]

Anyone? Any opinions? Snow? I've seen you answer a lot of questions on this site.

Another thing I didnt mention, I DONT set off any metal detector alarms anywhere I go. I've been to many airports and courts over the years, and never once did my arm set anything off.

Thanks

[snow85]

depends on the injury and the particular location of the plates and screws.

no, you won't set off any metal detectors. not the right kind of metal.

when you tell me more, i can give you a better idea.

hardware is usually waiverable depending on the injury.

[derrekjm]

I can't really help you out but the other week a Marine recruiter called me(yea I dont know why) and that was one of the first questions he asked me. "Do you have any plates, screws or pins." My guess is if you can function fine physically and it doesnt bother you might be able to get a waiver.

[funeone01]

Snow,

Here is some more info on my arm. When I was 15 I broke it while arm wrestling (NOT a compound fracture). The break was called a "spiral fracture" I believe, and it was the Humerus bone. The way the break was, spiral, the Dr said I would need surgery. The surgery required 2 titanium plates wrapped around my humerus bone with 10-12 screws.

This injury was quite a while ago, and this is all the info I can think to give. If you have any other questions about the surgery or my arm please ask. Again, my arm functions just fine as it used to, haven't even thought about it till recently thinking that it may DQ me..which I REALLY hope this will not.

Thanks,
-Mike

[snow85]

of course they ask you.

hardware is a sign, (residual), of serious, serious injury. they need to know, as different injuries can re-occur. also, surely you've heard that when you break a bone, once it heals it's stronger in that spot than in other places? hardware can artifically create the same "phenomenon" in your body, depending of course, on what it is.

[snow85]

Mike--

your explanation post hadn't appeared when i wrote the other.

here's my take:

yes, you'll have to get a waiver. a spiral fracture is a bad one, (as you know!), but it's good that it wasn't compound. even though you had to have surgery, compound fractures are always worse.

you'll probably be sent for x-rays, and they'll call in an outside consult ortho or two to evaluate your arm. the good news is that it was 8 years ago. hopefully you've seen a doc since then, to make sure that your arm not only healed properly, but that your bone hasn't had any trouble growing-- since you were 15 when the injury happened.

in the meantime, get a letter from your surgeon stating that you're okay for active military duty. keep a record of everything you're doing that involves your arm: any and all sports you've participated in since the surgery, swimming, pull-ups, push-ups, weights, etc. you don't have to max all this stuff out, (and you shouldn't), but just keep a running record so that the Navy has "proof" that you're functioning just fine. believe me--- that record will definitely help you make your case for a waiver.

you're going to have to get through MEPS, then the Navy docs, so keep copies of all this.

if you have any more questions, just ask.

-s-

[funeone01]

S,

Thanks for your reply. Thats a little more encouraging, lately, before your reply I was a little worried about getting into SEAL training with the surgery I had, even though my arm functions just fine. I actually have a journal since I was 16 of my weight training progress I could definetely use as my record, and I'll make a call this week to my surgeon to get that letter.

Thanks again,
-Mike

[snow85]

Mike,

Weight training isn't the only thing. You'll be doing a few pushups in BUD/S, so your arm needs to be able to support your weight and do the work over and over again.

Pull-ups = same thing.

Log PT = same thing.

See where this is going?

Do some research on BUD/S and what they do, and bring that to your surgeon so that he understands that he's not simply approving you for regular military duty.