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I am active duty Navy and I was diagnosed with MS in 2009. I went through one medical board and was found fit for service but had a Individual Augmentation Deployment cancelled on me last year as a result. I had a flair up in December and am getting sent to a med board again. This time I don't think I will make it through. I guess it is for the best though. They won't let me go to sea anymore and without my Department Head ride, I am a terminal LT. I just hope they medically retire me!

From all the post I am reading. I guess it depends on where you are at. I am at Fort Sam Houston. I have MS and had it for 5 years without any profiles. Or got put in for any Med Board process. I still do PT and take the AFPT. I am an instructor at Camp Bullis (medic). My neurologist said , just give him the word and he will start my med board. But for the most part I am doing fine. Workout and run but I think it is the yoga that helps the most with my balance. I do not think I will be found fit for duty but I plan on putting in for my Med Board soon and asking to get medically retired. But the med board process can take awhile even here at Fort Sam where they train people (doc's) how to do the med boards. But at this point I just want to get out ensuring that my medication is covered and my Neuro appts are covered.

Hi Peanut,

I hope this finds you well? My reply is probably a bit late, and may be of limited use as I am in the Australian Defence Force, but I do hope it helps.

Clinically I only ever had one episode of left sided parasthesia, which resolved with methylprednisolone. This happened in 2009, and I was made non deployable for up to 12 months. Luckily I had excellent medical officers who after a further neuro review stating clinically stable, and no functional impairment, upgraded me to deployable again. At this point I was diagnosed with the MS precursor "Clinically Isolated Syndrome"

Unfortunately about two years later a routine MRI showed new lesion which according to McDonald criteria is diagnosable MS, despite being clinically stable. At this point my care was interfered with by a less desirable medical officer who pushed the chain of command to make me non deployable permanently. This was not consistent with my neurologists opinion.

I was consequently centrally reviewed and deemed medically unfit for further service by the Royal Australian Air Force. Being a medical officer myself, I suspect due to specialist resource management and perhaps collegial bias, I was offered the chance to stay in albeit non-deployable. Extremely grateful as I was, I felt not deploying would waste life potential I could fulfil in a civilian medical setting so I discharged from permanent service, but have continued reserve service with a waiver (I think your National Guard equivalent).

I have now been 5 years relapse free and am considering options to return full time in uniform having spent a few years in critical care medicine. I suspect if this happens it will involve a lot of paperwork and I will be non deployable.

I only know of a handful of others with demyelination in our Defence Force, who have all been discharged to my knowledge. However, others with equally unpredictable and even more serious conditions have stayed in due to their skill set in a garrison role, but will likely never deploy.

It's a tough one taken on an individual basis with regard to staying in uniform here in Australia, but deploying extremely unlikely.

If your not already aware of it, in Australia we have an organisation called Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis available to join online. Set up also by an Aussie doctor diagnosed with MS. An excellent source of up to date info on MS, and a forum similar to this.

There is so much money going into researching this disease due it's high prevalence in wealthy nations. Grossly unfair I know, but it is good for people who have it. I don't know if there will be a cure in our life time, but possibly there will be enough new information on individual prognosis that both our Defence Forces will eventually change there policy and maybe one day we can deploy if we are clinically okay.

Wish you all the best, and hope you are well.

Greg

Im reading these comments and I am shocked. A civilian doctor diagnosed me, but as soon as I took my med records to the Army Dr's, I was out- processed in in 60 days. That includes going before a med review board and all. They put me out so fast. I was not having bad symptoms, so I could have stayed in. I am shocked over this connection. When I was going to Korea, they gave us this air gun vaccine. Mmmmmmm. But what can we expect from our government.

I realize this is a pretty old thread, but hopefully one of ya'll can help me figure out what to expect.

Long story short, I was diagnosed May 2017 with MS and will be officially presenting all of my stuff to the Navy June 2018 for review. This will put me at my 18 year mark, and I'm hoping that may help me get to 20.

I'm just trying to find out if anyone has been able to stay in the Navy after being diagnosed with MS, and if so how long?

Did they determine that you could still deploy and/or be fit for sea duty?

I'm due for my department head tour in DEC 18 and unsure what my future even holds. Honestly I wouldn't be upset if I could stay in but missed the DH tour.

hey there,
no military xp here but over a decade with an ms dx. predictions are tough with ms; i think there's lots that can be done to slow or halt disease processes, and keep doors open for longer.