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Post by joanne on Mar 19, 2008 12:38:50 GMT -6
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Post by vickie on Mar 20, 2008 17:31:54 GMT -6
Amazing article, I don't know if it would work for my "pins and needles" but man it would be worth checking into.
I cannot believe that this war has caused so many amputees, you hear about the head trauma cases but I've not heard CNN or any other news media talking about this injury. Those poor damn kids they sure didn't know what they were getting into did they?
I used to work for a guy that did a lot of rehab work with the VA and I tell you, those kids had/have it rough never enough money, long lines, docs/nurses to busy to listen, and a lot of docs that can't make it in civilian life work for the VA. Don't get me wrong I'm sure there are some top notch docs working there. I know the heads of the VA hospital in Reno were always begging the big wigs for help but rarely got it. I just don't understand when Bush invaded Iraq he promised that the vets would be taken care of. Now I hear that some are waiting a month or more to get psych help, hospitals overrun and patients not taken care of properly shame on this government shame shame.
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Post by chickiet on Mar 21, 2008 5:11:20 GMT -6
As this article cites, a large portion of these amputees end up at Walter Reed, which is where I had my surgery (my husband is retired air force). At every visit to the hospital we encounter many amputees. I am always amazed at their determination and typically their positive attitudes. They have been a source of inspiration for me - it's kind of hard to feel sorry for the pain in my feet and legs, and my bladder/bowel issues when I see double-amputees who are in their 20s, walking down the hallway holding their little kid's hand, or seeing them come for PT.
I do know that Walter Reed has just opened a wonderful rehab facility for amputees - it was featured on our local tv. I also know that there were things on the news about deplorable living conditions for some of the vets - but that has been improved (according to our local news). And while the docs and nurses at WRAMC are very busy, I have never found a more caring and competent group of medical professionals. I'm sure that doesn't apply to 100% of the group, but my encounters there have been positive. I felt that my care was much better there than it was at the private rehab hospital they sent me to after being discharged from acute care at Walter Reed.
My heart goes out to these kids - but I believe that those at Walter Reed are getting the best care possible.
Chris
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Post by vickie on Mar 21, 2008 10:30:00 GMT -6
I'm so sorry I didn't mean to imply that they didn't get good care or had great doctors, I just know from my experiences with VA hospitals that the docs, nurses, etc are over worked, underpaid and the gov doesn't do enough for these the docs etc and especially the kids.
I can only go by what I saw as a kid at McCord Air Force Hospital where my nephew was born the doctor was so incompetent that he was eventually born with brain damage, being in the Army my brother in law and my sister had no recourse this doctor was eventually let go, there were a lot of instances at the Reno VA. I am sure that most of these hospitals are great places with great docs and nurses and rehab people but I think that some people (as in reg hospitals) fall through the cracks and are forgotten. I just think that there can be more done for these people than we are doing now. It seems that as in all wars a lot of kids come home and are forgotten, and I think more should be done.
I didn't mean to offend you Cris at all, I was just making an observation from my experiences.
Vickie
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Post by Doug on Mar 21, 2008 15:40:10 GMT -6
Test
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Post by chickiet on Mar 23, 2008 18:20:50 GMT -6
Vickie - I was just trying to point out my experience and comment on what I saw at Walter Reed. I wasn't saying that the system is perfect - just was putting in my two cents about the great care that is there. No offense taken.
Chris
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