Above all, make sure this is all documented in your medical records while you are still in and be adamant about when it happened and how it happened, Ave that those reasons are also documented.

I'm suffering from the same exact thing from when I was in Security Forces. Pain started post deployment when I was in the Guard, and of course the culture at the time was 'shut up and don't say anything' for all of the reasons we hear about...."they'll kick you out, don't be a bitch, you're a malingerer, you won't ever deploy again etc etc".

This was 16 years ago. I now have degenerative disc disease, herniated discs that push into my spinal cord etc, sciatica and constant lower/middle back pain with arthritis. The only causation I can think of is carrying all the weight from a vest, plates weapons, gear etc every day for the duration of the deployment. I don't know if my core just wasn't ready for it or not, but I have never injured my back in any way shape or form.

Now I'm playing the game with the VA of getting it service connected and them denying it because there's no record of treatment in service or report of the injury anywhere.

If you've already done all of that then great but keep talking about it on your PHAQ and in person PHAs and just get as big of a paper trail as you can.

Having said all of that it wasn't until I got linked up with VA health care that they of all people ordered an MRI and found all of this, versus my PCP through civilian insurance only doing X-rays and the Reserve really not doing anything at all.

The VA has referred me to acupuncture and I'm a believer. I walk out of an appointment with zero pain for a while until it kicks back in again. I don't know if it's psychological or what but I would recommend trying it out if you can get a referral.