Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group CAN I PASS A "CA, STATE MEDICAL EXAM" with AS?

Like the others have said, I don't know what's required by law to be disclosed in the medical exam, or to your prospective employer, but I would like to comment on you wanting to become a police officer.

As you know, this is a very physically demanding profession. Would you be able to chase someone on foot; wrestle someone (possibly someone bigger and stronger than you). stand, sit or drive for long hours at a time, or deal with someone kicking you in the leg or knee?

I don't want to discourage you, but maybe you need to look at this realistically. If what you're going through is something that is new to you, and it looks like it's just a short term thing that you will recover from, then I'd say wait for it to heal and go for it. However, if you are going to have continuing problems, you might want to think about it. You could not only be putting yourself at risk, but other officers and members of the public as well.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck.

aloha, lost in cali

well, young fella...you're the only one with the answer to your question...what all might this test entail?

if it's anything like a fireman's test...involving a timed run, carrying a hundred pound weight up and down a flight of
stairs, situps and pushup standards, agility tests and all that sort of stuff...well ...can you hack it ?

more really my question is that of the dog chasing the car- what do you do if you catch the car?

the prospect of this boot-camp experience is one of a much longer duration test period...and you have to pass the
boot camp stuff...it's test too...after your period on crutches you need new good confidence in your body
holding up long enough to outlast/survive the boot camp.

if you do have AS ? and i'd sure examine the lyme disease and reactive arthritis possibilities to a firm conclusion first.
i'd myself question the nature of the physical demands of the job...most police officers, i believe, look at a twenty-five
or thirty years career as a lifer, pensions and health benefits are great and you retire by fifty or fifty-five...

if you do have AS and start the enbrel, remember in the contact work of a police office you will be less able to fight
an infection...rolling on the ground with some drunk, thwarting terriorists, processing a junkie with works in his pocket and
a case of aids, well there are a lot of risks...it's not all doughnuts and speeding tickets for young girls in convertibles.

well good luck with it,
aloha Ben

I know a police office who has rhuematoid arthritis and is on enbrel. I don't think he suffered this when he first joined, it showed up about 8 years ago, he was on disability for a while, then was able to return to work-at what capacity I'm not sure, but last I saw him, he had his revolver and vest on.

I think until you have your second opinion, you should hold off on fully embracing AS as a Dx. Like many have said, you're presenting kinda backwards, but it could well be AS that's early on. Or it could be arthritis; or rheumatoid arthritis... keep checking until things are for sure.

We don't have to declare medical conditions with employment in Canada, but I'm not sure about police academy. Like Ben says, the boot camp is rigorous, so train now as you're able.

The only time I disclosed my med Hx was on life insurance questionnaires. I told them arthritis because I knew that for sure, because AS was still being investigated, and they had the names of my docs to follow through-up to them to do their "due diligence."

All the best...

Thank you very much for taking the time to read and respond! I will let you know about my 2nd opinion this Thursday in UCLA

Hi! Well first off just wanted to thank you for reading and responding to my post! It truley means alot when people can take time out of their day to offer some advice and concern.

Well as far as the Police officer Exam it is a MEDICAL physical only, such as testing my blood, looking to the left coughing, hearing, eyes, and so on. I already took and passed the Physical abilities test which involves you running a mile, push ups, sit ups and so on but I took that last Aug. befor this all happen to me now. I have been going back and forth in cruthes and wheel chair for the last 2 months and seem to be getting better but still can not walk on my own with out extreme pain. I have no pain what so ever in my back well at least yet and the CT scan came back negative and is normal for any damage to my back so Im guessing I got Diagnosed very early. The problem more or less is in both my feet, ankles, and left knee swelling up. Iam on Celebrex and Prednisone, But I really do not want to take them because I hear bad things about the side effects... I do know that Enbrel will bring down my immune system but Iam hoping with me eating right and taking lots of viatimins esp. VIT-C I will be able to fight off infections. But as fas as rolling around fighting and making arrest I should have no problem if Iam fully functional and able to do the job, Iam more concerned with passing the MEDICAL EXAM and if I will have to disclose my diagnosis and why Iam taking certian meds... I will stop taking the celebrex and prednisone once I start the Enbrel so that my Liver can get back to normal. I have been eating the right foods and seems to be working I plan on hitting the gym hard and pushing my self to see how far I can push my self till I have a flair up... The Academy will start in JUNE and lasts 6 months 27 weeks. I just hope I can make it through the 6 mo grooling academy with out any flare ups, I'm sure once I graduate I will not be running push ups, sit ups and so on so on every single day so less likly hood of causing a flare up... I can imagine they will have new and better drugs in the next comming 5 years that will be able to treat it much better than now. But till then alot of eating the right foods and Viatimins and well just try to stay healthy...

First off thank you very much for taking the time to read and respond to my message it means alot to me =)

Well as far as running a suspect down and making arrest I should hopefully be fine! Iam still new to the desease... I have absolutly no pain in my back or neck well yet... I went in for a CT scan last week and it came back negative and no damage and was normal... As of now I have swelling in both my feet and ankles and left knee, it seems to be getting better each day now maybe the meds Iam taking or the foods I am eating who knows... Iam on Celebrex and Prednisone for the swelling.. I will be starting the Enbrel this week and the Doc says it should work fine for me due to my symptoms and lack of damage to the back so it can stop it from progressing to my back and spine... My main thing is will I be able to make it through a MEDICAL EXAM which consists of besicaly a physical, blood work, eyes, hearing and so on so on... I'm not sure if I have to disclose what I have and what meds I take or just tell them I have arthritis Im not sure! the academy starts in JUNE so gives me 5 months to get backl to 100% and push my self and body to its limits to see if I can hack it and make it through the academy with out a flare up... I guess it is all on how my body respons to the meds and what happens... So guess only time will tell! I do know if I can not push my body to extremes and cant make it then I will prob look into another carreer. But see this is somthing I have worked for since I was 17 years old going to school, explorers programs, community service, and college with criminal law degree, So Iam not going to quit that easy and FIGHT for it all the way! =)

Thank for taking the time to respond and read my post =)

You are sooo right!!! I have to invest in myself and eat the right food! and work out and condition my self and body mentaly pyhsically to do the things I need to do! I just dont know if my physical will DQ me for it and if its somthing I have to disclose to them

Yeah true I have thought about keeping it a seceret! I mean what business is it what I have just as long as I can do the job right? But I dont wanna lie about it! Because being an officer you are always wanting to be completely honest about everything.. So I dunno, Im gonna see if their is some type of law where I do not have to disclose any medical conditions if I do not want to.. so iu dunno

Thank you for reading and taking the time to respond to my post..

So what meds have u taken? and your sons doesnt wanna take anything like Enbrel? or remicade? I wouldnt really wanna take them but my Doc says that it will stop the desease from spreading to my back and keep it at bay where it is, and in very very very EXYREEEEEEMME cases can put it in remision but its rare.. so i dunno I just hope with my diet change and working out I can beat it

When's your academy medical exam?

I'm glad to hear the "fighting spirit" taking over where discouragement and apprehension once lay-with that attitude, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Besides, if one door becomes closed, there are always other related fields.

Let's take one day at a time. At this point, I would consider that AS is suspected, but hesitate to consider it confirmed. The general criteria for making a conclusive AS Dx does not typically match your symptoms (I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm not a doc-your doc could be very astute and be right on). I would ask your first doc how they arrived at this AS Dx so quickly when you get a chance to see them again, particularly since a premature Dx could thwart your present career path. Read these links for your information:

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2700.htm#target2

http://www.clinexprheumatol.org/pdf/vol23/s39/s39_pdf/20zochling.pdf

https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=100045&page=&vc=1

best...