Is it possible to serve in the army with a hernia

Many young people of military age, like their relatives, are wondering if they take to the army with a hernia? After all, it would seem that this is a rather serious disease, which in some cases can even lead to disability.

So in what cases will military service be mandatory, and when will the conscript manage to avoid it? How does the localization of a hernia affect the service itself and the decision of the commission on whether the conscript is fit?

Schmorl's hernia and the army

Schmorl's hernia is a common degenerative pathology in which the intervertebral disc grows or protrudes into the vertebral body, and not to the side, as with a common defect. It is believed that in most cases this disease is congenital. True, in some cases, the protrusion will burn to form in a healthy spinal column. This happens if the patient has received a severe injury to the spine or, for example, does not follow his posture, due to which its gradual curvature develops.

In most cases, Schmorl's hernia is completely asymptomatic. In exceptional situations, the patient complains of discomfort and pulling pains that are felt after he lifts a large weight.

The decision on whether a young man with such a hernia is fit for service is made on the basis of the severity of the pathology. Since in most cases the disease does not make itself felt at all, and it is discovered quite by accident during an x-ray examination, most likely the guy will receive a category "B". This means that he can repay his debt to the Motherland, but there is a limitation in the choice of a number of troops.

If a pathological protrusion leads to a severe limitation of movements in the spinal column, they are not taken into the army.

Combination of intervertebral pathology with service

Intervertebral hernia, unlike Schmorl's hernia, is a more serious pathology. In this case, the intervertebral disc protrudes not into the vertebral body, where its pressure may not manifest itself in any way, but to the side. As a result, a situation often arises in which there is compression on the vertebral nerves, which leads to a number of unpleasant symptoms.

Depending on which part of the spinal column the hernia is located in, its symptoms can be very different. So, for example, when the lumbar spine is affected, the upper part of the body does not suffer, but the pelvic organs and lower limbs are subject to negative influences, sometimes up to paralysis. If the hernial protrusion is in the cervical region, the patient may complain of headaches, numbness in the hands.

If a conscript has an intervertebral hernia, then his fitness for service is determined not by the fact of his presence, but by the general condition of the person. As a result, three categories can be obtained.

Category "B". The guy is fit for service, but the choice of ranks of troops is limited. The category is assigned if the pathology is asymptomatic or the appearance is minimal.

Category "B".
In peacetime, a person is released from service. The category is assigned if a large number of vertebral defects are found, there is no possibility to carry out surgical treatment, or it was carried out without effect, there are disorders in the motor functions of the limbs. Category "G". With her, the conscript is subject to re-examination by the commission. Which patient fits into this category? A person with a severe exacerbation of the disease.

The presence of a defect in the navel

An umbilical hernia is another option for localizing a defect. This pathology is characterized by going beyond the abdominal wall of some parts of the organs that are located in the hernial sac. Pathology in most cases is congenital, but it can also be acquired during life if you carry heavy loads, survive an abdominal injury or engage in too active physical activity.

An umbilical hernia is very well diagnosed, since a specific defect is usually clearly visible on the abdominal wall. In this case, other symptoms, in principle, may be completely absent in the patient.

The decision on whether a young man can serve in the army is made after assessing the severity of the hernia. So, conscripts with minor defects that can be easily corrected receive category "B" and are still sent to the service. If the defect is large, such a conscript is not taken into the army.

It is important to remember that even small, in principle, hernias are capable of progressing under excessive loads. If a young man with a hernia still ended up in the army, it is necessary to be attentive to his own health in order to prevent the progression of the pathology. An umbilical hernia is dangerous with a high risk of strangulation, which is an emergency and requires urgent hospitalization in a surgical hospital.

The presence of a defect in the groin area

Inguinal hernia is another common disease among the male population. With this pathology, the peritoneal organs can bulge in the hernial sac through the opening in the inguinal canal. The bulge does not require complex diagnostics, since it can often be easily seen with the naked eye and also felt.

Do they take to the army with a hernia in the groin area? The question, as always, is decided only by the commission, assessing the severity of the pathology.

If the hernia is large, it can only be corrected in the “lying” position or with the help of a manual aid, and it often recurs, then the conscript will receive a category “D”. This means that the patient has a serious illness, in which the service is contraindicated. If the hernia is small, it appears in an upright position if the young man performs physical activity or coughs. He is assigned the category "B". According to this gradation, a person is fit for service only if any hostilities begin.

Interestingly, the conscript may be advised to undergo treatment, to which he has the right not to resort. Refusal of surgical interventions or other methods of therapy will not be perceived as an attempt to deviate from military service.

Definitely dangerous pathologies for health

Doctors participating in the medical commission must carefully assess the health status of the future conscript. At the same time, the data of general analyzes, radiography, CT and MRI studies, if necessary, are studied.

There are a number of conditions that are dangerous to the life and health of the future soldier, because of which the service can become absolutely contraindicated.

These include:

• cases when a person has earned a hernia during life or from birth, and it leads to severe problems with the spine or limbs, significantly limiting mobility, reducing reflexes, leading to numbness and paresis;
• cases when a young man must undergo an urgent surgical intervention, and he refuses it for any reason;
• severe pathologies of the spinal column received from birth;
• rapid progression of pathological changes, in which even a full-fledged operation cannot be guaranteed to lead to complete healing.

Military training is a condition that can provoke an exacerbation of the disease or aggravate its already pronounced course.

Features of preparation for the commission

Usually, the future conscript does not need any special preparation for the commission. It is important to remember that diagnoses are not established at the commission, as well as treatment is not prescribed. If the patient was not previously diagnosed with a particular disease, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the commission will miss its presence, since it works with ready-made medical documents.

To receive a category of service, taking into account the characteristics of a hernia, it is necessary before the commission:

• contact the attending physician, who will establish the presence of the disease, bring the diagnosis in line with the schedule of diseases, prescribe treatment and give directions for additional tests and diagnostics;
• you must appear at the medical examination with all medical documents, including a map, x-rays, test results, etc .;
• if there are doubts about the veracity of the diagnosis, you need to be ready to confirm it on additional examinations.

Based on the results of the commission passed, the conscript eventually receives a category, and is either sent to serve or stays at home.

Summing up, we can say that it is possible to serve with a hernia in the ranks of the army, but this issue should always be decided by doctors exclusively on an individual basis. Nevertheless, a hernia is not the same type of disease, which proceeds in the same way for everyone. Patients with this pathology require an individual approach.