Medical? passing with arthritis?

[Mase02]

Does anyone know if you can still pass and join the CHP if you have been Diagnosed with a severe arthritis? Iam 23 years old and was Diagnosed today. I still dont know all the details on my condition but their are medicines that I will have to take and injection every week to the stomach, I was wondering if any officers or RET. CHP officers have came across any other co-workers with these problems. Any advice and help would be great, thanks

[FuelInjection09]

Does anyone know if you can still pass and join the CHP if you have been Diagnosed with a severe arthritis? Iam 23 years old and was Diagnosed today. I still dont know all the details on my condition but their are medicines that I will have to take and injection every week to the stomach, I was wondering if any officers or RET. CHP officers have came across any other co-workers with these problems. Any advice and help would be great, thanks

You are a habitual knuckle-cracker huh?

[Mase02]

no I wish it is actually much more serious than that =( I will have to take an injection once a week for the rest of my life.. So I'm trying to figure out if Iam still eligible to be hired after being diagnosed with it.

[FuelInjection09]

It all comes down to if it hinders your ability to perform the expected tasks of a CHP officer on a constant, day-to-day basis. Is your grip strong, can you stretch, run, extend yourself, make sudden movements, etc? From a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain (rhetorical question)? IMO, if you're able to successfully pass your PAT and a doctor clears your medical, meaning you're fit for academy duty, then I don't see why it would. Ask your MD and perhaps a specialist for a second opinion. You never know unless you try. Good luck.

[Mase02]

Well If Iam ok at the time being and can be normal and everything is fine but what if Iam prone to have flare ups that may hender me to do the job and have to take time off?? Say if I was on the department for 2+ years then I had a flare up and couldnt work for a few weeks got treated with my meds then say another 2-3 years pass and I have another flare up and need to take 1-2 weeks off and so on. Is that somthing I will be DQed for? Cause I know for a fact that the MEd exam doesnt teest for arthritis but Not sure if its somthing I have to tell them about or is it just somthing like bone spurs or what not that people have and just never say anything.

[FuelInjection09]

That's something you'll have to talk to a Recruiter or BI about.

[SB 405]

Mase,isn't arthritis something that many times runs in the family? How have others in your family delt with it?

[dw]

Bottom line is no one is going to be able to give you an answer other than the State Doc... Officers aren't MDs and don't make the medical decisions. Maybe someone else has anecdotal experience with your situation, but I think you're going to have to wait for the medical to see.

[Mase02]

Thanks guys I appreciate what your saying. I actually spoke with my BI today and he said he would put my background on hold untill I will be able to pass my Medical exam. This is somthing that I was just Diagnosed with this week and still learning everything I can about this new desease I have to deal with. It seems that the new meds they have now within the last 5 months are working wonders on what I have so I will be able to return to active normal activities. I was just curious to see if anyone else or any other officers have delt with this befor. Because I'm sure all of us are pretty much healthy when we first start with the department at a young age but as you get onlder into your late 30's 40's 50's we all seem to come down with certian illnesses and deseases. But my family doesnt have a history of arthritis like what I have but I'm glad I cought it early now to be treated and stop the progression.

[SB 405]

Mase,I'm no doctor and I'm not trying to rain on your parade but I think arthritis is something that gets worse over time. I know things like cortisone shots can help although they are painful and only offer temporary relief. Maybe catching it in the early stages will help in some way to control it.

[Mase02]

Yeah see I just cant imagine that every single person on the Department is healthy as a horse I know as I get older it will get worse just as anything but their are new drugs out my Doctors says that will inhibit it from getting worse. The only catch is I have to take the meds once a week for ever untill they can find somthing better for it. Alot of eating right and daily excerise will come into play with it and helps it feel better in my joints. Im just hoping I dont have a flare up during the academy phase.