Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 8/20/2009

Question
I have had a few past injuries that have required surgeries.  Two knee surgeries (torn meniscus), one on my left leg and the other on my right.  I have also had a out-patient back surgery to correct a bulging disc.  I take part in physical therapy 2-3 times a week to stay healthy and to continue getting stronger in those areas.  I have considered joining the Navy.  Because of these injuries, is joining out of the question?

Answer
Alyssa,
For such a simple question it requires a long answer.

Surprisingly your back surgery is not a disqualifier, as long as the surgery was successful.
However, your knee surgery is a different story.

The military medical regulations say exactly, "Surgical correction of any knee ligaments if symptomatic or unstable is a disqualification."

The military doctors will ask you if the entire meniscus was  removed (a disqualifier) or if a partial menisectomy was performed.  A partial meniscectomy is performed to remove only the torn segment of the meniscus.  This works very well over the short and long term if the meniscus tear is relatively small. But for some large meniscus tears, a sufficient portion of the meniscus is removed such that problems can again creep up down the road and arthritis may set-in, therefore it's a disqualifier.  So hopefully you only had a small tear and only a partial menisectomy was performed, then you'll be OK.

Thanks for considering the Navy.  Meanwhile I hope you continue to heal.
Colonel H