Anyone else lose height from being deployed?

Site Notices

2024's Favorite CCW? | PSA Micro Dagger

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone else lose height from being deployed?

Posted: 4/10/2017 5:17:52 PM EDT

I'm was an 11B and came back from Iraq 1" shorter. I was 6'1" and now an even 6'. I've heard similar stories from others. Anyone else experience this? I had an x-ray taken of my spine when I got back but they didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I'd like to hear from others that experienced this.

Posted: 4/10/2017 5:57:35 PM EDT

[#1]

Your back hurt too I'm assuming?

Make them give you an MRI. They couldn't see anything on my x-rays, did an MRI and were like,"oh yeah, thats the problem right there"

Posted: 4/10/2017 6:13:51 PM EDT

[#2]

No experience with this myself but one of my best bros was 6'3.5" when he started a tour near Habaniyah in around 06'. His vehicle took 3 IED's in a year, the last being a SovBloc 152 shell directly underneath their up armored Humvee. Hes pretty sure that one gave him th compressed spine he now deals with. Hes nearly an inch shorter and his body is nine kinds of fucked up. He hurts all the damn time.

Posted: 4/10/2017 7:01:16 PM EDT

[#3]

Just being in will do it too. I lost a good inch.
While I don't own one, a buddy had an inversion table, and it feels AMAZING.

Also, wearing good footwear that, or using good insoles that, put your weight on the ball of your foot instead of the heel does wonders for spine alignment and getting things to free up.

First time I used the Dr Scholls inserts from the little machine you stand on, I stood up and my whole back sounded like rice crispy treats and everything was popping and snapping and I could feel myself get taller. Had been out for quite awhile too. Back to normal height now.

Posted: 4/10/2017 7:20:09 PM EDT

[#4]

I've lost two inches-I'm sure its associated to back issues that are part of my V.A. service connected disability.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:07:41 PM EDT

[#5]

I lost nearly an inch in height after 5 years as an 11B.

Posted: 4/18/2017 8:15:41 PM EDT

[#6]

19D here. I was 6'1" and now I'm 6'. Back hurts, knees hurt, shoulder hurts and so on.

Posted: 4/29/2017 6:44:48 PM EDT

[#7]

Nope, still 6'1 here.

Posted: 4/29/2017 6:59:16 PM EDT

[#8]

I lost about an inch in 3 deployments, went from 6'5" to 6'4".

ETA: 11b

Posted: 6/8/2017 3:11:40 PM EDT

[#9]

just my hair

I blame anthrax shots ..lol

Posted: 6/10/2017 7:31:03 PM EDT

[#10]

My pecker got longer. I was beating that thing like it owed me money, mostly in 130 degree portajohns, so it must have stretched out.

Posted: 6/15/2017 10:02:12 PM EDT

[#11]

I lost some height. However, I was on Jump status for 16 years, so I'm sure that had something to do with it (along with the long ruck marches, the tours of duty with a ton of body armor and gear, etc )

Posted: 6/15/2017 10:42:44 PM EDT

[#12]

Yep. When I finally did displace a disc it actually saved me. 3 or 4 discs in a row are calcified into hockey pucks. Instead of rupturing and oozing goo it just bulged out of place.

8.5 deployments, went from 6'5 to 6'4. Ive got the skeleton of a 70yr old man

Posted: 7/9/2017 9:18:31 PM EDT

[#13]

You didn't have to deploy to a combat zone or even be any kind of high speed.

I only did 4 years and shrank about an inch. I also did not do constant ruck marches or anything too crazy.

We did often do log runs (usually 5+ miles), generally carrying heavy shit all over the place, standing on concrete for 12+ hours a day (in the shitty bates/belleville steel toes), contorting into odd places to turn wrenches...

Much respect to you guys that did hump 20 miles in full battle rattle with mk19s and all that junk. And God bless the guys that got wounded/killed in combat.

Posted: 7/9/2017 10:06:33 PM EDT

[#14]

1" from compressing the old spine. My hip is jacked up on one side so one leg is now a half inch shorter than the other too.

Posted: 7/15/2017 7:02:41 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

19D here. I was 6'1" and now I'm 6'. Back hurts, knees hurt, shoulder hurts and so on.

View Quote

I'm a retired 19D and had to have total hip replacement using Ceramic bones. I lost 2 inches there.
Be careful M113's and Bradleys are dangerous when driven over a cliff.

Posted: 7/15/2017 7:08:47 PM EDT

[#16]

I understand Sergeant Majors grow in height quite a bit over their careers.

Posted: 7/18/2017 5:31:28 PM EDT

[#17]

I went from 5'9" to 5'8" after 22yrs of jumping out of airplanes, 72 jumps and 100% disabled. Totally worth it!

Posted: 7/18/2017 5:38:15 PM EDT

[#18]

I've lost about a quarter of an inch due to degenerative disk disease.

Posted: 8/5/2017 9:12:46 AM EDT

[#19]

i wuz in the Nat Guard crewing Hueys for 15 years between VN & all the desert warz;

never had a problem during my period of flight status, but 6-7 years after i got out needed
neck surgery for compressed disk; now i have onset arthritis from compressed disk
in my back.

VA man told me i had to hire my own doctor to prove these are duty connected;

not really worth it as i'm in no pain, back is fine, so move on.

a buddy i used to fly with told me the Navy did a big study 20 years ago about
spine damage from riding in things that vibrate alot (helos & other stuff)

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone else lose height from being deployed?

General » Hall Of Heroes

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us