Noteboom The Law Firm

Military’s Pain Management Plan Fails

July 2, 2010 - Being in constant pain can be a completely crippling and debilitating experience. Being so wracked with pain you are unable to move or function leaves few options. If the pain is bad enough, some people will do anything it takes to get relief.

According to an investigation led by an Army task force, the military has regularly failed to supply steady and synchronized pain relief to military personnel in need. This failure has had a hand in:

• Troop suicides;
• Troop prescription drug abuse; and
• Aggravating mental illness and brain injuries.

The task force report found when doctors prescribe for drugs pain relief, they rely much too heavily on narcotics. This mentality does not mesh well with the military's traditional "no pain, no gain" mentality. In this culture, soldiers ignore pain and injuries until they just cannot stand it anymore. By the time that happens, they have done more damage to themselves than necessary.

The report concludes the Pentagon must rearrange the way they handle troops in pain. Suggestions range from finding different means of pain relief to hiring pain-management specialists. This report is being heralded as having the ability to aid every branch in handling their pain differently and more efficiently.

Something must change because prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Because the military does not currently do it, the report recommends screening soldiers for risk of substance abuse. Approximately 45% of soldiers may have risk factors for substance abuse. If doctors knew that before they prescribed it may very well change the way they handle that soldier.

By not identifying risk factors or soldiers needing proper recovery a deployment, the military is not only doing itself a disservice, it is failing those soldiers relying on them for help. More attention needs to be focused on finding risk factors for soldiers so doctors don't unwittingly feed soldiers the wrong medications.