Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Managing Secondary Effects of Post-Injury Pain

May 11, 2010 - Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are returning with numerous ailments in numbers much higher than ever expected. When the military fails to fully manage soldiers' post-injury issues prior to discharge, the burden falls on the VA to treat the veterans.   

Many veterans are living with constant physical pain. Many of these pain issues occur in veterans from the two current wars due to continual exposure to elements such as:

• Recurring blasts;
• Cognitive issues; and
• Acute and chronic pain.

 The above findings were discussed at the American Pain Society's annual scientific meeting. One issue addressed at the meeting was how the military must do more to treat post-injury pain prior to discharging soldiers. Doing so will make great strides towards preventing pathophysiology. Providing efficient pain relief will also help speed up the soldiers' physical healing. The more that is done to treat the post-injury pain the less likely the veteran is to develop negative secondary issues. 

Many of the health conditions veterans are facing are due to multiple tours of duty. Once the veteran is discharged, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics have to shoulder the burden of managing the veterans' pains and other health issues because they were not properly managed while in the military. VA clinics are then responsible for treating such conditions as: 

• Head injuries;
• TBI;
• Physical disfigurements;
• Emotional trauma;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

 In many instances, by the time the veteran shows up to the VA clinics for help, they are already depressed, abusing various substances, and sleepless. All of these make traditional methods of pain management much more difficult, which in turn puts more of a financial and personnel burden on the VA clinics.

The VA plans to begin therapy interventions targeting PTSD, pain, mild TBI, and sleep and substance abuse, combined with a physical training program.