ARTICLE
Chronic pain is a costly public health issue that is associated with many adverse outcomes including chronic opioid use and suicide. This study notes that the potential protective effects of nonpharmacological treatments (NPT) against long-term pain-related adverse outcomes have not been examined. It sought to compare active duty U.S. Army service members with chronic pain who did/did not receive NPT in the Military Health System (MHS) and describe the association between receiving NPT and adverse outcomes after transitioning to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The study concluded that nonpharmacological treatments (NPT) provided in the Military Health System (MHS) to service members with chronic pain may reduce risk of long-term adverse outcomes. Deployment to conflict zones places military service members at risk for chronic pain, which often persists after they leave military service and transition their healthcare from the Military Health System (MHS) to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Twenty-nine percent to 44% of active duty service members reported chronic pain after deployment to conflict zones in Iraq or Afghanistan, and 48 to 60% of VHA primary care patients reported chronic pain. Chronic pain is a well-established risk factor for suicide ideation and suicide attempts, as well as for opioid use disorder and opioid-related overdose, especially in the presence of already existing substance use disorder. NPT received in the MHS included acupuncture/dry needling, biofeedback, chiropractic care, massage, exercise therapy, cold laser therapy, osteopathic spinal manipulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and other electrical manipulation, ultrasonography, superficial heat treatment, traction, and lumbar supports. Primary outcomes were propensity score-weighted proportional hazards for the following adverse outcomes: (a) diagnoses of alcohol and/or drug disorders; (b) poisoning with opioids, related narcotics, barbiturates, or sedatives; (c) suicide ideation; and (d) self-inflicted injuries including suicide attempts. Source: https://chiro.org/wordpress/2019/11/nonpharmacological-treatment-of-army-service-members-with-chronic-pain-is-associated-with-fewer-adverse-outcomes-after-transition-to-the-veterans-health-administration/