Posted on Aug 25, 2015
Will there be more action taken? The Pendulum of Chronic Pain in the Military
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Will there be more action taken soon? The Pendulum of Chronic Pain in the Military
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pendulum-chronic-pain-military-kimberly-bolen-rn-lnc-acm-ccm?trk=pulse-det-nav_art
By Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM This is Kimberly's most recent article and response from one of her followers on LinkedIn:
Len Swanson: Kim thank you my valent GETI Warrior, we can only hope that the political agenda the GETI Group is pursuing actively Sept 8th on with the return of the Senate (https://t.co/Ydr3h0R0cV) will turn the tide on Congressional callous indifference to what you always have pointed out and is once more reflected in this article.
I look to press Secretary McDonald when I am in DC during this period to adopt the GETI Group's 3 Pillars of Transition (https://lnkd.in/eWDBnYu) that shows the VA of "How TO" actually do VA Transitional programs as he has until November 1st in which to report back to the Senate (H.R. 3236) on how he plans to actually and effectively enact the Choice Care Act which the VA as you know has failed to do to date.
We can only hope we can win the day and if not with November elections on the horizon many Senators and Representatives will most likely be forced into early retirement by the power of the ballot. There is something to be said about 22 million pissed of Veterans plus their family and friends that just may sway votes in the end.....Enough is Enough
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pendulum-chronic-pain-military-kimberly-bolen-rn-lnc-acm-ccm?trk=pulse-det-nav_art
By Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM This is Kimberly's most recent article and response from one of her followers on LinkedIn:
Len Swanson: Kim thank you my valent GETI Warrior, we can only hope that the political agenda the GETI Group is pursuing actively Sept 8th on with the return of the Senate (https://t.co/Ydr3h0R0cV) will turn the tide on Congressional callous indifference to what you always have pointed out and is once more reflected in this article.
I look to press Secretary McDonald when I am in DC during this period to adopt the GETI Group's 3 Pillars of Transition (https://lnkd.in/eWDBnYu) that shows the VA of "How TO" actually do VA Transitional programs as he has until November 1st in which to report back to the Senate (H.R. 3236) on how he plans to actually and effectively enact the Choice Care Act which the VA as you know has failed to do to date.
We can only hope we can win the day and if not with November elections on the horizon many Senators and Representatives will most likely be forced into early retirement by the power of the ballot. There is something to be said about 22 million pissed of Veterans plus their family and friends that just may sway votes in the end.....Enough is Enough
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Responses: 8
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As a chronic pain sufferer, I am all too aware of the shortcomings in treating chronic pain. There are a number of issues, some political, some medical and some military cultural, all of which combine to make it really hard.
Regarding cultural, is the phenomenon I call "Huah Huah three bags full." Military folks are taught to "suck it up". So when they get hurt, they don't get help, they suck it up. This just aggravates problems, and causes them to cascade to more problems, including both physical and mental. As an adjunct has been the problem in combat of unit corpsmen treating their squad mates, but not documenting the injuries, making it harder to get treatment and compensation. This then is exacerbated when the active duty person becomes a veteran and tries to seek treatment or benefits.
Governmentally are issues including budget. As I have noted in other threads, Congress is not willing to pay for the destruction caused by 15 years of war, and so both DOD healthcare and VA (all branches) remain chronically underfunded. This results in lack of capacity at VAMCs and MTFs, increased costs and further exacerbations.
Then there are medical issues surrounding chronic pain treatment. Opiates are very effective at treating many types of chronic pain (but not neurological pain, however) but they are addictive, cause constipation, depression and respiratory suppression. All of these can put patients at risk. Because of these risks, the DEA/FDA have greatly throttled the use of prescription narcotics, resulting in far too few providers who will write for them, for fear of losing their licenses - a tie back to government of course.
There is an option out there - the human body has receptors for canabadiol (CBD), the analgesic component in marijuana. In England, they have a pill form of CBD, which has no THC - the psychoactive component of marijuana. But our Prohibition minded Federal government won't allow CBD products to be produced medically in the states. CBD by itself is neither addictive nor psychoactive, making it a great pain medicine. In states with medical or legal recreational marijuana, it is possible to get strains with high CBD and low THC. The problem is still that THC is present, limiting its use as a pain reliever. Further, the most effective way to use pot is to smoke it, in current forms, and that adds further issues.
So active duty can't access it at all. Veterans in states with legal medicinal marijuana can use it and not jeopardize their status with the VA or private pain providers, but it's still a limited therapeutic because of the issues I've outlined.
It's time to get Congress off their duffs and get them to fix these issues, so vets and active duty folks don't have to suffer so much...
BTW, #NoIncumbentsIn2016 ...
1LT Sandy Annala
Regarding cultural, is the phenomenon I call "Huah Huah three bags full." Military folks are taught to "suck it up". So when they get hurt, they don't get help, they suck it up. This just aggravates problems, and causes them to cascade to more problems, including both physical and mental. As an adjunct has been the problem in combat of unit corpsmen treating their squad mates, but not documenting the injuries, making it harder to get treatment and compensation. This then is exacerbated when the active duty person becomes a veteran and tries to seek treatment or benefits.
Governmentally are issues including budget. As I have noted in other threads, Congress is not willing to pay for the destruction caused by 15 years of war, and so both DOD healthcare and VA (all branches) remain chronically underfunded. This results in lack of capacity at VAMCs and MTFs, increased costs and further exacerbations.
Then there are medical issues surrounding chronic pain treatment. Opiates are very effective at treating many types of chronic pain (but not neurological pain, however) but they are addictive, cause constipation, depression and respiratory suppression. All of these can put patients at risk. Because of these risks, the DEA/FDA have greatly throttled the use of prescription narcotics, resulting in far too few providers who will write for them, for fear of losing their licenses - a tie back to government of course.
There is an option out there - the human body has receptors for canabadiol (CBD), the analgesic component in marijuana. In England, they have a pill form of CBD, which has no THC - the psychoactive component of marijuana. But our Prohibition minded Federal government won't allow CBD products to be produced medically in the states. CBD by itself is neither addictive nor psychoactive, making it a great pain medicine. In states with medical or legal recreational marijuana, it is possible to get strains with high CBD and low THC. The problem is still that THC is present, limiting its use as a pain reliever. Further, the most effective way to use pot is to smoke it, in current forms, and that adds further issues.
So active duty can't access it at all. Veterans in states with legal medicinal marijuana can use it and not jeopardize their status with the VA or private pain providers, but it's still a limited therapeutic because of the issues I've outlined.
It's time to get Congress off their duffs and get them to fix these issues, so vets and active duty folks don't have to suffer so much...
BTW, #NoIncumbentsIn2016 ...
1LT Sandy Annala
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs this article is a sobering reminder of some of the issues affecting service members across the services past, present, and future. Bottom line, chronic pain is a reality of service members, our chosen occupations are often not conducive to us protecting or conserving our bodies. With this in mind, there are major issues that need to be addressed individually by each service pertaining to the risks service members face, politically especially by the VA, and across military culture starting with front line leaders. Efforts to help those suffering from chronic pain our important and those current soldiers suffering along with veterans deserve help. However, these actions are reactionary in nature. More proactive measures need to be researched and implemented for the future.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CW3 (Join to see) Yes it is. We are working on some things to hopefully provide some fixes or suggested recommendations toward a muvh better service. Please keep an eye out for the post by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Here is the link:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/white-paper-crowd-sourcing-a-solution-to-the-dept-of-vet-affairs
I think your input would be invaluable!
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/white-paper-crowd-sourcing-a-solution-to-the-dept-of-vet-affairs
I think your input would be invaluable!
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SSgt Jeff Kummerow
I was a fairly active chronic pain person thanks to the TBI clinic doctors, until this so called opioid crisis, then I became an addict over night. Watching live pd showed that opioid crisis is mostly people shooting up heroin, and crystal meth. I’ve medical documentation going back to 1991. Until someone who can actually change the policies treats people like me differently then heroin addicts nothing’s going to change, Suicides will continue to rise. I’m glad I at least have my faith in god.....some people don’t.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs I have been a chronic pain suffer since June 1, 2008 when I had the unique privilege of having botulism and diverticulitis simultaneously just after I transferred to the Retired Reserve. My wife and I were on the way to a graduation ceremony of medical doctors who had just completed the requirements for Internal Medicine in addition to their previous specialties. Even though I was very sick it was marvelous to watch many doctors giving me advice.
I have been treated many opiods over the years starting with Demerol in 1972 later morphine many times, Dilaudid in surgery and afterwards. I generally avoid the opiods primarily because of their side effects including itching and constipation as well as hallucinations.
As a chronic pain sufferer I appreciate changes in pain and different types of pain which can be refreshing after experiencing daily pain and night pain. I hope and pray that the veterans who are suffering chronic pain especially severe chronic pain will experience relief without reliance on opiods.
I have been using non-opiod pain relief for 7 years - personally I don't get much benefit from tramadol but understand many do. I have had significant benefit from a combination of neurontin and acetaminophen with much less side effects. However I do take two does of both colace and psyllium every day.
In the military of the 1970's and 1980's we were taught to grin and bear it. Sick call was generally frowned upon by the rank and file although that was not the official position of the Army. I was glad to see a shift in the 1990’s towards preventative treatment which alleviated the stigma of going on sick call - at least where I was.
I have been treated many opiods over the years starting with Demerol in 1972 later morphine many times, Dilaudid in surgery and afterwards. I generally avoid the opiods primarily because of their side effects including itching and constipation as well as hallucinations.
As a chronic pain sufferer I appreciate changes in pain and different types of pain which can be refreshing after experiencing daily pain and night pain. I hope and pray that the veterans who are suffering chronic pain especially severe chronic pain will experience relief without reliance on opiods.
I have been using non-opiod pain relief for 7 years - personally I don't get much benefit from tramadol but understand many do. I have had significant benefit from a combination of neurontin and acetaminophen with much less side effects. However I do take two does of both colace and psyllium every day.
In the military of the 1970's and 1980's we were taught to grin and bear it. Sick call was generally frowned upon by the rank and file although that was not the official position of the Army. I was glad to see a shift in the 1990’s towards preventative treatment which alleviated the stigma of going on sick call - at least where I was.
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SSgt Jeff Kummerow
Thanks for sharing, RallyPoint has reminded me that I am still at least in some way apart of the military family
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The problem with CBD as a medicine is that the Federal government still prohibits it. Further, when you buy marijuana products from a "dispensary" or pot store, there is absolutely no quality control or guarantee of what you'll get. For best results and maximum safety there need to be standardized dosages. This is where Pharma comes in. Maybe it would not generate huge profits to support research, but if the DEA would license manufacturers to produce pharmacy grade, standardized CBD from organically grown plants, it would be much better. An additional rub with all pot is that you have no idea whatsoever as to what chemicals are used in its growth. You're consuming all those chemicals too, which further adds to the risk...
There will always be people who will grow their own, and if they enjoy getting high, more power to them.
The rub comes from a recent study of Medicinal Marijuana at shops in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In the Seattle and SF shops, the reported contents of CBT and THC were as high as 100 times the actual content. So if they claimed you were getting 100 mg of THC, you were actually getting 1 mg; hardly worth getting.
In LA, it was the opposite - the contents were as much as ten times the stated content - so a claimed 100 mg of THC was actually 1000 mg or 1 gram of THC. Ditto for the CBD contents.
It will require a well regulated, and verified by scientific assays, industry, to provide safe marijuana pharmaceuticals to whomever needs them. Further, there are the issues of fertilizers and pesticides and fungicides, all of which will concentrate in your liver and risk Hepatitis chemically induced.
This is why the pharmaceutical industry is regulated, and even so, clinkers get through all the time. If I were relying on medicinal marijuana for my managing my life, I would want some assurances that I was a) getting what I paid for and b) that I wasn't being poisoned in the process.