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Pain affects thousands of service members and family members every day. The Military Health System is committed to providing safe and effective pain management options for all of our patients
- About 50 million US adults have chronic pain, one of the most common reasons for adults to seek medical care.
- Chronic pain (i.e., back and knee pain) is one of the most common reasons service members seek care at military hospitals and clinics.
- You are not alone.
- There is hope for pain relief.
- Every person experiences and responds to pain differently.
- There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to treating pain.
- Your medical provider will work with you to find the treatments that work for you.
- A range of options are available to manage pain, including behavioral, physical, and pharmacological methods.
- Treating pain requires a holistic, gradual approach to find the right treatment plan for each individual is aimed at restoring persons to a higher level of function, and returning service members to full duty status.
- A comprehensive approach to pain management includes lifestyle components like sleep and diet, and clinically proven complementary and integrative health services like chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and massage therapy.
- DOD and VA use a Stepped Care Model of pain management to get patients the appropriate level of pain care throughout the continuum of acute and chronic pain. The Stepped Care Model:
- Utilizes evidence-based treatments for the management of acute and chronic pain.
- Promotes non-pharmacologic and non-opioid treatment.
- Seeks to prevent acute pain from becoming chronic
- Escalates and de-escalates care as appropriate based on clinical indicators.
- Is a collaboration between the patient, the primary care provider and pain specialists as needed.
- The MHS pain management approach emphasizes non-pharmacologic (drug) pain management therapies, when possible.
- Unintentional opioid overdoses can result in serious illness or death.
- For patients requiring opioid therapy, the MHS employs risk mitigation strategies to minimize complications.
- Your provider will work with you to develop a collaborative plan to taper you off opioids as soon as it is appropriate.
- Naloxone is an opioid overdose antidote or rescue drug. Many patients who are prescribed opioids might also be prescribed Naloxone. You can request naloxone from a pharmacist or provider if you believe that you or someone in your home is at risk of an accidental opioid overdose.
- Accidental overdoses are not uncommon and Naloxone is proven to save lives.
- If you’ve been taking opioid pain medication for more than a few weeks, never stop taking them without consulting with your medical provider. Your provider will help you stop taking these medications safely and comfortably.
- Once you’ve stopped taking your prescribed opioids, never take any “left-over” pain medication at any time in the future.
- This can result in an accidental overdose and even death. Talk to your provider if you feel you need prescription pain medication again.
- Visit the Health.mil drug take back page to learn how to properly dispose of unused or expired medications.
Click on the images below to download or share to educate your audiences about the Military Health System's pain management program.
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Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“While rest is an important component to recovering from injuries and reducing your pain, sometimes you can reduce sensitivity and prevent chronic pain through physical activity. Talk to your doctor for more personalized advice and start retraining your brain with these resources: www.tricare.mil/PainManagement #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“When it comes to treating pain, we all wish for a fast fix. However, treating pain requires a holistic, gradual approach to restore patients to a higher level of function and return service members to full duty status. https://tricare.mil/HealthWellness/Featured-Health-Topic #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“DOD and VA developed a Stepped Care Model of pain management that utilizes evidence-based treatments to manage pain and seeks to prevent acute pain from becoming chronic. Learn more here: www.tricare.mil/painmanagement #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Opioids are a useful tool to manage extreme pain but can be extremely dangerous if misused. Talk to your doctor about how to SAFELY use opioids to temporarily manage pain and to develop a collaborative plan to taper you off opioids as soon as it is appropriate. You can learn more about MHS efforts to lower the risks of opioid misuse here: https:/ ...
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Common prescription opioids like Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Morphine are highly addictive and can be extremely dangerous if misused. Pay attention to these signs of abuse and seek help immediately if they present themselves. Learn more about opioid safety here: https://www.tricare.mil/opioidsafety #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Learn the names of common prescription opioids so you can stay vigilant about your pain management medications. These medications are highly addictive, so talk to your doctor about the risks of use early to minimize complications. https://www.tricare.mil/opioidsafety #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Opioids are serious medications. Ensure you’re prepared to use them safely before going home with a prescription. Check out these tips and click on the link below to find helpful resources and learn more: https://www.tricare.mil/opioidsafety #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Acute and chronic pain often require different treatments, so it’s important to understand their fundamental differences. Learn more about pain management here: www.tricare.mil/painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Everyone experiences and responds to pain differently, so there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to treating it. Your medical provider will work with you to find the best treatments for you. Learn more here: https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Conditions-and-Treatments/Pain-Management #Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“No one should have to live with pain. If you experience chronic pain, see your health care provider immediately to find and start the right treatment.
Remember, there is hope for pain relief and you’re not alone. Learn how to assess your pain at: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/09/17/DVPRS-pain-scale
#Painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Your mental and emotional state has more physical effects than you might suspect. You can start to reduce your chronic pain by reducing the stress you feel in your daily life. Learn more here: https://www.tricare.mil/painmanagement #PainParadigm”
Infographic
Sep 9, 2022
“Understanding where pain comes from and why it happens is crucial to treatment. Treating pain often starts with retraining your brain through lifestyle changes in sleep, diet, or exercise. Learn some ways service members can manage their pain: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/09/30/Five-ways-to-manage-chronic-pain-for-military-wellness ...
Infographic
May 25, 2022
This infographic describes the difference between acute pain and chronic pain
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Last Updated: August 04, 2023