A U.S. Army task force has recommended shifting from simply dispensing pain medications to using a much wider armamentarium of pain management techniques, according to a report by the Marine Corps Times.
The task force was responding to "incidents of misuse, abuse or dependence" on addictive opioids by troops and a higher survival rate of casualties, requiring more long-term pain management, the Times said.
Recommendations of the Army's Pain Management Task Force included:
Interdisciplinary pain management centers. In addition to pain physicians, staff would include other healthcare professionals, such as an acupuncturist, clinical pharmacist, movement therapist for yoga and tai chi, chiropractor, medical massage therapist, neurologist and physical and occupational therapists.
New pain rating scale. The new defense and veterans pain rating scale retains the current 11-point scale, based on patients' assessment of their pain, but adds descriptions of each level to help patients choose the right level.
Comprehensive pain survey. The proposed pain assessment and outcome registry would allow patients to go online and fill out a comprehensive survey on areas such as lifestyle and health history, which providers could then access before examining the patient.
Ear acupuncture. Some Army physicians who have practiced this form of pain management want to introduce formal training for some medics and increase its use in the Army.
Read the Marine Corps Times report on pain management.
Related Articles on the Army and Pain Management:
Report: 14% of U.S. Troops Have Been Prescribed Opioids for Pain
Army Grants $5.6M to Research Sublingual Opioid for Pain
UW, Army Take Different Approach to Managing Pain