Written by Mike Price, OT
Pain affects us all, but military veterans are more likely to be affected by severe or chronic pain than anyone else.
Nearly 60 percent of veterans who served in recent conflicts and more than 50 percent of older veterans live with some form of chronic pain, with severe pain being 40 percent more common among veterans than non-veterans.
As the most common chronic pain complaint among vets, musculoskeletal pain originating from injury to the muscles, bones, connective tissues, and nerves is reported by about 55 percent of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients.
When chronic pain goes untreated, or if the right solutions are not found, it can lead to other negative consequences, decreasing quality of life and making it difficult to perform daily tasks. It can also result in depression, poor sleep patterns, low self-esteem, and anxiety.
Work productivity is inhibited, or people become unable to work at all. Health care costs rise, and substance use disorders become more likely.
Although medication has been the most common treatment for severe or chronic pain for both veterans and non-veterans, the VA has recently been undergoing some major research on effective pain management, and are developing new, effective approaches to better alleviate pain in veteran populations.
Whether it results from spinal cord injury, amputations, burns, traumatic brain injury, cancer, or musculoskeletal conditions, pain can be controlled in a variety of ways that don’t involve drugs or surgery.
Many healthcare professionals both in and out of the VHA recommend using the least-invasive approaches for pain management first, before moving on to other interventions, such as injections, implantable devices, surgery, and prescription pain-killers.
These approaches include psychological assistance, lifestyle changes, complementary/alternative medicine, and physiological approaches, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation.
For veterans, medical and mental comorbidities are usually related to military service and often require veteran-specific expertise, and integrated, systematic coordination of medical, social, and psychological healthcare in order to receive the best results.
Fortunately, non-invasive pain management for veterans presents a vast array of devices and equipment from caring, quality manufacturers, that have demonstrated effective relief for a wide range of painful conditions.
Learn more about our 7 favorite pain-relieving products for veterans to determine the best choice for yourself or a veteran you love. Don’t let chronic pain stop you or someone you care about from living life to the fullest!
As the only FDA-approved device for at-home pain relief that includes the patented synergy of three different energy sources, the unique Heatlux Pro II delivers unparalleled relief for pain while it also accelerates healing.
Utilizing low light laser therapy, bipolar radiofrequency, and infrared heat, this innovative device relaxes muscle spasms, boosts circulation, and mitigates pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Providing relief by treating the cause of pain at its source, this easy-to-use, hand-held device penetrates its therapy deeply into painful body tissues and bones, and can be used for a wide range of chronic pain conditions, including arthritis, neuropathy, old and new injuries, and tight, tense muscles. It can also be used for painful topical conditions of the skin.
The bipolar radiofrequency (RF) interrupts nociceptive pathways by pulsing its energy deeply into affected joints and muscles, enhancing circulation. The low light laser therapy (LLLT) emits low levels of light which are absorbed by the mitochondria to increase cellular energy production, resulting in faster tissue healing and the reduction of muscle spasms.
The infrared (IR) component includes both infrared and red spectrum that penetrate about 2 to 7 cm deep in wavelengths to deliver deep, analgesic healing to bones, muscles, and nerves, while it also helps heal topical skin issues that cause pain.
Employing one of the most well-known forms of pain and inflammation relief, the Elasto-Gel Hot and Cold Therapy Wraps bring this therapy into the 21st century with their innovative, proprietary design.
Available in several different configurations to conform and stay put on specific areas of the body, these wraps can be heated in the microwave for hot therapy, and placed in the freezer for cold therapy.
Retaining their heat or cold temperatures for 20 to 40 minutes, the wraps feature a tough, flexible gel that’s covered by a durable, four-way stretch fabric cover, which is still usable even if it’s punctured. The specially formatted wraps stay in place for hassle-free therapy, and can also be selected in versatile rectangular packs for multi-purpose treatment.
Used cold, the wraps provide exceptional inflammation and pain reduction for newer injuries. Used hot, they offer comforting relief for tense, tight muscles and other chronic, painful conditions. Alternating the cold and hot wraps will help improve circulation, and may provide better pain relief than using either by itself.
Using full-strength percussive massage to penetrate into all the fascial layers, the Thumper Mini-Pro2 Massager helps to release muscle tension, soothing away stress and pain. Durably designed to be used by therapists, this amazing pain reliever can also be used by non-professionals at home.
Its hand-held design is easy to use, and also highlights a ‘parking’ component, enabling it to be used anywhere on the body without having to hold it and apply pressure.
Adjustable settings provide pulses at 20, 30, and 40 per second, with anatomically-configured massaging spheres propelled up and down a full quarter inch for deep penetration and efficacious pain relief.
The Thumper is well-suited to treat multiple musculoskeletal origins of pain, and can help reduce inflammation, muscle spasms, muscle tightness, and inflexibility, along with providing wonderful stress relief and feel-good therapy.
Designed to provide safe and secure traction therapy at home, the Saunders Cervical HomeTrac Traction Device gently stretches the cervical region of the neck for pain and inflammatory conditions resulting from spinal subluxation.
Indicated for injuries like whiplash, or repetitive strain injuries from extensive sitting postures, this traction device is well-suited for any condition that results in spinal misalignment of the cervical region.
Easy to use with its manual operation, the HomeTrac has built-in angle adjustment, and safely directs the traction force toward the occiput, preventing TMJ compression. This device provides an affordable adjunct to chiropractic traction therapy between visits, applying up to 50 pounds of traction to help realign the cervical spine, reducing pain, spasms, and inflammation.
Reliable force accuracy and leak-free performance is ensured with the HomeTrac’s patented pneumatic system, while the easy-to-read pressure gauge gives the user total control of the traction force at all times, with a blow-off valve to limit the amount of force that can be applied.
Utilizing proven transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), the Digital 5-Mode TENS Unit provides unrivaled pain-relieving electrotherapy. This device is a non-invasive and drug-free way to improve your quality of life! It works by first placing the 4 sticky electrodes on your skin where you are experiencing pain. The unit will send comfortable impulses through the electrodes which stimulate endorphin production, while also blocking pain signals to the brain.
Controlled by an all-digital operation, this device is easy to use, and it features 5 TENS modes with varying pulse rates, pulse widths, and amplitude settings. There are many electrode configuration positions that enable improved targeting of the affected area. Additionally, it has a convenient adjustable timer from 5-60 minutes.
Ideal for treating nerve pain and neuropathic conditions, this device also provides exceptional pain relief for muscular injuries and conditions as well.
The Digital 5-Mode TENS Unit includes lead wires, 4 self-adhesive reusable electrodes, a 9-volt battery, an instruction booklet, and a hard plastic carrying case.
Designed to alleviate pressure on the discs of the lumbar spine, the Stealth LSO Back Support Brace provides firm and comfortable compression and stabilization to relieve pain and protect the wearer from further injury. Its rigid posterior and anterior panels provide stability, while the wraparound corset design ensures a customized, contoured fit and precise support.
Using two straps for short-waisted users, and four straps for maximum lumbar support for users of all sizes, the Stealth LSO’s unique polymer closure system ensures the correct spinal reinforcement for every user, which is adjustable as therapy needs evolve.
Utilized for a wide range of lumbar therapy and healing protocols, this lumbo-sacral orthosis is often used for chronic back pain, spinal instability, facet syndrome, spondylolysis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, post-operative laminectomy, tumors, and degenerative, bulging, or herniated discs.
A perfect positioning alternative to hospital beds, the Abely Lift Me Up Adjustable Bed Surface provides exceptional support and versatile positioning. Super easy to install, this comfortable, portable, memory foam bed surface adjusts to assist users with sitting up and lying down, while it also can serve to elevate the legs and feet.
Well-suited for veterans confined to bed or for those recovering from surgery or an injury at home, the Lift Me Up prevents painful movements often associated with repositioning while in bed.
Eliminating the need for a caregiver to help the user sit up or lie down, this innovative bed surface helps users retain independence, giving them a better sense of control. It can also be used on a sofa or another flat surface, and employed for elevating the feet and legs as well.
The Abely Lift Me Up helps users maintain normalcy as they convalesce, keeping them in their own bed, next to their partner. It provides a comfortable surface for veterans who may be in a great deal of pain, and helps them to move without incurring more.
As the Veterans Administration devises new methods to more effectively treat chronic and severe pain endured by veterans, healthcare practitioners around the world advise utilizing non-invasive approaches to successfully manage pain.
These approaches include medical and therapy devices that have been demonstrated to effectively alleviate pain and inflammation resulting from musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, along with many other conditions and diseases.
We outlined seven of our favorite pain-relieving products for veterans, highlighting their best features and benefits, and the specific types of pain they treat.
Pain may be a part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it every day. Today’s cutting-edge technology has enabled great advances with pain management, facilitating a whole new generation of non-invasive and non-addictive approaches that really work.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
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