Chronic pain affects up to 70 percent of U.S. veterans, making it the leading cause of disability in this population, according to the Veterans Health Administration’s 2024 State of Innovation Report. Yet for decades, pain treatment strategies for managing pain have leaned heavily on prescription opioids, leaving veterans at heightened risk for misuse, dependency, overdose, and even suicide. Veterans with opioid use disorder (OUD) face a suicide risk 13 times higher than those without it. In 2022 alone, 6,407 veterans died by suicide, making it the 12th-leading cause of death among veterans.
The statistics paint a sobering picture. Veterans are twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses. Chronic pain and PTSD—common co-occurring conditions among veterans—can intensify each other’s symptoms, worsening both physical and mental health. While national initiatives have aimed to address this crisis—such as federal efforts to limit opioid prescribing and expand access to alternative therapies—progress remains slow.
Despite these efforts, many veterans still struggle with chronic pain and are left feeling frustrated and helpless in their search for effective treatment options. Furthermore, the stigma surrounding mental health issues often prevents veterans from seeking help, leading them to turn to opioids as a means of self-medicating. This vicious cycle perpetuates the issue and continues to put veteran lives at risk. Amid this growing need, evidence-based alternatives like medical massage therapy (MMT) have gained traction. These non-drug approaches address both the physical and psychological burdens of chronic and acute pain—and offer a lifeline for those seeking to break free from pharmaceutical dependence.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Veteran Pain Management
What makes the veteran population particularly vulnerable to chronic pain and its associated risks? A matrix of contributing factors sets the stage. Service-related injuries, PTSD, and the physical wear and tear of military life combine to create a perfect storm. Veterans managing chronic pain often report co-occurring conditions, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
Traditional pain management, with its heavy reliance on medications, often falls short in addressing these multifaceted challenges. The longer veterans rely solely on pharmaceutical solutions, the greater their risk of physical and psychological dependence becomes.
Crucially, the adoption of the Whole Health approach within the VA has opened new avenues for managing chronic and acute pain. This strategy integrates complementary therapies—including medical massage therapy—with traditional treatments, enabling veterans to take a more active role in their health care. Early studies indicate promising outcomes. Veterans with chronic pain who used Whole Health services reported improvements in mental and physical well-being while reducing their opioid use by 38 percent, compared to just an 11 percent reduction among those who did not engage with such services.
Medical Massage Therapy and Its Proven Benefits
Medical massage therapy is redefining pain management for veterans by addressing the gaps left by pharmaceutical approaches. It offers a range of proven benefits for veterans coping with chronic pain, including better physical function, reduced dependence on medications, and improvements in mental health.
Some key applications and advantages include:
- Targeted Pain Management: Specialized techniques help reduce both chronic and acute pain while enhancing mobility—without the risks of pharmaceutical intervention.
- Improved Circulation: Medical massage therapy helps enhance blood flow, promoting better oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout the body.
- Faster Recovery: By relieving muscle tension, reducing inflammation, and improving flexibility, massage helps accelerate healing from physical injury processes, getting individuals back to peak performance faster.
- Better Sleep: Studies have shown that MMT enhances sleep quality by reducing stress and pain-induced disturbances.
Research into massage therapy has demonstrated its capacity for improving biopsychosocial outcomes—a holistic approach addressing the biological, psychological, and social factors affecting health—restoring veterans’ quality of life, and even reducing the need for invasive procedures like spinal surgeries. Veterans who accessed medical massage therapy not only reported immediate pain relief but also improved engagement in health care and everyday life.
Reclaiming Autonomy Through Whole-Person Care
The value of medical massage therapy extends beyond individual sessions. As part of a comprehensive care strategy, it empowers veterans to reconnect with their health and their sense of purpose. This empowerment is particularly valuable for veterans grappling with the dual challenges of managing pain and reintegrating into civilian life.
The uptake of Whole Health initiatives, which includes modalities such as medical massage therapy, reflects this paradigm shift in care. This program’s integration into the VA network has fostered better clinical outcomes and more sustainable pain management strategies for thousands of veterans across the nation.
A Smarter Path Forward for Veteran Care
If the risks of opioids are clear, why are we still debating their role in veteran health care? It’s time to shift the narrative. Chronic pain doesn’t need to end in dependency. Veterans deserve more than outdated playbooks.
Proven, non-pharmaceutical solutions like medical massage therapy aren’t just luxuries; they’re lifelines. With rising healthcare costs nationwide, interventions that reduce pain and improve overall clinical outcomes while cutting pharmaceutical costs deliver not just physical and mental relief, but also economic rationale.
The message for health care providers, policymakers, and the wider community is clear: Veterans have served us. Now it’s our turn to serve them by prioritizing smarter, evidence-based pathways to care.
By empowering veterans with better tools for managing pain and restoring their physical and mental well-being, the health care sector can move one step closer to honoring both their service and their sacrifices.
John Gallagher
John Gallagher is the National Director of Physical Therapy at Zeel and a licensed PT in New Jersey and New York with over 20 years of experience in orthopedics and sports rehab. He has been a regional director, private practice partner, and Ergonomic Assessment Specialist for a Fortune 500 company. He also served as the official PT for the New York Saints pro lacrosse team. John holds a BA from the University of Delaware and earned his BS, MS, and Doctorate in Physical Therapy with highest honors. His research focused on gait and balance in Parkinson’s Disease patients. For more information, visit - https://www.zeel.com/va/
