Courts rule chronic pain is a VA Disability

Finally! The previous law read that the VA shall award compensation benefits “for disability resulting from personal injury suffered…in the line of duty.” Thus pain, in and of itself, was not considered a disability in the cases with no known underlying injury. This changed back in April with the US Court of Appeals for Veterans changed the definition of a disability as “an impairment in the enjoyment of life or earning ability.” Pain is now rightfully seen as a form of functional impairment. In essence, pain is now seen as a disability by itself. To get help use a Veteran’s Service Organization.

WebMd estimates that as many as 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain at a cost of over $600 billion a year – more than the cost of treating cancer, heart attacks, and strokes combined.

As Hunters with military experience (thank you) or not, we also must be conscious in order to prevent pain and injury. The beginning of hunting season is exciting. The smells. The beauty. The thrill. But all that can change in an instant with an injury or sudden spike of pain. It was telling when Sarah Scherer had to withdraw from the World Shooting Championships due to a back injury. She could not train properly or travel without significant pain.

If this could happen to a young, fit athlete what about the rest of us? Especially those of us who have more than a few years of experience under our belts. How can we avoid injuries like this? Prepare your body and mind for the hunt. If possible, start the preparation months before the next season. Even better, remember the Boy Scout Motto: “Always be Prepared.”

Good posture is key
If you are sitting in a duck or deer blind, make sure you have lumbar support
Stretch, but after you have warmed up your muscles a little
Focus on back and shoulder strengthening exercises
Remember, injury prevention is the best cure

There are injuries that Bow Hunters are more prone to receive. Specifically, the rotator cuff, forearm, and hands. As with any workout, start with a warm up. No weights but simply move the shoulder or forearm/wrists/hands though a full range of motion. After doing this for a few moments perform stretching exercises. Then on to weights. They do not need to be heavy. You just need to work up to an appropriate stress level that you might experience in the hunt. An excellent shoulder exercise would be shoulder shrugs with dumbbells or gallons of water. etc.

As for the forearms/wrists/hands barbell wrist curls with both Supination and Pronation. A good finishing trick is to let the weight roll in the fingers. And last but not least, don’t forget your core. Yes you. I’m talking to you (looking in the mirror). Exercise the stomach and lower back. This is essential for over-all wellness.

What do we do if we are already injured and trying to recover? I can tell you about the product the VA buys. NASA uses. Veterinarians use it on pets, but it’s likely you are unfamiliar with it. I used to help recover from cancer and what my wife used to repair a back so bad that she could not walk. Hospitals use it when babies are born prematurely. Stroke centers use it. It’s scientifically proven. The FDA has given it 2 “Clearances” one for pain relief and the other for increased circulation. What is it? Light Therapy.

Click HERE for a free 50 Page compilation of research on this amazing topic. I answer the first question you will ask: Why has my doctor never told me about this scientifically-proven technology?

I’ve got video of a wound that would not heal on an old Army Vet. He had this would for decades. We healed it in 4 months! Proceeds from each sale go to Veterans in Pain.