Painkillers killing former NFL players

When Drew Hill died of two massive strokes about a week ago, it was a message.

Athletes need help.

Much more than they are currently being offered.

Strokes are nothing new to the NFL. UTEP NFL Draft hopeful Robby Felix suffered a stroke during his senior year of college. Now-former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke in 2005 – in the middle of his career. Hill’s stroke, at the age of 54, was timelier but was still a very saddening event.

An event that should open a lot of eyes given recent medical findings.

Life expectancy:

53-59 – For an average NFL retiree.

75 – For an average U.S. male.

In early January, the British Medical Journal released a study of over 116,000 people that were taking some sort of pain-relievers – including over-the-counter medications. In the study, scientists found over-the-counter Ibuprofen was associated with the highest risk of stroke – more than triple the average.

It is something that should grab the NFL’s attention.

“Patients with chronic pain may find themselves using such drugs for more prolonged periods,” Simon Maxwell, chairman of the London-based British Pharmacological Society’s prescribing committee and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, said in a statement.

Players, at any athletic level, are routinely advised to take an over the counter Ibuprofen for pain and inflammation that accompany injuries. If athletes have repetitive injuries it means they’ll be taking more drugs. For an NFL player, that could mean taking pills for nearly an entire lifetime. For example, if an NFL player has been playing football since PeeWee leagues, by the time he retires he could have ingested pills for more than 25 years.

And after retirement, is when players say, the use of ibuprofen and other pain medications increases to deal with chronic pain.

Ray Lucas was released from rehab just a few days ago. // Photo: newsone.com

Retired NFL players are already 49-percent more likely to take opiod painkillers, according to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo and those that don’t are still very likely to take Ibuprofen as a substitute.

All of that medication isn’t a healthy solution, but the opposite isn’t either.

“While this study suggests they might be exposed to some excess risk,” Maxwell said. “The alternatives may be less acceptable. Living with pain severely impairs the quality of life.”

Quality of life is something former NFL players battle every day. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has days where he can’t lift his arm over his head and former Packers’ tackle Tim Stokes has days he can’t even go for an evening stroll.

“If you go to a retired players’ convention, there are older retirees who walk around like Maryland crabs,” says Miki Yaras-Davis, director of benefits for the NFL Players Association told Sports Illustrated. “It’s an orthopedic surgeon’s dream. I’m surprised the doctors aren’t standing outside the door handing out their cards.”

The use of over-the-counter ibuprofens is never going to change. Players will always get hurt, players will always need an anti-inflammatory. The difference needs to come in the long-term treatment of athletes.

Quality surgeries and physical therapy are a good start.

Currently, P.A.S.T., is a group designed to help former athletes. It was created specifically for retired professional athletes with the philosophy to treat the whole person, mind and body, while also emphasizing and providing education and preventive care for retired players of all ages.
Lucas and Okoye signed up P.A.S.T.

“My experience with P.A.S.T was extremely positive,” Okoye said on the P.A.S.T. website. “They treated me so well. The medical team was world class and the surgery went better than I ever dreamed.”

Lucas joined on verge of committing suicide.

“They are not just fixing my neck,” Lucas said. “They are also dealing with my depression, dependency and all my other health issues at the same time.”

Lucas’ dependency on painkillers almost led to his suicide and – based on what the British Medicine Journal found – could have ultimately led to a different kind of death.

The same one that claimed the life of Drew Hill. Now, Lucas is spreading his own message. Get treatment, it helps.

Featured Photo courtesy otrsportsonline.com