Traumatic Encephalopathy Case Study

Professional, collegiate, and elite athletes are frequently at a high risk for injury while competing. Many athletes experience an injury at one time or another, which tends to linger long after their career as an athlete is over. Others who are more fortunate may suffer from chronic pain that is simply due to wear and tear on their body over a significant period of time. To provide a better description about what athletes experience after their career is over, Hurley (2014) examined the personal narratives of former professional rugby players who suffered career-ending injuries.
The rugby players competed at the national and/or international levels at some point during their careers (Hurley, 2014). The interviews were structured to address athletes’

However, Long (2015) argued that the newfound persistence is to satisfy the media and the public, as the approach to treatment has not changed within the locker room. Specifically, a future hall of fame player stated that team doctors handed out opioids “like candy” (Long, 2015; p. 129). In addition, Long (2015) stated that one former player shared that he was using pain killers and alcohol to cope with his pain. Long (2015) subsequently discussed a survey whereby all NFL players were asked to rate their feelings about allowing medical marijuana use for pain management, and two thirds of the players believed that it would significantly reduce opioid use and addiction. The NFL has been subjected to copious amounts of scrutiny by the NFL players’ association and media for its willingness to treat pain with opioids. Therefore, Long (2015) argued that it is time for the NFL to reconsider its ban on marijuana as a treatment option for the players’