For the millions of Americans currently living with persistent symptoms, specialists at Sports Medicine of the Rockies and the Mayo Clinic suggest a multidisciplinary approach:
: Incorporate mindfulness, deep breathing, and positive self-talk to deal with the psychological impact of persistent pain [25, 36].
: This follows a similar slide by 2025 prospect Will Johnson , who fell to the 47th pick over fears that chronic injuries would shorten his professional career [24]. Chronic
As the 2026 NFL Draft unfolded, "chronic" became the most feared word for high-tier athletes. The biggest story of the draft involved Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy , whose projected top-10 status plummeted due to a "medical red dot" concerning a chronic knee issue [24].
: In January 2025, the FDA approved Journavx (Suzetrigine) , the first non-opioid analgesic for moderate to severe acute pain, signaling a major step toward these new standards [33, 34]. For the millions of Americans currently living with
In late April 2026, the word "chronic" has dominated two very different headlines: the medical evaluations of top NFL prospects and a pivotal shift in how the FDA approaches long-term pain management. 1. The NFL Draft: The "Chronic" Red Dot
: Organizations like SIGN are also updating their recommendations to emphasize that opioids should not be routinely prescribed for chronic pain due to insufficient evidence of long-term benefit [27, 35]. Managing Life with Chronic Pain The biggest story of the draft involved Tennessee
: Teams like the San Francisco 49ers are under increasing pressure to avoid these "painful draft memories" and find durable stars to replace an aging roster [29]. 2. FDA Draft Guidance: A New Era for Pain Management