Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts beyond the expected time of healing. The pain develops in to a syndrome that is constant or that comes and goes. Chronic pain affects the entire nervous system. This means it the child may feel pain in response to things that are not usually painful.

Chronic pain includes pain that is constant or comes and goes and:

• Results from an underlying health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, sickle cell disease, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Is the disorder itself, such as headaches, stomach aches, or pain in the muscles and joints
• Both of these

Chronic pain can have both physical and social effects for the child and the family. If chronic pain in a child or teen is not treated, they are more likely to have chronic pain or mental health problems later in life.

Chronic pain lasts longer than the expected time of healing, or longer than 3 months.  It can be constant or it can come and go. Your child or teen may complain of:

• Bad headaches or migraines
• Stomach aches
• Pain in the joints or muscles
• Pain that is sharp, stabbing, or burning
• Pain that is tingling, numbing, or cramping
• Pain that is throbbing or aching

A child or teen with chronic pain usually also has behavioral symptoms. These can include:

• Tiredness
• Sleep problems
• Learning problems
• Mood Problems

If your child or teen has pain that lasts longer than the time expected for healing, or pain that lasts for longer than 3 months, consult your healthcare provider. It’s important for your healthcare provider to examine your child or teen to learn the cause of the pain. Getting treatment early can prevent more problems from developing.

Chronic pain in children and teens often has a number of causes at the same time. These may include:

• Biological processes, such as other health conditions like arthritis, sickle cell disease, or sleep issues
• Psychological factors, such as anxiety or depression
• Social factors such as school, family, or other interactions

Healthcare providers should consider all these factors together. It is important to treat both the cause of your child’s pain and the pain itself.

To find out if your child or teen has chronic pain, your healthcare provider may:

• Do a general medical history and physical exam
• Ask about the pain, including when it started, how bad it is, what makes it better or worse, and other questions
• Ask about how the pain is affecting your child’s life and your family, including physical, social, and emotional effects.
• Do lab tests to find out if an underlying health condition may be adding to the pain.

Your healthcare provider will consider this exam in relation to what is normal at your child’s age. This will help determine the cause and type of the chronic pain, as well as how to treat it. Once the cause and type of the pain have been figured out, your healthcare provider may perform additional screens to figure out the best way to treat your pain.

Chronic pain in children and teens usually includes physical, psychological, and social treatment. This is called an “interdisciplinary” approach. Treatment may include:

• Rehabilitation. This includes physical therapy to help the child or teen regain strength and function without the use of pain medicines.
• Active mind/body techniques (called integrative medicine). This may include acupuncture, massage, yoga, or guided imagery.
• Psychology. This may include helping identifying the links between behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
• Normalizing daily activities like school attendance, sports, social life, and sleep. Getting life back to normal can decrease pain.

Parents are an important part of treatment for children and teens with chronic pain. Parents can learn helpful responses that support treatment efforts.

Healthcare provider usually do not recommend prescription pain pills (like opioids) for long-term treatment of chronic pain children and teens. In some cases your primary care provider may refer you to a doctor who specializes in pain in children.

Chronic pain prevention depends on the root cause of your child’s pain. If pain is caused by a mental health condition, for example, then prevention methods for the mental health condition would prevent the pain. Prevention is not always possible, but it is usually possible to lessen pain once it appears.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts or comes and goes for months or more. In children and teens this pain usually involves headaches, stomach aches, or pain in the bones and joints. If your child suffers from chronic pain, healthcare providers have a number of ways to treat it.

Chronic pain is pain your child feels that lasts beyond the normal time of healing. It lasts or comes and goes for months or more. In children and teens this pain usually involves headaches, stomach aches, or pain in the bones and joints. It can also be caused by an underlying health condition. If your child or teen suffers from chronic pain, healthcare providers have a number of ways to treat it and help your child and family get back to a more normal life.