Children and Chronic Pain

The Problem

Unfortunately, the research used to guide pediatric physicians is sorely lacking. Because of the void in pediatrics research, doctors must use information yielded by studies done on adults, with limited effectiveness.1

The Problem Remains

The result for the child is that pain management, if administered at all, is not appropriate, causing a lot of frustration for them, their family members and their doctors.

Resolution

For the patient and their family, the resolution lies in awareness of the problem, as well as therapy.

Research has shown that "even for children and adolescents with the most severe pain and disability, it may be possible to reduce the impact of pain on the lives children and their families through psychologically-based treatments.

A recent evaluation of an intensive interdisciplinary programme of cognitive behaviour therapy developed by the Pain Management Unit for adolescents with chronic pain showed that it was effective at improving physical, psychological and social scores - and resulted in 40 per cent of the children returning to full time school". 2


Bibliography
1 Children in Chronic Pain Need Better Support, Say Researchers, July 5, 2005 Retrieved from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26933 July 20,2005. 2 Helping Children Deal with Chronic Pain, Child Health News, News-Medical.Net July 6, 2005. Retrieved from: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=11547 July 21, 2005.