Chronic non-malignant pain (non-cancer pain) may not have an underlying cause. In this situation, pain is thought of as a disease in itself rather than a symptom of disease. In many cases, chronic pain cannot be totally eliminated. The goal of chronic pain management is to find ways to help your child improve her everyday functioning in terms of going to school, being with friends, physical activity, sleep, and mood, despite the pain. The objective of the pain management plan is to encourage your child to live as normal a life as possible rather than on complete pain relief, which may not be possible.
Often, managing chronic pain means creating a plan of care that may not include looking for a cause of pain since there may not be one. Once the child and his parents understand the plan, they can become partners with the health care professional to help the child to lead a life that is as normal as possible and reduce the pain to a manageable level.
With professional help, chronic pain can be effectively managed at home. Depending on how severe the pain is, a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists may all be involved with your child's care. The plan of care often involves different treatment approaches such as combinations of pain relieving medicines, as well as physical and psychological therapies.
Goals of chronic pain management
-
Reduce pain wherever possible.
-
Restore or improve life functioning.
-
Develop self-help and maintenance skills to manage chronic pain.
-
Improve depression, anxiety, or troubled thinking.
-
Improve relationships with family and friends.
Pain relief strategies
Not all chronic pain problems will require pain-relieving medications. However, when they are needed, they will be more effective when used in combination with physical and psychological therapies.
Physical treatments for pain management
Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to help with most chronic pain problems. Deciding what your child should do in terms of exercise should be done in conjunction with a physiotherapist. The general rule is to increase the level of exercise slowly and in small steps. It may be necessary to change your child’s usual sporting activity. Overall, what is most important is that your child engages in some form of exercise. Otherwise, he can experience more pain from the stiffness of unused muscles. Exercise also provides benefits by helping to improve mood, promoting better sleep, and helping to release your child’s own internal pain-relieving hormones.
Other physical treatments
There are other physical therapies that can be used to treat chronic pain. These include heat, cold, and massage treatments. These therapies are described in detail in the "Physical Treatments" pages in the "Treatment" section of this site.
Psychological treatments for pain management
Chronic pain can have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including mood, sleep, physical activity, socializing with friends and family, and school or work activities. Having an understanding of how pain can affect these aspects of your child's life is the first step in learning strategies to help him to manage pain and to live a normal life. These aspects are described in detail on the "Impact of Pain" page in this section of the site.
Psychological strategies that may be helpful in managing chronic pain, including relaxation and behavioural strategies, are discussed in the "Psychological Treatments" pages in the "Treatment" section of this site.
Get as much help as you need
Depending on the cause and severity of the pain, it is highly likely that you as a parent, your family in general, and your child in chronic pain will need some outside help to cope with the overall impact of the pain experience. As part of the plan of care, the health care team looking after your child should be able to suggest and direct you to helpful community resources.