In addition to comforting the child in pain, the most important role for parents is to communicate with everyone involved in his treatment. Parents can communicate information about their child to the health care providers who are part of either the hospital unit or the pain management team. They can help explain to the child what is going on with respect to his condition and treatment. It can be difficult to witness a child suffering in pain. But, if parents can remain calm and learn specific strategies to help their child, they can reduce his pain and thereby speed up the healing process.
Parents should always ask how they can help relieve their child’s pain, especially in advance of a painful event. For example, parents can ask for pain-relief medication, for example sucrose for an infant and topical cream for a child, before a procedure. Then, during the procedure, they can assist with distracting their child's attention away from the pain. While in hospital, parents can ask a health care professional for specific toys or resources that would help them and their child with distraction. They can also help monitor the child’s pain following the event and watch out for possible side effects, such as constipation, of pain-relieving treatments.
Being realistic about pain management
Parents, and children if they are old enough to understand, should be aware of the challenges of pain management. In many cases, finding the right treatment may require trying out different strategies. Being aware of this should help both you and your child to cope with the frustrations that may be involved. It should also be understood that sometimes, a completely pain-free outcome may not be possible. For example, some chronic pain conditions can be very difficult to treat.
Despite this less than perfect state of affairs, parents should help their child keep a positive attitude. At the same time, expectations about pain control should be realistic. Parents and children should concentrate their hopes on a gradual improvement in functioning, such as returning to school, being with friends and family, and resuming recreational activities, rather than focusing on complete pain relief.
Chronic pain conditions for which complete pain relief is not possible is very difficult for children and parents to accept. Parents can help their child to maintain a healthy attitude by encouraging him to focus on the positives of what he can do, rather than on the negatives, such as how intense the pain is. Children who see their parents and health professionals advocating for the best available pain relief will have confidence that everything possible is being done to help them.