Pain Management: Coping With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 months. It can start after an injury or illness. It can also be caused by nerve damage or another health condition. Sometimes, there is
no clear cause.

Living with chronic pain can be hard for children, teens, and their families. Parents may feel unsure how to help while still giving their child independence. When activities are avoided because of pain, the pain can get worse over time. It’s important to keep doing daily activities, like going to school and spending time with friends.  

As your child moves and plays more, the pain usually starts to get better. It’s important to remember that with chronic pain, pain doesn’t mean harm. Staying active helps the body heal and recover.

Daily Life

When pain lasts a long time, the body can become more sensitive. This means pain may feel stronger, even during safe activities.

Chronic pain can affect many parts of a child’s life, including:

• Sleep
• Behavior and focus
• School, activities, and daily routines
• Mood and emotions (feeling stressed, frustrated, or sad)
• Relationships with family and friends

Because of fear of pain, some children may:

• Avoid certain activities.
• Stop doing things they enjoy.
• Worry that movement will cause harm, even when it's safe.

Pain Triggers

Some things that can make your child’s pain worse include:

• Focusing a lot on pain.
• Not moving or being active enough.
• Being very tired or not sleeping well.
• Having tight or tense muscles.
• Doing too much activity at one time.
• Having negative thoughts about pain.
• Feeling strong emotions like fear, stress, anger, or sadness.
• Eating poorly or not drinking enough water. 

What Your Child Can Do

• Stay active
  • Keep doing normal daily activities, even during pain flares
  • Continue going to school and doing other responsibilities like chores
  • Increase activity over time
  • Take breaks to avoid doing too much
  • Helpful activities: using an elliptical, walking, swimming, or biking
  • Tip: Make activity more fun – walk a pet, listen to music, or invite a friend
• Get good sleep
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day
  • Avoid daytime naps (especially for teens)
  • Keep a calm bedtime routine
• Practice relaxation
  • Stretch
  • Meditate or practice mindfulness
  • Take slow, deep breaths (5 minutes)
• Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water each day.
• Use healthy distractions, like listening to music, reading, spending time with friends, playing games, or doing crafts.
• Follow a daily schedule - A routine helps the body adjust and feel safer. Include time for exercise, meals, sleep, schoolwork, friends, hobbies, and activities.
• Focus on function, not pain
  • Talk less about pain
  • Work on coping skills
  • Focus on what your child can do

How to Help

• Support and encourage your child to follow the tips listed above.
• Focus on daily functioning, not pain levels.
• Ask about plans instead of pain.
• Support physical activity recommended by the care provider.
• Consider formal chronic pain treatment if concerns continue.

If you still have concerns, talk with your child’s doctor or health care provider about chronic pain treatment options.

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