Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic
The Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic provides assistance to children and their families in distress from complex and/or long-term pain-related problems. Our focus is to help these children, teens and young adults regain the parts of their lives that pain has taken away.
We offer a multidisciplinary team that supports patients with chronic pain conditions, as well as their families. Our goal is to teach you and your family skills to manage your pain.
Our Approach
We employ a rehabilitative process by helping each child slowly strengthen the mind, body and spirit, all while providing support and symptom management along the way.
Our team is comprised of physicians, psychologists, advance practice nurses, social workers, physical therapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists all working together to provide the best possible outcomes.
Services and Treatments Provided
We provide both medical treatment and complementary therapies to achieve optimal results. An integrative, individualized and multidisciplinary approach results in improved functional outcomes for children and adolescents with chronic pain.
What is Pain?
Pain is an alarm signal that occurs when the body is in danger. Think of it as protection from harm.
Pain is a combination of four things:
- Feelings
- Thoughts
- Behaviors (actions)
- Body Signals
Managing Pain
The Clinic can help you manage pain by:
The medical provider (doctor or nurse practitioner) will:
- Answer questions about your condition
- Write prescriptions when needed
- Watch over your care
The psychologist will:
- Teach you to understand triggers of your pain
- Give you ways to manage stress and pain in different places, such as relaxation techniques
- Instruct you on how to relax
The physical therapist will:
- Teach you safe exercises
- Give recommendations for physical activity
- Give you an individualized home exercise program
The acupuncturist or massage therapist will focus on:
- Decreasing muscle tightness
- Improving sleep
- Relaxation
- Aromatherapy
The social worker will:
- Provide appropriate school accommodations
- Help with transportation issues
- Identify other barriers to treatment
Our Clinics
The Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic offers two locations: the Westerville Close to Home Center and Main Campus. The clinic operates in an integrated, multidisciplinary model where rehabilitation and facilitation of normal developmental trajectory are the primary goals.
Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic - Main Campus
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Hours: Monday and Friday - 1-5 p.m.
Our Clinic is located in Outpatient Care (OC1A).
Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic - Westerville Close to Home Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
433 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 2A
Westerville, OH 43082
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Appointments and Referrals
The Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic accepts referrals from across the U.S. and internationally. We require physician referrals for all patients. To determine whether your child needs an appointment, please call us at (614) 722-4205.
Physicians can complete a referral using one of the following methods:
- Fax: (614) 355-2878
- Phone: (614) 722-4205
After reviewing the referral, the nursing staff will reach out to discuss required questionnaires and the scheduling process.
What to Expect
Please plan on arriving to the Clinic at least 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to register and complete any additional paperwork.
Your first appointment will include a two-hour evaluation by our team, including the medical provider (doctor or nurse practitioner), psychologist, physical therapist, and social worker. At the initial evaluation, our team will discuss an individualized treatment plan with the patient and family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Clinic give my pain a diagnosis (name)?
Some chronic pain conditions have a well-known cause, but most chronic pain goes on with no clear reason.
The healthcare providers at the Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic may or may not give your pain a diagnosis.
Even if a diagnosis cannot be named, the healthcare providers at the Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic understand that your pain is real. They are here to help you.
How long will I attend the clinic?
Most patients come for 6-10 visits. The visits are spread over 4-6 months. More or less visits may be needed depending on your progress. When you complete the program, you receive a graduation certificate!
What can I do to help my pain get better?
The most important thing to remember is that the pain you are feeling is not harmful, even if it is very annoying.
Using all the skills and tools you will learn from healthcare providers is the best way to help manage your pain.
These tools include:
- Taking medicine as prescribed
- Practicing psychology techniques
- Healthy nutrition
- Good sleep hygiene
- Maintaining physical activity
- Attending your appointments
- Going to school or work
- Playing and hanging out with friends
