Expressing and Coping with Chronic Pain in Children

Expressions of pain can be as varied as the personalities of individuals. For some, pain is expressed by obvious crying while others express pain through isolation and loneliness. For children who suffer from chronic pain, expressions of pain are normally not inhibited and, as a result, parents can often decipher the pain messages of their children appropriately.

For some children, with expanded vocubulary, pain may be described in a variety of adjective and, at times, may seem over-the-top and dramatic with even varying degrees of pain. For children without an expanded vocabulary, traditionally, the pain will be expressed as a more relative crying and irritability display. And, yet, for some children, the pain is internalized and controlled with parents only noticing a slight change in the child's behavior, often described as simply "not normal".

For children who suffer from chronic pain, the pain factor almost seems to be an every day challenge. For many parents, the consistent repetitive questioning of a child's pain almost seems bothersome. To offset this challenge, parents of children who suffer from chronic pain should work to establish open communication with the child to ensure the child understands that, even if you don't ask about pain on a regular basis, the child is free to come to you and complain of pain and you, as the parent, will work with them to come up with ways in which to alleviate the pain.

Common methods for alleviating chronic pain in children often include the use of oral medications. However, for some parents, the use of oral medications, in controlling pain in their child, is reduced by the use of other chronic pain alleviating activities. Children who suffer from chronic pain may find some relief in relaxation techniques such as warm water baths, listening to music and even massaging the area of pain.

Of concern to parents of children who suffer from chronic pain is the tendency of children, especially those in school, to become isolated and retracted when pain is persistent in an effort to not exhibit symptoms of pain to their peers. For this reason, when your child enters school, and suffers from chronic pain, it is important to discuss these pain issues with the child's teacher to ensure the teacher is aware of the signs and symptoms of chronic pain and can offer to assist the child, without peer involvement. Communication, then, key to controlling pain for your child when the child is away from home.

As with any chronic pain issue, children who suffer from chronic pain will devise a variety of methods in which to express their distress. For many children, learning to self control pain is increasingly common, leaving many parents unaware the child is experiencing pain until the symptoms are quite significant. Teaching your child to openly communicate about chronic pain, to both you and the child's teacher, can work to alleviate chronic pain symptoms long before pain has become too severe.