By Nancy Dickenson
Children who suffer from pain that just won’t go away are robbed of their childhood. They hurt. They worry too much and are afraid. Chronic pain affects school attendance and grades, participation in fun activities and relationships with friends and family.
The rest of the family suffers, too - psychologically, socially and emotionally. Parents and children alike feel out of control and helpless. Sometimes a definitive diagnosis is impossible to find, adding to the frustration. Parents feel guilty about not being able to help their child feel better.
Chronic pain in childhood is not a rare occurrence. According to the American Pain Society, one in five children and adolescents in the United States suffers from debilitating pain. Among the causes of children’s pain are headaches, arthritis, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.
Pain in children is not well understood. Until the late 1980s, it was commonly believed in the medical community that children felt pain differently from adults. It was considered bad medicine to give children strong painkillers, no matter how much they suffered. Today, the medical world recognizes pain in children, but many practitioners are unprepared to treat it effectively. Many children continue to be under-treated for their pain.
Parents of children in pain will find hope in a new book, “Conquering Your Child’s Chronic Pain: A Pediatrician’s Guide for Reclaiming a Normal Childhood” (Collins), by Dr. Lonnie K. Zeltzer and Christina Blackett Schlank.
Zeltzer, director of the Pediatric Pain Program at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital, asserts, “It is never too late to treat pain in children, no matter how long it has lasted.” She believes that children’s pain is real and deserves attention.
The authors strive to help people understand the complex nature of pain, as well as the approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The book first defines pain, then compares acute and chronic pain. It also examines the biology and psychology of chronic pain. In addition, the various conditions associated with chronic pain are discussed, as are the factors that contribute to it.
“Conquering Your Child’s Chronic Pain” acknowledges that there is no magic bullet for treating chronic pain but there are a wide variety of options to consider. Different types of pain and individual people require treatment designed specifically for their unique situation. The book offers information about a wide range of treatment options available to children, from medication to alternative methods such as hypnotherapy, yoga, acupuncture and biofeedback. Zeltzer even provides specific breathing, relaxation and visualization exercises designed to help children cope with chronic pain.
A chapter answers parents’ frequently asked questions, and a glossary defines pain terminology. Appendices identify pediatric and gastrointestinal pain programs worldwide. One of the programs mentioned is at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford (pedsanesthesia.stanford.edu).
“Conquering Your Child’s Chronic Pain” is available for borrowing from the Stanford Health Library. For more information, call the health library at 725-8400. The book is also for sale on Amazon.com.
