Medical Pain
Causes | Symptoms | Treatment | Who to contact | Pain clinics | Terminal illnesses | Additional resources
What kinds of illnesses cause pain?
Many medical conditions cause pain. Think about having the flu, or an ear infection, or spraining an ankle. Pain is a message that lets people know that something is wrong and needs attention. Pain is a common symptom.
Most pain is temporary, fading away as the problem is fixed. Occasionally, pain outlives its purpose and becomes "useless pain". This type of pain takes on a life of its own, and can be very debilitating. The reason for this is not always known, but there are things that can help.
What are the symptoms?
Children describe their pain in many ways. Words such as achy, sharp, dull, electrical, burning, throbbing, pressure or stabbing can help your child's doctor find the right medicine for your child's pain.
Infants and nonverbal children sometimes appear irritable, have difficulty sleeping, or have a decreased appetite when experiencing pain.
How is pain treated?
The treatment of pain includes many therapies based on the cause. Mild pain is often managed with single therapies. Severe and complex pain requires combined therapies including medication, physical therapy, psychology and relaxation training. Treatments include the following:
- Some pain, like for arthritis, is due to inflammation. An anti-inflammatory medication would be useful to treat this type of pain.
- Nerve injury can bring a different type of pain, which will respond to medicine designed to calm misfiring nerves.
- Pain is made worse by depression and tension, so relaxation training, massage and healing touch can be helpful.
- Biofeedback, acupuncture and TENS units are other ways to treat pain. "TENS" stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This is a palm-sized device that uses a small amount of electrical current to help the body shut down incoming pain messages at the level of the spinal cord. It can be useful for localized pain (pain in a specific area), and has few side effects.
At Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, a wide variety of pain therapies is offered. These include medicines and high-tech therapies, as well as humanistic and holistic health. Your child's doctors and nurses will work with you to find the combination that is right for your child. For severe or complicated pain conditions, your child's doctor may consult with the Pain Management Service at Cincinnati Children's.
Who should I ask if my child is having these kinds of pain?
Your primary pediatrician or family physician can handle most of the common types of pain. If basic evaluation and treatments have not helped, your child's primary doctor may refer you to a specialist. For example, an orthopaedic surgeon will have options for the best care of a broken bone or sprained ankle. A hematologist will help manage sickle cell disease pain. Gastroenterologists can help evaluate abdominal pain.
Does my child need a special pain clinic?
Sometimes, pain lasts beyond the expected time course, even after the healing is done. Tests may be negative and you and your doctors may become frustrated. Why would there be so much pain, but nothing show up on tests?
The answer is not always clear. If headaches are the problem, Cincinnati Children's has a Headache Center to which your child may be referred. The Pain Management Clinic is another resource that is available. For children with chronic illness or terminal illness, pain management is a vital part of the plan, and you should feel free to discuss how pain will be managed over the long term.
How is the pain of terminal illness handled?
The StarShine Hospice at Cincinnati Children's is a home-based service that can provide many levels of care for both family and child in the event that a disease or condition is not curable. The program involves a multidisciplinary group of physicians, nurses, child life specialists, clergy and social workers. The program takes a holistic approach to managing comfort by addressing the physical, spiritual and social / emotional needs of the entire family.
StarShine can provide a positive force when all else looks bleak. Pain care is provided by either the primary physician or by a physician from the Division of Pain Management. A hospice nurse and a pain physician are available 24 hours a day to help with problems or concerns.
Additional Resources
Contact Us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
Rev. 11/07
