UK HealthCast: Helping children navigate chronic pain
UK HealthCast is a podcast series featuring interviews with UK HealthCare experts on a variety of health-related topics.
Chronic pain can be life-changing for a child and their family. In this edition of UK HealthCast, Dr. Tanesha Johnson, a pediatric clinical psychologist, shares how parents can support their kids, keep life moving forward and manage pain using medical and non-medical strategies.
Listen to Dr. Johnson’s conversation below. For key takeaways from that conversation, please continue reading.
Understanding chronic pain in children
“Chronic pain is like buckling your seatbelt, but the alarm keeps pinging.” — Dr. Tanesha Johnson
Chronic pain is more than lingering discomfort: it’s a type of pain that continues well beyond the normal recovery window, sometimes many months past when a child should typically be feeling better.
Warning signs include:
- Regularly missing school.
- Avoiding sports or hobbies they once loved.
- Withdrawing from friends and social life.
If pain is still disrupting daily life long after an injury or illness, you should talk with your family’s pediatrician.
Chronic pain’s impact beyond the body
The demands of ongoing treatment for chronic pain — which may include hospital visits, therapies, and schedule changes — can ripple through the whole family and even affect activities of those who aren’t experiencing chronic pain.
Dr. Johnson teaches families to “keep chronic pain in the back pocket” rather than letting it take the wheel. That means encouraging children to stay involved, with reasonable adjustments as needed, in their regular day-to-day activities so that their life doesn’t shrink around the pain.
“Sometimes this feels very counterintuitive, but try to keep your kid in the normal activities of going to school, playing their sports with modifications, being social as they were before they had this chronic pain diagnosis,” Dr. Johnson said. “Because we really want our kids to have fulfilled and happy lives.”
Seeing a pediatric psychologist for pain doesn’t mean the pain is “all in their head.” Mental and physical health are partners, and both deserve attention in treatment.
Non-medical treatment strategies
While medication may help, Dr. Johnson emphasizes the value of lifestyle and behavioral tools in the treatment and management of chronic pain.
“When we're in pain, our body tends to tense up,” Dr. Johnson said. “Our muscles are tight, we shallow breathe, and so I teach kids really how to intentionally relax their body because our bodies can't be tense and relax at the same time.
In addition to relaxation techniques aimed at reducing muscle tension and improving breathing, other techniques that can help ease chronic pain include:
- Gentle movement like stretching, yoga, or guided physical therapy
- Alternative therapies such as aromatherapy, acupuncture or massage
- Pacing activity level in a sport or other strenuous exercise to match your current abilities
Non-medical approaches are best suited for children and families who are motivated to get back to their routines while the medical team works on diagnosis and treatment. Success depends less on the type of condition and more on readiness of your child to take proactive steps.
“It takes time to build the skills, to practice them and to integrate them into your lives,” Dr. Johnson said. “It's not a quick fix.”
Trusted resources for families
Start with your child’s pain management specialist or pediatrician for tailored guidance. Dr. Johnson also recommends the MEG Foundation, which offers:
- Free chronic and acute pain management worksheets.
- Tips for navigating hospital visits.
- Support for challenges like needle anxiety.
Chronic pain is a challenge, but with the right combination of medical care, behavioral strategies and family support, children can still live full, happy lives.
