How To Stop Chronic Pain In Children

Paula is 12 years old. She has been suffering from chronic abdominal pains for four years. None of the treatments she underwent has helped her. Paula has turned from a fun-loving child into a quiet, suffering girl, and Paula's parents are suffering vicariously with her. Michael Dobe and Boris Zernikow have written this book for children like her and their parents. Based on their experience with out-patient as well as in-patient pain treatment in children, they show in a comprehensive manner how children and adolescents can actively face chronic pains. Many of the tips they offer are easy to implement; they sometimes require a bit of courage and patience, but no elaborate tools. This book helps families find their way back to a regular daily routine despite the pain, back to a daily life in which there is room for laughter and a positive outlook on the future. "This extraordinarily interesting and informative book will provide lasting help for many suffering children and adolescents, and thus for their parents as well." Dr. Marianne Koch, Honorary president of Deutsche Schmerzliga e. V. (German Pain League)

Parents of a child in pain want nothing more than to offer immediate comfort. But a child with chronic or recurring pain requires much more. His or her parents need skills and strategies not only for increasing comfort but also for helping their child deal with an array of pain-related challenges, such as school disruption, sleep disturbance, and difficulties with peers. This essential guide, written by an expert in pediatric pain management, is the practical, accessible, and comprehensive resource that families and caregivers have been awaiting. It offers in-the-moment strategies for managing a child’s pain along with expert advice for fostering long-term comfort. Dr. Rachael Coakley, a clinical pediatric psychologist who works exclusively with families of children with chronic or recurrent pain, provides a set of research-proven strategies—some surprisingly counter-intuitive—to achieve positive results quickly and lastingly. Whether the pain is disease-related, the result of an injury or surgery, or caused by another condition or syndrome, this book offers what every parent of a child in pain most needs: effective methods for reversing the cycle of chronic pain.

“An important, compassionate book.” — Deepak Chopra “Parents! If you hava child in pain, read this book. There is hope.” — James Campbell, M.D., Professor of Jeurological Surgery and Director, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Founder and President, American Pain Foundation “An outstanding book for parents of children and adolescents with chronic pain. I recommend it highly.” — Charles Berde, M.D., Ph.D., Chief, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital, Boston; Professor of Anaesthesia and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School “A valuable and important book that will be appreciated by every family struggling with a child in pain.” — Neil L. Schechter, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Director, Pain Relief Program, Connecticut Children's Medical Center “Reassuring and informative. Parents will gain hope when they discover the many available treatment options.” — Kenneth R. Goldschneider, M.D., F.A.A.P., Director, Division of Pain Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center “I hope Dr. Zeltzer continues to do subjective research on yoga so that the young generation regains freedom from pain...” — B.K.S. Iyengar “A wonderful book! Dr. Zeltzer’s approach is loving, respectful, upbeat, and best of all - successful.” — Laura Schanberg, M.D., Associate Professor, Pediatric Rheumatology, Duke University Medical Center “A must-read for any patient with chronic pain.” — Steven J. Weisman, M.D., Jane B. Pettit Chair in Pain Management, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin; Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin “Now [Dr. Zeltzer’s] wisdom is available to all.” — Patrick J. McGrath, O.C., Ph.D., F.R.S.C., Canadian Institutes of Health Research Distinguished Scientist; Killam Professor of Psychology and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University “This is an amazingly caring, competent, and useful book. It opens your mind but also your heart...” — Vanna Axia, Ph.D., Professor of Developmental Psychology, Child Neuro-psychiatry Specialization School, School of Medicine; Director “All [Dr. Zeltzer’s] work has resulted in real solutions for children and their parents.” — David Geffen “One of the few [books] for laypeople on chronic pain in children.” — Washington Post “Informative, practical, and well written.” — Pediatric Pain Letter

Childhood pain is a widespread problem, yet it often goes untreated. Drawing on the latest research, two leading voices on pediatric pain show parents and medical practitioners how to handle children’s pain, from bumps and bruises to chronic illnesses, providing strategies that make a real difference in kids’ lives.

Advances over the past two decades have enabled physicians to revolutionize the manner in which they can assess and manage children’s pain. Thirty years ago it was thought that young children did not experience pain and therefore it was not necessary to treat it. Today professionals from a variety of disciplines have contributed data that have revolutionized medical perspectives. Technological advances now enable doctors to treat acute pain in fetuses, premature neonates, infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with increasing precision and efficacy. Research highlighting the context of chronic pain has moved them away from a mind-body dichotomy and toward an integrated, holistic perspective that leads to substantial improvement in children’s adaptive functioning as well as subjective discomfort. This book covers these topics and is intended for anyone who provides medical care to children. Each chapter provides an overview of the problem, followed by a "hands on" description of relevant assessment and intervention strategies. The role of the primary care practitioner is highlighted, both as a front-line resource as well as a consumer of specialized pediatric pain treatment services. Each chapter ends with a summary and specific bullet points highlighting the most central elements, making for quick and easy reference.

"Madeline is a 15-year-old girl with abdominal pain and headaches that occur most days of the week. Because of her pain, she has missed 99 days of school this year and is no longer able to play volleyball. Her parents have taken her to see a number of specialists and she has tried many different medications but she has not experienced any improvement in her pain..." Studies suggest that as many as four out of ten children and adolescents suffer from chronic pain. The causes of chronic pain in young people vary, from illness-related causes to pain following medical procedures. In fact, in some children the cause of chronic pain is never explained. Managing Your Child's Chronic Pain is an invaluable resource for parents who wish to learn how to help their children and families cope with persisting pain using cutting-edge, scientifically proven treatment tools and techniques. The easy-to-implement strategies in this book provide parents with practical instructions for pain management that will enable children to return to school, participate in sports and other activities, and pursue healthy and active social lives. With guidance on how to prevent relapse, maintain improvements, and prevent future problems with pain and disability, Managing Your Child's Chronic Pain will empower parents to take a hands-on approach to relieving their child's pain.

The purpose of this text is to provide not only the science and current knowledge of pediatric pain management but a rationale for intervention. The book is ground-breaking in that it provides pearls for the recognition and management of multiple childhood chronic pain syndromes. Also, uncommon yet confounding issues such as pain management for epidermolysis bullosa are adequately addressed. Concerns unique to pediatric patients are reviewed. While there are no firm standards in pediatric chronic pain, a care plan is offered to help guide practitioners when possible. The book will consist of 24 chapters, many co-written by a physician and a psychologist. Chapter 1 covers the history of pediatric chronic pain, the advancement pediatric pain as a clinical subspecialty, development of pediatric pain clinics, and characterization of the common pain syndromes. Chapters 2-4 cover, respectively, the research on early pain exposure and neuroplasticity, theories on the common adolescent pain syndromes, and the demographics of chronic pain in children. Chapters 5-16 discuss approaches to assessment and intervention for specific pediatric and adolescent pain syndromes. Chapters 17-23 address interventional techniques such as therapeutic blocks, neurablation, implantable systems, physical therapy, complementary therapy, and pharmacology including opioid tolerance. The final chapter discusses the role of the nurse practitioner in pediatric chronic pain.

Shares strategies and evidence-based treatments parents and caregivers can use to help children deal with chronic pain-related challenges.