
School
We don't expect children or teenagers to have chronic pain - but it is actually just as common as in adults.
Often there's nothing to see & it can be difficult to tell how much pain there is.
It is important to be patient, to believe & to encourage the child.
It is often not possible to make the pain go away - it's not necessarily directly related to any harm occurring.
Things we hear are;
Having to leave class to go to pupil services.
Not being able to move & stretch to prevent pain building up.
Getting pushed, bumped or bullied making pain worse.
Worrying about not being able to keep up with work - not being able to get work to do at home.
Missing education when in hospital.
Children who have chronic pain have much higher rates of not getting qualifications, which affects their whole life & increases anxiety & hopelessness.
