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.