10 tips for dealing with chronic pain
1. every pain is real
Realise that all pain is real - even if no physical illness is found.
2. encourage people to become active
Encourage your child to actively and independently do something about the pain. This can be a targeted distraction or an enjoyable activity.
3. enable a normal everyday life
Even with pain, your child should have as normal a daily routine as possible - for example, going to school regularly and doing things in their free time.
Main article: «What to do if your child suffers from chronic pain?»
4. do not ignore annoying duties
Make sure that your child completes chores such as homework even when they are in pain.
5. coddling the child can increase the pain
Take care not to look after your child particularly lovingly because of the pain. This can make the pain worse. Instead, look forward to pain-free times together or when your child has been able to distract themselves well.
6. praise courageous handling of pain
Always praise your child for dealing well with the pain.
Ms Bergsträsser, Ms Prchal, how well sensitised are doctors to chronic pain in children and adolescents?
Eva Bergsträsser: "The picture is rather sobering. A study has shown that only 20 per cent of paediatricians surveyed in Switzerland feel confident in treating chronic pain. Paediatricians and family doctors should therefore be better trained in this area."
How could the situation be improved?
Alice Prchal: "It could be useful to rethink the often high demands at school, for example to reduce time pressure or pressure during exams. But some parents and the young people themselves could also ask themselves whether a particular school career is absolutely necessary, for example."
How could chronic pain be prevented?
Prchal: «It would be important to inform parents, teachers and pupils more about the topic. This could help to ensure that everyone chooses suitable strategies for dealing with pain and that those affected receive appropriate treatment at an early stage.»
7. focus on joy and not on pain
Do not ask your child if they are in pain. This can cause the pain to increase.
8 Be a role model for your child
If you suffer from pain yourself, try to be a role model for your child and actively do something about the pain yourself.
9. caution with medication
Medication should only be taken in consultation with a doctor. Medication can be helpful for some types of pain, but not for others.
10. clarify the environment
Inform everyone who is involved with your child about favourable ways of dealing with the pain.
Source: Tanja Hechler and Hanna Christiansen: Chronic pain in children and adolescents. In: T. Schnell & K. Schnell: Handbook of clinical psychology. Springer 2018.
Contact points and information
- Interdisziplinäre Schmerzsprechstunde des Universitäts-Kinderspitals beider Basel (erstes spezialisiertes Schmerzzentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche in der Schweiz): www.ukbb.ch
- Interprofessionelle Schmerzsprechstunde des Universitäts-Kinderspitals Zürich: www.kispi.uzh.ch
- Kurzfilm «Den Schmerz verstehen – und was zu tun ist in 10 Minuten!»: www.deutsches-kinderschmerzzentrum.de
