Who We Are & What We Do: Inpatient Chronic Pain Program
This program is typically for children and adolescents with chronic pain who continue to have significant pain and difficulties with daily function despite a period of consistent outpatient therapies. Our evidence-based program is typically over a four week period, with focus on regaining function and using one’s body in a normal way. The approach to treatment of chronic pain at Children’s Specialized Hospital includes intense physical and occupational therapy and integrated mental health intervention.
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Aquatic therapy
- Psychology
- Recreational therapy
- Child life therapy
- Parent education and support
During the program, the child and family also participate in family psycho-education support sessions to provide a better understanding of chronic pain and strategies for families to use to support the functionality of the patient.
The focus of therapies in the Chronic Pain Management Program are:
- Increasing endurance and strength
- Patient/family education about effective coping strategies
- Use of the affected parts of the body
- Desensitization to reduce allodynia (pain from stimuli that typically does not cause pain, such as light touch or temperature change)
Additionally, recreation events for the patient and family encourage community re-integration, encourage appropriate peer interaction and social activities as well as assist in transition to home/community life. School tutoring is also provided on-site as needed. Our goal is for each child to return home to all normal activities, including school and extracurricular involvements, without any physical modifications.
Our specialized team focuses on treating Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and related forms of amplified pain such as, but not limited to:
- Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS)
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
- Reflex Neuropathic Dystrophy (RND)
- Fibromyalgia