Treatment for chronic pain

At age 15, while playing soccer, Kristen suffered an injury to her right foot and ankle that left her in such intense, debilitating pain, she could not attend school for 18 months. Read more.

Children's Memorial Hospital is one of the nation's leaders in innovative pain medicine evaluation and treatment in both hospitalized and outpatient children. That leadership takes practical form in the Department of Anesthesiology's Chronic Pain Treatment Program, which meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. An anesthesiologist, nurses, and a clinical psychologist staff this multidisciplinary clinic. Patients with a variety of pain management problems are seen in the program.

The team works to optimize the child's level of comfort and increase his or her ability to function in everyday life. Treatment modalities include medication management, counseling, and instruction in relaxation techniques. Community referrals to alternative therapies are available. Occasionally, invasive procedures are used to provide aggressive pain management.

Children younger than 18 years of age who have persistent pain are welcome in the program.

Read about Chronic Pain Management in Children and Adolescents in this article by Santhanam Suresh, MD, co-director of the chronic pain program at Children's Memorial Hospital.

To arrange for an appointment, call 1.800.KIDS DOC (1.800.543.7362).
To speak to an advanced practice nurse in the pain program, call 773.880.4006.