Pain

Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

Are you worried because your child:

Is still having pain or discomfort?

Pain from the injury or illness cannot always be managed completely, but nurses and doctors do their best to get it under control. At the hospital, work with the nurses and doctors to help ensure that your child’s pain is managed as much as possible. At home, be sure to follow the pain management recommendations of your child's provider. Follow up with your child's medical team if their pain is getting worse or if it interferes with sleep or paying attention in school.

How can you help your child manage pain?

Follow pain management instructions

At the hospital, be sure you understand the team’s plan for managing your child’s pain.
Pain management can include medication and other methods (like distraction and breathing during a procedure).
At home, be sure to use any instructions for managing your child’s pain that were given to you by your healthcare provider.
If your child has been prescribed pain medications, make sure to give them according to your doctor’s directions.
Be sure to follow any other suggestions your nurse or doctor may have given you for helping your child with pain.

Keep a pain diary

Write down and keep track of your child’s pain, how bad it is, when it happens, what makes it better, and what makes it worse.
If your child has pain that is interfering with sleep, making it harder to fall asleep or waking them up during the night, talk with your child’s medical team about how to best control pain at bedtime and through the night.

Call your child’s doctor

If you aren't sure what to do- Ask!
Call your child's provider and tell them that your child’s pain is not getting better.
Your child should have less pain over time.
Let you child’s medical team know how you are using the pain medicines for your child.
Consider scheduling an appointment to see your child’s doctor (bring along any medicines your child is taking and their pain dairy if you've been keeping one).
Ask your child's providers to review his/her pain medicine and the directions for using them.

Helpful Resources:

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Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

Patient Education

Screening & Assessment

Intervention

Trauma-Informed Care

COVID-19

Resources