The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / An Interdisciplinary & Holistic Approach to Alleviating Pediatric Pain

An Interdisciplinary & Holistic Approach to Alleviating Pediatric Pain

July 22, 2019 • By Carina Stanton

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Pain is processed in the brain, but it isn’t “all in your head,” according to recent research, which found a combined physical, psychological and social connection to how a person experiences pain.1

You Might Also Like
  • The ARHP Promotes Interdisciplinary Approach to Rheumatology Patient Care
  • Pediatric Chronic Pain Eased by Early Intervention, Parental Involvement
  • Tips for Interdisciplinary Pain Management in Older Patients
Also By This Author
  • Help Patients Live Their Best Lives

Children living with chronic conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, likely experience pain differently from adults. Their brains are still developing. Example: In a study of pain experienced by young patients with polyarticular arthritis, 76% reported frequent pain despite the successful suppression of inflammation with methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors or both.2

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Added to this experience are the social experiences of children and adolescents, which further influence how their pain is processed. Recognizing the multi-faceted aspects of pediatric pain, pediatric care providers working in pain management, psychology and physical and occupational therapy are collaborating to apply a bio-psycho-social understanding of pain. This approach is an interdisciplinary model for pediatric pain management, according to Eugene Kim, MD, chief of the Division of Pain Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Alvina Rosales, PhD, clinical psychologist at the Division of Pain Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The Bio-Psycho-Social Pain Management Model
The bio-psycho-social model of pain illustrates how complex the pain experience is. Dr. Kim says, “Pain is a physical experience that may result from direct trauma to the body, and/or from psychological stress or trauma. Not every person feels injuries and trauma the same way.”

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Example: Psychologically, if a person sustained a paper cut while holding a winning lottery ticket, their pain would be experienced differently than if they sustained the same paper cut while holding an overdue bill.

A person’s surroundings may also play a role in how they experience pain. “Socially, a teenager may experience pain differently when with his friends vs. at home,” he says.

To treat pain, Dr. Kim says the goal is to “assess and address all of these different areas in order to make the biggest impact.”

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Pediatric Pain
For children and adolescents with chronic conditions, Dr. Kim works closely with a team of clinical psychologists, including Dr. Rosales, and physical and occupational therapists to address a patient’s pain. Together, each interdisciplinary role within the treatment represents the bio-psycho-social model of pain management.

“Each team member uses his or her area of expertise to affect the patient in different, but highly complementary ways to improve their functioning,” Dr. Rosales says. Example: Dr. Kim’s treatment may focus on pharmacological approaches to alleviate pain, enabling patients to tolerate physical and occupational therapies. In turn, occupational and physical therapists work more effectively on restoring function and strength within the targeted areas.

Pages: 1 2 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions

You Might Also Like:
  • The ARHP Promotes Interdisciplinary Approach to Rheumatology Patient Care
  • Pediatric Chronic Pain Eased by Early Intervention, Parental Involvement
  • Tips for Interdisciplinary Pain Management in Older Patients
  • A New Pain PILL: Lending a Personal Approach to Personalized Medicine

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.