We provide an interactive, family-centered team approach to manage chronic pain.

Pain is a complex condition that can affect all areas of a child’s life from daily functioning to family relationships. Chronic pain can last for months or even years.

Our chronic pain management team works together to manage not only symptoms, but all aspects of chronic pain. After a thorough evaluation of each patient, we develop an individualized approach to address the physical, social and emotional aspects of pain.

Commonly treated conditions include:

• Abdominal pain
• Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Juvenile fibromyalgia
• Arthritis/joint pain
• Back pain
• Cancer pain
• Headaches
• Nerve injuries
• Neuropathic pain
• Pain related to sports injuries
• Pain from surgery or an injury

How We Control Pain

Pain is not just a physical problem. We look at the whole picture of a patient’s condition and provide comprehensive care to address your child’s unique needs. Our team includes physicians who specialize in the treatment of pain, a psychologist, and physical therapist who may take part in your child’s care depending on his or her needs.

After evaluation, our team will work with your family to create an individualized treatment plan. This plan will address pain symptoms along with the emotional and social aspects to improve daily functions such as sleep and sports-related activities.

Treatment plans may include:

• Management of pain medications in an effort to minimize the use of opioids
• Physical therapy or occupational therapy
• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Psychotherapy
• Procedures including:
  • Nerve blocks
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Trigger point injections

We also offer the Camp Wellness behavioral health and wellness program for children with chronic pain conditions. Patients receive coordinated care from multiple specialists as part of this multi-week program. Learn more about Camp Wellness.

In addition to the treatment methods outlined above, we offer a number of other non-medicine pain therapies to help your child deal with pain and stress. Learn more about our complementary pain therapies.

Chronic pain therapy and support group

Patients in our chronic pain management program can also join our support and therapy group for teens with chronic pain. This therapeutic group will provide a space for teens struggling with the physical and emotional impact of chronic pain to be heard, while also engaging and sharing strategies and support with other teens.

The group will:

• Provide education on chronic pain.
• Apply basic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to address distress that comes with chronic pain.
• Engage in self-regulation skills.
• Provide peer support and build friendships with other teens with chronic pain.

The group meets in-person twice per month, with up to five patients in the group, in the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center on the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida. Future groups will be added depending on interest. For more information, please call pediatric psychologist Dr. Will Frye at 727-767-8477.