Chronic pain is a reality that millions of Americans will face at some point in their lifetime. People’s work, home, school, and social life will inevitably be affected in one way or another, and Southwest Spine and Pain hopes to prepare these patients with the best tools to prepare for the change. Many of our patients have families with young kids, and we remind these individuals to have a conversation with their children about their chronic pain condition.
At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our physicians and entire team are dedicated to improving the lives of people in pain. We hold communication as a top priority between our physicians and patients, and advise our patients to keep the same lines of communication open to their families. With four locations across the state of Utah, Southwest Spine and Pain Center continues to be the leading pain clinic in Utah and the southwest United States.
They say children are like sponges; anything you say to them will be soaked into their brains and acted out within their lives. However, conversations about mom or dad having an illness may not register within them. When you tell your child that you are in pain, expect to have the conversation more than once. Your child may relate the word ‘pain’ to a scrape; common to the one they may have gotten after falling off of a bike. It is important to reinforce messages and modify them as your child gets older. Start with, “Mommy hurts,” and adjust is to “I have back pain.”
Honesty is the best policy, and it is important to hold this moral with your children as well. Don’t beat around the bush to keep face or avoid questioning. Tell your child that there are certain things that you can’t do that other parents can. Keep them updated on your condition and what things you can and cannot do.
When you tell your child that you are in pain, they may blow it out of proportion. For instance, they may think you are dying. In this case, be sure to reassure them that you are not going to die and you are not contagious. You want their support and their understanding, and be honest and reassuring will make them feel included in your treatment. Listen to their concerns and let them help where they can.
Your doctor may have advice you at some point in your treatment to keep a pain diary. They may also recommend that you use a pain scale to communicate the levels of your pain. Patients should use the same pain scale with their children. Keep a white board or a bulletin board around the house and change out numbers for how your pain feels. That way, if you have a “1” on the board, your child knows how you are feeling, without bombarding you with questions.
There are many other ways to communicate with your children and family about your pain. Contact your Southwest Spine and Pain physician about tools and treatments you can take home with you to improve your pain condition.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014
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