The Pediatric Pain Management Program works together with pediatricians, surgeons, and family doctors to manage children’s pain after surgery or injury, and pain caused by cancer, infections, arthritis, or other illnesses. We also help children with complex or chronic pain—pain that continues even after an injury has healed or when there is no obvious disease.
How we help
We use a multidisciplinary team approach to control pain with both medication and non-drug techniques. Our team provides care for both inpatients (Acute Pain Service) and outpatients (Complex Pain Clinic).
Acute Pain Services (inpatients)
Children who are inpatients in Health Centre are seen by the consultation team at the request of the primary pediatrician or surgeon. We can provide a range of pain treatment techniques, including medications by mouth or intravenous infusion, epidural or nerve block, and patient-controlled analgesia. We also assist with pain assessment in children who have difficulty expressing or explaining their own feelings.
Pediatric Complex Pain Clinic (outpatients)
The Pediatric Complex Pain Clinic treats out-patients with chronic pain. Assessments and treatment are provided by a team including physicians, a clinical nurse specialist, a clinical psychologist, and a physiotherapist. Treatment often includes a combination of physical treatment and exercise, cognitive-behavioural techniques such as relaxation and imagery, and medications. The child and family are important members of the pain management team.