When you think of chronic pain, you might imagine adults or maybe teenagers—but few people realize that even very young children, including babies and preschoolers, can experience persistent pain.
If you’re a parent or caregiver who’s noticed your child wincing, withdrawing from play, constantly complaining of tummy aches or leg pain, or just "not being themselves," read on!
At the Pain Collective’s Paediatric Pain Service, we want to help families understand that chronic pain is real, even in children under 10, and that there are effective, compassionate ways to manage it.
What Is Chronic Pain in Children under 10?
Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts longer than three months, or pain that has outlived its usefulness. Pain that persists beyond three months, typically also persists beyond what would be the expected time for healing after an injury or illness.
Such pain can be constant or come and go, and might not always have an obvious medical cause.
Young children, under the age of 10, and even babies and toddlers can experience:
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Joint or limb pain
- Pain related to medical procedures, surgery, or illness
How Common Is It?
More common than you might think.
- Studies suggest that up to 1 in 5 children live with chronic pain. That’s around 20% of the paediatric population.
- Pain often starts before the age of 10, especially for conditions like migraines, recurrent abdominal pain, or musculoskeletal pain.
- A South African study at a major children’s hospital found that up to 30% of inpatients likely had chronic or recurring pain—and about 5% had high-impact chronic pain, or pain associated with significant pain-related distress, such as anxiety, depression, or difficulty participating in everyday activities.
Let’s Bust a Big Myth:
“Young children can’t really have chronic pain.”
This is one of the most common, and most harmful, myths we hear.
Some believe children are “too young” to feel real pain, or that they just want attention. But science paints a very different picture:
- Children’s nervous systems are fully capable of experiencing pain—and in fact, their brains may respond even more intensely than adults' because they haven’t developed the same self-soothing or pain modulation mechanisms yet.
- Young children may struggle to describe their pain, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. Instead, they may:
- Cry more than usual
- Avoid movement or play
- Complain of stomach aches or limb pain
- Become more irritable or withdrawn
- Become apathetic or less active
- Refuse to go to school
Ignoring this pain or brushing it off as a “phase” can actually lead to longer-lasting problems, including persistent pain in adulthood and ongoing physical, emotional, and social challenges.
The good news? With the right support, children can and do get better.
Why Early Treatment Makes a Big Difference
When chronic pain is identified and treated early—especially in younger children—there’s a much higher chance of recovery and a return to normal childhood activities like playing, learning, and connecting with friends.
On the other hand, untreated pain can lead to:
- Missed school days and falling behind academically
- Poor self-esteem
- Sleep problems
- Anxiety, depression, or irritability
- Reduced movement and muscle strength
- Family distress and burnout
That’s why we encourage parents to reach out as soon as they notice a pattern of ongoing pain—even if doctors haven’t found a clear medical “cause.”
A Whole-Child Approach: How We Treat Chronic Pain
At the Pain Collective’s Paediatric Pain Service, we treat pain as multidimensional—which means we look at the physical, emotional, and social aspects of your child’s experience. Our approach to chronic pain is evidence-based, and deeply collaborative, built on the belief that pain is never “just physical.” It involves the body, brain, and emotions of the child, in their environment, and in interaction with the people who love and care for them.
👩⚕️ Your Team: Collaborative From the Start
All children referred to The Pain Collective’s Paediatric Pain Service begin with a joint consultation with Dr. Rudolph Hiemstra (Paediatrician) and one of our Specialist Occupational Therapists, Lise Reyneke. This model allows us to take a comprehensive look at your child’s:
- Medical history
- Physical and emotional wellbeing
- Sensory profile
- Functional difficulties (like movement, sleep, school, play)
We work to understand what’s driving your child’s pain, and develop an individualised treatment plan. We also teach you and your child the tools to support their nervous system, rebuild trust in their body, and return to the things they love.
Treatment might include:
Medication (When Needed)
- Medications like paracetamol, ibuprofen, or specific nerve-targeting medicines are sometimes helpful—but we use them sparingly and carefully.
Opioids are rarely if ever used in children’s chronic pain, and only when there is no other option, and only ever under specialist supervision for short periods of time.
Therapy & Movement
Our team uses developmentally appropriate, child-led movement strategies that feel more like play than therapy. We help children gradually return to activity in a way that is fun, confidence-building, and meaningful.
- Gentle, guided movement builds strength and confidence.
- We use graded activity to help kids return to play and school safely.
- For conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy has shown excellent long-term results.
Psychological Support for children and parents.
- For children under 10, psychological support like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is adapted to their developmental stage
- We use stories, play, drawing, and games to help them understand and express how pain affects their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
- CBT helps children learn simple, practical ways to manage worries about pain, challenge unhelpful thoughts (“Will this hurt forever?”), and build confidence in doing things again.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages children to notice difficult feelings without fear, stay connected to what matters to them (like playing or being with friends), and practice gentle strategies like mindfulness, breathing, or movement to support their bodies and minds.
-
Parents are usually closely involved, learning how to support these skills at home in everyday routines.
Sleep Support
- Sleep support focuses on creating safe, predictable, and calming bedtime routines that help the brain and body wind down.
- Interventions often include age-appropriate sleep hygiene strategies—like reducing screen time before bed, keeping consistent sleep and wake times, and creating a quiet, cozy sleep environment.
- Gentle behavioural techniques to reduce anxiety around bedtime, as well as calming tools such as guided imagery, breathing exercises, or sensory-based relaxation might also be helpful.
- Parents are guided to support their child’s sleep through small, consistent changes that build trust and rhythm—often leading to big improvements in both sleep quality and pain.
Parental Support
At The Pain Collective, we recognise that parental wellbeing is a vital part of a child’s recovery. That’s why we offer support not just for children, but for the whole family.
This might include education to better understand your child’s pain, strategies to respond calmly to pain behaviours, tools to reduce burnout, and space to share your own experience.
A Message to Parents: Trust Your Instincts
If your child has had pain for weeks or months, especially if it's affecting their mood, sleep, appetite, movement, or school life—trust your instincts. You know when something isn’t right.
You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis or proof. Pain is the proof. And your child deserves to be heard, understood, and supported.
We’re here to help.
The Pain Collective’s Paediatric Pain Service: Here for You
Our team brings together experts in child development, pain science, psychology, and family care—all working together to get your child back to living, learning, and laughing.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Reach out today to book a consultation.