I saw a special on TV advertised about children with chronic pain. I didn't get to watch it, so I'm wondering what kinds of problems do kids have that can cause severe, long-lasting, disabling pain?

Adults are not the only ones to suffer from chronic, disabling pain. Children and teens can also be limited by headache, stomach, and musculoskeletal pain severe enough to keep them from school and participation in sports or recreational activities. Many children experience pain that lasts right on into their adult years.

Two-thirds of children between the ages of 11 and 18 with chronic pain are headache sufferers. These can be tension-type headaches or migraines. Other sources of pain in this age group include rheumatic diseases, cancer, burns, and fibromyalgia.

The pain can be enough to disrupt daily activities such as homework, sleep, physical activity, and even attending school. Many of these children are on daily pain relievers. They experience emotional and psychologic imbalances. Help early on can relieve pain, improve function, and help the child get back to school on a daily basis.

There is much we don't know about chronic pain in children. Studies are ongoing to find ways to help these children and their families.