About the Pain Service offered at Adelaide Paediatrics

Persisting pain, also known as chronic pain, is pain that lasts for more than 3 months or beyond expected healing times. It may not always be due to past injuries or incidents and can arise when there is no history of any bodily harm.

Unmanaged persisting pain can impact many aspects of a child/young person’s life. They may experience changes to their physical and mental health, often influencing their energy levels, sleep, appetite, and emotions. It can also impact their social life and school performance, being a large cause of school absenteeism.

Pain can affect young people at any age but can often be missed or overlooked. This is especially the case if the young person lives with other conditions that may impact the way they move, speak, or perceive the world around them.

The management of persisting pain should be personalised and family centred. Strategies are best when they are co-created with the family, and work with the young person from a holistic perspective. This may mean considering the young person’s physical and psychological health, as well as the environments and social interactions they may experience.

Independent health professionals consulting at the Adelaide Paediatrics Pain Service strongly believe that every young person should have the opportunity to tell us about their pain and receive support to find the best management strategies tailored to their unique lives.

When would my child benefit from seeking support?

Every young person is different in how they perceive and wish to manage their own pain. When a family or young person feels like they are unable to effectively manage their pain or wish to seek some guidance, it can help to seek professional support.

Young people who live with various chronic conditions or disabilities may also benefit from seeking individualised support. New research is showing that young people who may not have strong communication abilities can often suffer from pain, however they are unable to tell anyone about it.

Apart from the young person communicating that they need help, some behaviours may also highlight the need for additional support, such as:

• Being fearful or reluctant to move certain parts of their body,

• Beginning to isolate themselves from social connections/activities,

• Stating that nothing helps to soothe their pain,

• Showing heightened states of fear, anger, or frustration about experiencing pain/discomfort,

• Previously unremarkable experiences now elicit pain, e.g. soft touch

If you are ever concerned about your child’s pain, it is important to consult a healthcare provider.

What does the Adelaide Paediatrics Pain Service offer?

This service was developed to help young people with various conditions/diagnoses to manage pain. Our team of independent consulting health professionals has extensive experience working alongside young people with a broad range of communication, mobility, and sensory integration abilities.

The various strategies and information provided by the service is offered in collaboration with world leaders in pain sciences, giving families direct access to the latest research. The service also works collaboratively with families to co-create strategies and considerations that may benefit others and future research!

Services and strategies will be tailored to suit the needs of your child, likely consisting of:

• Initial pain assessments to investigate the holistic presentation of their pain

• Report writing and correspondence with other therapists, teachers, and/or support workers that your child may already be working with

• Individualised pain management strategies to suit your family and their needs

• Connecting you with various disciplines to provide appropriate multidisciplinary care

Services are accessible face-to-face at our Mile End or Elizabeth Vale location or via telehealth to best connect with your family.

How can I access the Pain Service?

Our Pain Service accepts referrals from other health professionals and members of your child’s care team, such as teachers, social workers, and case managers.

Families are also able to contact Adelaide Paediatrics and request access without the need for a formal referral.

To best manage wait times, families are asked to complete an information form (see link below) where you can provide details on your child’s pain experience and supports. This also allows us to effectively prepare for your sessions and allow networks/connections to be made quickly, if required.

1. If you are a health professional, teacher, or member of their support team (e.g. case workers, social workers etc), CLICK HERE to access the referral form.

2. If you are the parent or guardian of the child and wish to access the service, CLICK HERE for the mandatory information form.
   
   Please note that a member of the family’s health professional/support team can assist in the completion the parent/guardian form if helpful.

Who do I contact for more information?

Please email us at reception@adelaidepaediatrics.com.au to obtain information regarding costs and potential funding options to access the service. Services may be accessed with:

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds (dependant on your child’s individual plan)

• Enhanced Primary Care Plan/ Chronic Disease Management Plan

• Privately/Medicare

Where do I submit my referral and mandatory information forms?

Please submit your completed forms to: reception@adelaidepaediatrics.com.au