Pain Medicine Clinic
Chronic Pain Care
The Pain Medicine team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provides care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults (up to 21 years of age) who are experiencing acute or chronic pain. In the clinic, our team completes a full evaluation to develop an individualized treatment plan that meets each patient’s needs. We treat pain conditions related to chronic medical conditions such as cancer, intractable headaches, rheumatological disorders, sickle cell disease and post-surgical pain.
Commonly Treated Conditions
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Centrally mediated pain syndrome
- Complex regional pain syndrome (formally known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome)
- Fibromyalgia
- Generalized body pain
- Headaches
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Neuropathic pain
Services Provided
Each patient is evaluated by a pain physician and a psychologist who provide a comprehensive evaluation. An individualized treatment plan will often focus on:
- Development of coping skills
- Emotional and social supports
- Symptom reduction and management
- Improvement in daily functioning including sleep, school, relationships with family, peers and other providers
The first evaluation is typically 90 minutes long, with each additional follow-up visit lasting 30-45 minutes.
Recommended treatments could include:
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Botulinum toxin injection
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dog therapy
- Implantable drug pumps and neurostimulators
- Inpatient pain rehabilitation program
- Interventional pain procedures such as epidural steroid injections, peripheral nerve blocks, and trigger point injections
- Mediation and breathing exercises
- Medication management
- Stress management
A list of resources in your community is usually provided for specific treatments and therapies.
Why Choose Us?
Our experts treat pain using the biopsychosocial model. We focus on addressing all aspects of a child’s functioning and life including physical, social and emotional well-being. By creating an individualized treatment plan, we tailor our approach to meet each child’s unique needs.
Our team includes:
- Acupuncturists
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Psychologists
What Is Chronic Pain?
Pain is complex. It is an individual experience that touches all aspects of a child’s life. When pain lasts a long time—weeks, months or even years—it has the potential to negatively impact a child’s relationships, school, mood, sleep, family life and daily functioning. For these reasons, it is important to address pain as early as possible.
