Young people living with pain

Persistent, or chronic pain, is a very real and personal experience. In Queensland, up to 50 000 young people aged up to 24 years old are living with moderate to severe pain.

Some common types of long-term pain young people experience include:

• abdominal pain
• headaches or migraines
• musculoskeletal pain (pain in bones, joints and muscles)
• nerve pain
• period pain and endometriosis
• complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or limb pain
• pain related to another health condition

Pain is complex. But with the support of family, friends, and a healthcare team, you can get to know your pain better, actively manage it and get back to doing things you enjoy.

Taking charge of your pain

Taking charge of your pain means doing things now to help you get back into life rather than waiting for the pain to go away. Your team of health professionals, family, friends and carers will help you along the way, but there are steps you can actively take to keep you on track with your pain management:

• Keeping active and move as best you can—motion is lotion. Our bodies are meant to move, if we stop, the pain will get worse. Movement is good for your physical and mental health. If you’re unsure about certain movements or exercise because of your pain, talk to your doctor or health professional.
• Keep a healthy routine—keeping consistent routine with healthy eating, drinking, and sleeping all helps regulate the pain nervous system.
• Stay socially connected—family, friends and other social supports can provide useful distractions, particularly if you’re finding it hard to take your mind off the pain.

Learn more about supported self-management strategies, and other tips for young people managing chronic pain (PDF).

Seeing a health professional

Health professionals will play an important and ongoing role in helping you understand and manage your pain.

Visiting a GP is a good place to start. They can assess your pain and come up with a plan to manage it. Describing your pain can be difficult and it can be daunting seeing a health professional about it. There are steps you can take to prepare for your appointment and to make the most of your time with your health professional.

It's common to see different health professionals as you manage your pain. Some of these health professionals may end up forming part of your healthcare team (PDF).

Your personal support team

Pain has a tendency to shrink someone’s world. Surrounding yourself with supportive and encouraging people is important and will help keep you stay connected. It’s a good idea to have people you see regularly who aren’t your health professionals in your support team. They can be parents, siblings, friends, school or workmates. People in your support team may suggest things you can try to manage your pain, which may not be helpful. If you’re unsure, you can talk it over with doctor or health professionals.

You may also find it helpful to join a support group, you can speak to your doctor about support groups in your area.

Mental health and persistent pain

Seeking help with managing your pain

The service finder can also help you or your parents locate a doctor and other health professionals in your local area.

Depending on your pain condition, your doctor may suggest a specialist pain service. These services require a referral from a doctor, and typically focus on pain management and rehabilitation rather than diagnosis. Your doctor will need to conduct investigations and tests to determine if the service is suitable for you. There are public and private specialist pain services in Queensland.

Transitioning to adult healthcare

If you are a teen aged 14 or older and have been going to children's health services for your persistent pain or other health conditions, it's a good idea to start thinking about what you need to do prepare to move into the adult health system. The move can be daunting, but your treatment team can work with you and your parents/caregivers to plan this transition.

Children’s Health Queensland has developed a helpful guide for teens and young adults on transitioning to adulthood (PDF), and readiness to transfer checklist for your parents and care givers.

You can learn more about connected care on the Children’s Health Queensland website.