The age of the pain patient

[emad]

Hi all ;

just moments a young girl of 14 years visited me for neck muscles pain /spasm without reference , because here mother trusts me .

What is your view regarding the suitable age for physio to address pain??

Could we for example treat a 10 years age ??

Regards
Emad

[cedric]

of course you can...
the pain evaluation is used in france even with young people

[JaneS]

Hi Emad,
That is an interesting one.
In the pain management Grad Dip, there was a unit on paediatric pain. I would need to get it out again. However, from memory, it related more to younger children - often with severe conditions such as cancer or juvenile RA. One of the main problems was communication - you are probably familiar with face charts. Also assessing the dosage of medication with respect to age and possible effects was discussed.
My major thoughts are;
Was there a simple explanation for the spasms?
What impact might the mother be having on her daughter's perception and response to pain?
What other 'yellow flags' (psychosocial indicators) might be present?

These factors may affect your patient's response to treatment as well as physical ones. I'm all for a balance between attention to physical and psychosocial aspects of pain. Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down one way or the other. Perhaps some items from adult pain questionnaires (including self-efficacy) could be modified for informal questions to put to a younger child.

Jane

[bernard]

Welcome Jane on SomaSimple.

I agree totally with your askings.
Often with teenagers there is a parent component that perturbs your examination and responses you may acquire. If you feel that some answers are dictated by parents, try to see the young patient alone (only if this one allows it !!!).

As for adults, I ever ask if they want "to be treated", in contrary, I tell parents that I can do nothing.

With very young (<7 yo), the problem is a bit different and you have to be kind and explains your treatment. It will work better.

[emad]

Hello Jane :
Hi Bernard :

In fact , the issue is not so complex as you think /see ,the psychoscial factor is not so invlvoed in this case , I believe this is just spasm of the neck muscles for habitual reasons , personally , i experienced like that before , in the morning after getting up from sleep , the patient finds his /her neck muscles so spasm , may be for mispostioning of the neck during sleep .

Only one point desreves consideration her , the mother and her daughter fear of the problem which may detriorate the case .

I will see her tommorrow.

Regards
Emad