Info
RxPediatric Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation that may occur because of an injury, surgery or an illness. Pain is one way our body alerts us to pay attention and seek help. Acute pain short term while chronic pain is long term. Below is a list of resources that can be helpful in understanding the experience of pain and how to support those around you.
Web Content
General Pain Information
-
Commitment to Comfort
AHS is committed to making your healthcare experience as comfortable as possible. Commitment to comfort promotes comfort by helping to lessen pain and distress that may be experienced during immunization, medical procedures and laboratory blood collection.
-
MyHealth.Alberta Pain Management
An overview about types of pain and their management can be found on the MyHealth.Alberta website.
-
Pain Learning Hub - AboutKidsHealth
The Pain Team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto created this extensive guide about many aspects of pain. Some specific articles that may be useful include:
- Pain After an Operation: Taking Care of Your Child's Pain at Home
- Pain At Home: Taking Care of Your Child
- Pain Relief: Comfort Kit
- Pain: How to Talk to Kids About Their Pain
aboutkidshealth.ca/en/resourcecentres/pain/pages/default.aspx
Acute Pain
-
It Doesn't Have to Hurt
The Centre for Pediatric Pain Research created
It Doesn't Have to Hurt
to get research evidence about children's pain directly into the hands of parents who can use it. -
My child is in pain
Developed for parents whose children are aged 2-6 years old, this website has practical information that parents can use to help their child with post-surgery pain.
-
KidsHealth
In the article Why Do I Have Pain children (and parents) can learn about how pain happens. There are also some brief articles about various illness and injuries where kids (and parents) can learn about specific causes of pain.
-
Comforting Your Baby in Intensive Care by Professor Linda Franck
Franck created this online booklet for parents to learn about their baby's pain and how to work with their healthcare team to comfort their child.
-
Pain Management During Immunizations for Children
This page provides advice for reducing pain resulting from a vaccination.
Chronic Pain
-
AboutKidsHealth – Chronic pain
The Pain Team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto created this guide to chronic pain in children and teens.
-
LivePlanBe
Pain BC created this page for those with chronic pain and includes a page for patient education.
Video
-
Understanding pain - and what's to be done about it in 10 minutes! By Deutsches Kinderschmerzzentrum
Learn about pain and pain management in this cartoon style video.
-
Managing Infant Pain - Helpful tips by Aboutkidshealth
This video reviews some strategies for parents to help infants and children cope with needle pain.
-
The Power of a Parent's Touch by IWKHEALTHCENTRE
Watch this short video to learn how researchers have found parents can use breastfeeding and skin-to-skin to help comfort their newborns during painful procedures.
-
Be Sweet to Babies: Reduce your infant's pain during newborn blood tests by CHEOvideos
Learn how to comfort and help reduce your baby's pain during blood work (or other needle procedures!)
-
It Doesn't Have To Hurt by IWK Health Centre
Kids upset about the pain and distress of getting a needle? It doesn't have to be this way. Watch the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research's 2-minute video to learn some tips about how it can be easier for everyone. And the best news? These tips are all backed by scientific research!
-
Comfort positions to support your child during shots and medical procedures by Michigan Medicine
Comfort positions are an important way for parents to support their children during immunizations or other procedures.
-
Learning How to Manage Pain During Medical Procedures by Stanford Children's Health | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
This video guide for families teaches how pain works and how to have more control over your pain, your body and your experience during medical procedures.
-
Comfort Positioning at Children's Mercy by Children's Mercy Kansas City
Way to help keep your child calm during certain medical procedures are demonstrated in the video by Children's Mercy.
Book List
These resources are available to borrow in the Family Library. You can also check with your local library to see if they are available.
You can download, print, and share this PDF, or our Destiny Collection List.
-
This guide, written by an expert in pediatric pain management helps parents help their child deal with an array of pain-related challenges.
-
Written to help parents understand their child's pain this book also aids parents in helping their child cope with pain.
-
Managing Your Child's Chronic Pain
Written for parents, this book which combines research and personal stories provides guidance to help children manage their pain and live a normal life.
-
Conquering Your Child's Chronic Pain : A Pediatrician's Guide for Reclaiming a Normal Childhood
Addressing many aspects and kinds of pain, this book aids families in learning how to help their child cope with pain.
-
This book helps parents understand various types of pain that their child experiences as well as how to comfort their child.
-
GrrrOUCH! : Pain is Like a Grouchy Bear
Written in rhyme, this children's book helps children visualize and communicate pain.
-
Imagine a Rainbow: A Child's Guide for Soothing Pain
A picture book written for young children to help cope with pain.
-
The Chronic Pain and Illness Workbook for Teens
This workbook for teens offers evidence-based strategies to help you turn the volume down on chronic pain and illness and get back to living your life.
Contributors
Thank you to our friends from Calgary Public Library Pediatric and Adolescent Complex Pain and members of the Emergency Department at the Alberta Children's Hospital for their contributions.
Current as of: March 20, 2024