Spasticity causes pain, as does some of the treatment and surgery to correct it. Approaches include anti-inflammatory drugs, ice packs, stretching exercises, braces, opiates, locally applied drugs, and surgery to correct the underlying cause of the pain. Disability equipment suppliers sell a variety of items to relieve pain. There are some specialist NHS chronic pain teams.
Pain Research Institute, University of Liverpool, tel: 0151 529 5820, www.liv.ac.uk/pri. Information about pain control.
Action for Sick Children, tel: 0800 0744519, www.actionforsickchildren.org.uk. Charity. Factsheets on helping children cope with pain, and teenagers in hospital.
Pain Relief Foundation, tel: 0151 529 5820, www.painrelieffoundation.org.uk Information and other website links.
Castle K et al. Being in pain: a phenomenological study of young people with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2007 Jun;49(6):445-9.
Hogan KA et al. Subtrochanteric valgus osteotomy for chronically dislocated, painful spastic hips. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Am.) 2006 Dec;88(12):2624-31.
Senaran H et al. Anterior knee pain in children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2007 Jan-Feb;27(1):12-6.
Sobo EJ. Canine visitation (pet) therapy: pilot data on decreases in child pain perception. Journal of Holistic Nursing 2006 Mar;24(1):51-7.
