United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, Jennifer. I'm sorry to hear about the pain issue. Nicole complains of pain, more often than she used to, on average once every 1-2 days now. The pain is usually in her forearm or elbow area. It doesn't seem to be too bad though. I usually just massage it for a couple minutes and she's okay. I've been trying to teach her how to massage it herself so that she can relieve her pain when I'm not around since she's in school now. Also, if you don't mind, I'd love to see a picture of your daughter with the electrodes on b/c I think it might be a good placement idea for my daughter. I'd like to bring the picture to one of Nicole's therapists and get her opinion if she thinks it would be good for Nicole too. You can e-mail me the picture at bpmom@comcast.net (if you don't mind, of course) or if you're planning on adding it to your online photo album, I just need the link again. Thanks so much! ~Tina O:)

Hi Jennifer, I too was very upset the first time I realized Richard was living with chronic pain and that he only actually complained about it if it was really flared up or injured ontop of the usual pain. He didn't ever say he had p[ain as a younger child because to him was an acute owie - a scrape, a bruise etc. but the chronic pain he was not able to identify as pain or verbalize to me till he was about 11 years old!!!!

Our children are so tough!

I sometimes wonder if that's the case with Nicole too, that when she complains it's b/c it's a different kind of pain and that there might always be some existing pain all the time. It makes me sad to think about it. Pain is one of the reasons we've made the surgical decisions that we have -- to hopefully eleviate as much as possible of pain that might come as Nicole gets older. Thanks for sharing your experience about Richard's pain. ~Tina

My son is 6 1/2 and never complains of pain, but then again....I think he is just used to it !!! That is too sad to say that they are used to the pain so young.

The truth is that we don't know what the difference is until something happens. I did not realize how much pain I had until a I took a drug a few years ago and something was missing... then I realized it was pain... scary...

Tina teach Nicole to tap her arm. I have always tapped up and down my arm. I use two fingers on unaffected hand and tap from shoulder to wrist. I go up and down my arm until it stops hurting. I don't remember being taught I just always did it.
It helps me most of the time.
Kath

I almost never complain of pain, but I do have pain, I just know that my complaining is not going to help my pain. At 18 years old if I cant do something about it by myself then there is not much use for me to complain about it. My pain is in my upper back/shoulder on my right (injured) side. Right now a heat pack seems to cure my pain for a while.
Amy

Pain perception in children is a confusing subject. I have posted some information on the Public Forum at www.tascnetworkforum.net . There is also a poll available so that you can help us understand the scope of the problem better. When you visit, please give your feedback about your experience with this problem.