Our program emphasizes the necessity of movement and participation in age appropriate, typical activities, to promote overall well-being and pain management. Common activity goals include returning to school, spending appropriate time with friends, improving family life and returning to recreation activities.

Although medical professionals always strive to eliminate causes of pain, in some cases even the best treatments do not guarantee your child will be pain-free.  In these situations, our focus is on helping your child learn to cope with and manage his or her pain. Currently, we are the first and only integrative and comprehensive program treating pediatric chronic pain in the state of Michigan.

Family-focused care

We are committed to family-centered care. Family members are not only involved in all decision making, but are encouraged to be an active part of each child’s treatment.  Learning to live with pain sometimes involves re-setting every day routines and behaviors that involve siblings, parents and extended family.  We will work with your family to help establish productive routines that work for you as a whole.

Our team can work with your child to learn healthy ways to express feelings and communicate through pain.  We also support parents in learning effective parenting strategies for children who experience complex pain.

Your child will have access to a full spectrum of specialists with expertise working with children with chronic and complex pain.  Our team includes a child psychologist, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and anesthesiologists.

The clinic treats a wide variety of symptoms and chronic painful conditions including:

• Amplified musculoskeletal pain (AMPS)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Musculoskeletal pain, including back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Pain secondary to acute or chronic illness (arthritis, cancer, etc.)
• Hypermobility syndromes
• Chronic or recurrent abdominal pain
• Myofascial pain
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Select somatic symptom disorders
  • Chronic/recurrent headache

Your first appointment is a very important step towards helping you return to normal, health activities of daily living.  The following information will help you prepare for your appointment and give you an idea of what to expect at your visit.

To learn more or make an appointment with the Pediatric Comprehensive Pain Management Center, call 734-936-4220.

Because every child is different, the U-M Health Pediatric Comprehensive Pain Management Center team individualizes treatment plans for each child we see, incorporating conventional medicine with a variety of complementary approaches. 

The most common treatment recommendations that we make include:

• Integrated physical therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral techniques including relaxation, guided imagery and coping skills training (group and individual)
• Medication management
• Therapeutic Recreation
• Art therapy
• School specialist for IEP/504 Plans and school re-entry

Other available, but less commonly used treatments may include:

• Interventional techniques such as nerve blocks or injections
• Occupational therapy
• Acupuncture and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Biofeedback
• Mental health medication management
• Family counseling and parenting therapy (group and individual)
• Hypnosis and other mindfulness strategies

Therapy generally includes both individual and group sessions, but a specific course of action with clear recommendations will be made after the initial evaluation is completed.

We also work closely with our colleagues in pediatric anesthesia as needed for integrated care related to delivery of analgesia or nerve blocks. For the most part, however, our patients are those for whom medical management has not been effective or is not a long term solution. Our focus is less centered on medical management and more directed towards helping children learn to thrive and prosper through their pain. If needed, we consult with our U-M Health colleagues in nutrition, occupational therapy, mental health services and other medical specialties.