When you decide to come to the Comprehensive Pain Management Center for treatment, or if your physician sends a referral for our clinic, our office will call you to schedule an appointment. Prior to your first appointment, you will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire. Completing this questionnaire before the appointment helps guide the development of a comprehensive care plan.

Your first visit

You will meet with members of our interdisciplinary team at the first visit:

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician
• Psychologist
• Physical therapist

 Your visit will include a comprehensive evaluation, including:

• Measurement of vitals such as height and weight
• Comprehensive interview covering history of the pain and related symptoms/functioning
• Physical examination with physician
• Physical examination with a physical therapist
• Discussion of possible diagnosis and treatment
• Creation of a plan with the healthcare team for follow-up
• Discussion of other possible testing or evaluation that may be required

Additional considerations for the first visit:

• Please bring water and a snack.
• You will be moving during your physical exam, so please wear comfortable clothing like t-shirt, shorts/athletic pants, tennis shoes.
• Please bring any actively used orthotics or braces.
• During the portion of your appointment in which we discuss your medical history, be prepared to spend a portion of the conversation with parents and a portion of the exam individually meeting with the physician and psychologist.
• Because of the comprehensive nature of the clinic, the initial evaluation will take 1.5-3 hours.
• Try to avoid using pain patches during the evaluation (please call for details).

After the first visit

• You will be contacted with results of any testing that was performed.
• Any referrals that were given will be made within two business days of the appointment.
• Your primary care physician (and other specialists you request) will be sent a full copy of the evaluation report from your visit at the Comprehensive Pain Clinic.

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

Chronic pain can also be accompanied by a number of symptoms such as insomnia, mood disturbance, fatigue and nausea.

It is common for patients struggling with chronic pain to decrease activity levels, attend less school, and decrease sports participation. With these changes can come sadness, worries, stress and difficulty maintaining social relationships. 

Because every child is different, the U-M 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 colleagues in nutrition, occupational therapy, mental health services and other medical specialties.