Cerebral palsy and chronic pain: a descriptive study of children and adolescents

The experiences of chronic pain among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) were examined in this survey-based study. Perspective of both the individual and the parent were solicited in a preliminary sample of 20 youths with CP, ages 6 to 17 years from a metropolitan area. Selected participants completed in-person, structured interviews that focused on quality of life with attention to pain experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. Seventy percent of participants (n = 14) experienced recurrent chronic pain of moderate intensity on a daily or weekly basis. Greater than half of those participants (n = 9) reported that pain presented a problem for them and especially interfered with self-care and with sleep. Pain appears to be a problem for many youths with CP, and may create additional interference with routine activities of daily living and participation. Further exploration regarding pain experiences and the nature of pain interference is warranted in order to address development and maintenance of routine activities and participation by children and adolescents with CP.