"Pain is one piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle" - experiences of raising a child with cerebral palsy who has pain

Conclusion: Parents of children with CP experience pain as one aspect of a bigger picture. They need help and support to cope with their child's pain, and professional helpers need to address the complexity pain is a part of.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONParents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience their child's pain as one piece in a jigsaw puzzle, and counseling needs to address the complexity rather than the separate parts of the picture.Health professionals should support parents in evaluation and management of their child's pain, as a feeling of competence in pain management is important to reduce parental stress.Health professionals should inform themselves about the life situation of parents whose child with CP has pain, and encourage them to seek practical support and apply for relevant support schemes that can make their everyday life easier.Parents of children with CP should be encouraged to take part in a diagnosis-specific support group, where they can meet with others in a similar situation, in order to reduce their feeling of being alone with their challenges.PMID:38069685 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2023.2290199

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - December 9, 2023 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Elisabeth R ønning Rinde Agneta Anderz én-Carlsson Reidun Birgitta Jahnsen Randi Dovland Andersen Source Type: research