Pain management clinics for under 18s

[Frowningprovidence]

Does anyone know of any nhs pain management clinics for under 18s?
My nhs trust offers one for over 18s for pain over 3 months with a list of causes. My son has one if the causes but isn't 18.

He can gaslight himself into believing that the pain is all in his head, because that's all pain management do. I really recommend staying away from them because it's just a money saving exercise to replace pain relief with magical thinking.

Yes DD is with one. She was referred by her consultant rather than through a GP. We are Suffolk based.

She is about half way through 6 sessions with a pain clinic psychiatrist but honestly I’m not sure it’s much cop. So far she has helped DD to make a ‘flare up plan’ and discusses deep breathing and mindfulness. DD is unimpressed as she knows all this.

Also I realise that medication for under 18s is limited, but I did at least expect some conversations about potential alternatives other than ‘take paracetamol and ibuprofen where needed but try not to rely on them’.

I have a similar condition to DD and need good pain medication to get me through my day as well as heat, ice, rest, pacing, tens machine etc. I honestly don’t know how she gets up on the morning without them.

I too wasn't impressed. Mindfulness and breathing didn't help me with the pain of a fractured back in 4 places.

Same experience as others here. My now 16 Yr old son, diagnosed chronic pain.... seen in Bath pain clinic. Basically told to do mindfulness & breathe!!

Oh! Thanks for replies. I was hoping he could access pain medication not mindfulness. Maybe I'm not so cross he can't go after all.

He can't deep breathe as his spine has started to fuse and it impacts his to rib so it doesn't flex. I think he'd punch someone saying breathe deeply!

I did find the pain clinic helpful but it doesn't make the pain go away. Mine was for my specific condition though which was useful as we'd all been led to believe for years nothing was wrong with us and it was in our heads (EDS/JHS).

What he needs though is access to a pain specialist, who is normally a Dr specialising in pain. They do my back injections and offered me much better pain meds than the GP (and more understanding).

You should be able to request referral to a pain specialist.

Thank you. Knowing what to ask for really helps as the system is so disjointed I don't even know where to begin.

Search for Pain Bytes, it's a really good website with lots of advice including a section aimed a children.