Pediatric Pain Warriors

09/28/2025

Caring for a child with chronic pain comes at a high cost—emotionally, physically, and financially.

In our national survey:
▪️ 41% of parents said they had to stop working due to caregiving responsibilities
▪️ 43% of families spend more than $5,000 out-of-pocket on their child’s pain care each year
▪️ 51% had to decline at least one treatment because of cost

That’s not just lost income—it’s lost stability, lost opportunity, and often, a loss of identity. No one should have to choose between relief and rent. Between care and groceries. Between pain and survival.

These parents aren’t stepping back—they’re stepping up. And too often, they’re doing it alone.

Let’s unmask the financial toll families face when pain care isn’t accessible.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.

These findings come from our national survey. See how cost shapes care:https://uspainfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/final_What-It-Truly-Means-to-Parent-a-Child-or-Teen-with-Chronic-Pain-2025.pdf

09/25/2025

A. Must. READ.

Parents of children with chronic pain face burnout, job loss, and crushing costs—revealing urgent gaps in support, coverage, & protections.

09/23/2025

Fewer than 1 in 10 young people living with chronic pain say they always feel believed when they speak up.

That means most kids and teens are navigating pain while being doubted, dismissed, or ignored.

When kids live with invisible pain, they shouldn’t have to fight to be believed.

Let’s unmask the silence—and start showing up with trust, not doubt.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.

Kids deserve to be heard. Join our teen peer support group: painconnection.org/teen-pain-support-group

09/21/2025

Chronic pain doesn’t just hurt—it disrupts childhood.

In our survey, nearly 70% of youth living with chronic pain said they missed school because of it.

And 15% missed seven or more days every month.

That’s more than lost attendance—it’s lost connection, learning, and normalcy. Pain doesn’t take a day off. And for too many kids, neither does the impact.

Let’s unmask the academic toll of pain—and start building systems that support, not penalize, those who live with it.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.

See what else our pediatric pain warriors shared in our survey findings (this report formatted for a younger audience!):https://uspainfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Final_The-True-Story-of-Chronic-Pain-in-Kids-and-Teens-2025.pdf

09/15/2025

THIS.

Caring for a child with chronic pain is emotionally exhausting—and endlessly uncertain.

In our national survey:
▪️ 89% of parents and guardians said they feel anxious about their child’s future
▪️ 77% reported heightened stress and frustration
▪️ 68% said they feel constantly overwhelmed

This isn’t just worry. It’s the mental load of caregiving, advocating, and hoping for something better—often without support.

Behind every appointment, every sleepless night, every insurance battle, is a parent trying to hold it all together.

Let’s unmask the emotional weight families carry—and build a future where kids with pain are seen, supported, and empowered.

And where parents get the care they need, too.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.

Connect with other parents and guardians navigating pediatric pain: painconnection.org/parents-group

09/12/2025

Sleep is essential—but too often out of reach for kids with chronic pain.

👉 Learn why sleep must be central to pediatric pain care: https://uspainfoundation.org/news/more-than-tired-sleep-and-pediatric-pain

For kids with chronic pain, poor sleep intensifies symptoms and disrupts daily life. Learn why sleep must be central to care.

09/12/2025

The dual burden of parenting with pain is real—and rarely acknowledged. We see you. We honor you.

Parenting a child with pain is already a full-time emotional and logistical challenge.⁠
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But for 61% of parents, the story doesn’t end there—they live with chronic pain themselves.⁠
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That means managing their own medications, appointments, fatigue, and flare-ups while also advocating, comforting, and caregiving. It’s a dual burden that rarely gets acknowledged.⁠
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When a parent and child are both living with pain, it’s not just hard.⁠
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It’s layered. Compounding. Unrelenting.⁠
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Let’s unmask the complexity of families living with pain on multiple fronts—and the resilience it takes to face it every day.⁠
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Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.⁠
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09/03/2025

Childhood pain is real—and too often invisible. Our recent survey shows more than half of kids live with pain that never stops, and too many still have no treatments that help.

Childhood pain is real.

It’s constant. It’s life-altering. And for many, it’s invisible.

In our national survey:
▪️ 53% of youth said their pain never stops—not during class, not at recess, not even while they’re trying to sleep.
▪️ 10% said they haven’t found any treatment that works.

That means some kids are growing up in pain—without relief, without answers, and often without hope.

This isn’t “growing pains.” It’s not an exaggeration. It’s a crisis of care.

We can’t accept silence, trial-and-error, or dismissal as the standard. Let’s believe kids. Then let’s do better—with care, support, and real solutions.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life.

These insights come from our national survey. See what our pediatric pain warriors shared: uspainfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Final_The-Hidden-Reality-of-Chronic-Pain-in-Youth-2025.pdf

09/01/2025

Behind the chart is a child. Behind the diagnosis, a family searching for answers.

Pain doesn’t wait for adulthood — and neither should compassion or care. This , we ask you to join US Pain Foundation in .

Later this month, we’ll share insights from kids and parents. Your voices show what really looks like — and why change can’t wait.

September is Pain Awareness Month—and this year, we’re Unmasking Pain.

Chronic pain often hides in plain sight—behind forced smiles, missed milestones, and misunderstood moments. But for millions, it’s real, relentless, and life-altering.

This September, the U.S. Pain Foundation invites you to join us in Unmasking Pain—lifting up the voices of people with pain, their loved ones, caregivers, youth, and health care providers.

Because pain is more than a chart. It’s a life. Behind every diagnosis is a person—too often unheard, unseen, or disbelieved.

Our new national survey makes this clear: adults waiting years for answers, kids whose pain is dismissed as “just growing pains,” caregivers stretched to the breaking point, and providers underprepared but eager to do better.

These aren’t just numbers—they’re lived realities of stigma, isolation, and systemic gaps that demand urgent attention.

👉 Join us throughout the month as we reveal the full experience of pain—and push for the compassion, equity, and change people deserve. Learn more:
https://uspainfoundation.org/painawarenessmonth/

06/26/2025

And that's a wrap! The Fourth Annual Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp is officially complete. In our last day and a half, there were activities. There were games. There was a birthday celebration for Casey Cashman, our Director of the Pediatric Pain Warrior Program. There was a giveaway of products donated by our incredibly generous in-kind sponsors. There was a farewell pool luau (the rain cleared just in time!).

There's no way to truly describe camp other than life-changing. Children and families who navigate the relentless and often-lonely challenges of chronic pain found community, understanding, and validation among others walking the same path.

In the words of some of our camp children and families today:

"At camp, when you can't do things, you just can't and it's OK. And when you can, you kill it, you know?"

"This camp makes me feel like I have permission to use my wheelchair, and I could do things that were impossible."

Thank you to the families who are the reason for everything we do. Thank you to the Morgan's Camp staff, U.S. Pain volunteers, and sponsors who make this incredible week possible.

We can't wait to see what next year brings!

06/25/2025

Day 2 of camp! Our camp families had another full day of making friends, making memories, and conquering their fears. Zip lines were zipped, rock walls were climbed, pools were floated, horses were brushed, obstacle courses were tackled, crafts were made, bulls-eyes were hit. Every day brings more firsts, more beautiful moments, and more connections. Stay tuned for Day 3!

06/24/2025

Our first full day of the Fourth Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp is in the books! More than 50 new and returning families joined us in San Antonio for five days of adventures, memory-making, and finding acceptance and support.

Today, campers started the day off with movement and laughter at water aerobics. They learned how to communicate with horses and ran them through drills, and learned how clouds are made at the education outreach center. They visited the nature center to interact with a speedy tortoise named Koopa, a friendly arm-licking ferret named Panda, and an earless, attitude-filled goat named Tootsie.

They opened up about their experiences in support groups and reminded each other that they're not alone. They learned about the importance of parental self-care and heard two young pain warriors' stories in educational sessions. They banded together in groups to compete in a family game night. They're strengthening previous connections, making new ones, and learning more about each other and themselves.

We're so excited to see what else the week brings!