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Abstract
Background Moderate to severe pain affects up to two-thirds of children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and is associated with worse fatigue and physical functioning. This research aims to gain a greater insight into pain experienced by these children.
Methods Thematic analysis of qualitative data from semistructured interviews with 13 children with CFS/ME (mean age=15.3 years, 67% female) was completed.
Results Thematic analysis enabled construction of three themes: children’s wide-ranging experiences of pain, negative impact of pain and lack of effective treatment for pain and nine subthemes. The first theme demonstrated highly varied pain experiences, ranging from ‘like [being]… on fire’, like ‘being stabbed’ to ‘like…lead’. Children experienced pain in multiple sites and with wide-ranging frequency and severity. The second theme highlighted the profound negative impact of pain on multiple aspects of children’s lives. Physical activity was severely impaired; some children ‘couldn’t leave bed’ or ‘couldn’t…brush [their] own hair’. Abdominal pain meant some would ‘go…days without eating’. Pain substantially impacted on mental health, leaving children feeling ‘agitated’, experiencing ‘really bad panic attacks’ or making them ‘[want to] breakdown’. Children felt they ‘can’t do the things that everyone else can do’, had ‘missed out’ and are ‘behind everyone’. Some avoided socialising as they ‘don’t want to stop everyone else’. The final theme demonstrates the absence of adequate treatment for pain, with participants reporting ‘nothing has ever really got rid of it’ and only ‘slightly [takes] the edge off’ and other experiencing side effects.
Conclusions Pain in paediatric CFS/ME is highly variable, common and often results in severe physical limitation and poor mental health. Effective treatments for pain represent an unmet need.
- adolescent health
- occupational therapy
- qualitative research
Data availability statement
All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. All relevant data have been presented in the manuscript.
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
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What is known about the subject?
Moderate to severe pain affects nearly 60% of children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). No specific treatments exist for pain in paediatric CFS/ME .
What this study adds?
Pain is variable, common and results in physical limitation and poor mental health for children with CFS/ME. Effective treatments for pain represent an unmet need.
Background
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a common disorder affecting between approximately 0.1% and 0.89% of children and adolescents1 2 which can be disabling.2–4 It primarily involves severe fatigue but moderate to severe pain is common affecting over 60% of children with CFS/ME,5 compared with between 3.6% and 16.6% of healthy children.6 The pain experienced by children with CFS/ME may have similar underlying aetiopathological mechanisms to paediatric chronic pain syndrome.7 8 Chronic pain in paediatric CFS/ME is associated with worse fatigue and poor physical functioning.5 9
Pain in paediatric CFS/ME is poorly understood and there are no treatments specifically targeting pain in this population. Only five treatment studies included pain as an outcome measure.10 In these studies, treatments included (CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy), a ‘self-confrontation method’, the Lightning Process and low-dose clonidine). No intervention resulted in a significant reduction in pain although two studies suggested that pain may improve in those who are ‘recovered’ compared with ‘non-recovered’. Current NICE (National Institue for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines, for patients with CFS/ME from 5 years old to adulthood, suggest low-dose amitriptyline, ‘relaxation techniques’ and consideration of referral to chronic pain services, if appropriate.11 No specific guidelines exist for children. Although amitriptyline is used for pain in paediatric CFS/ME, there is no trial evidence to support its efficacy. In paediatric chronic pain more generally, multimodal interdisciplinary interventions have yielded positive results thus far,12 although within small studies.
Understanding children’s experiences of pain is important to develop targeted interventions as in other conditions.13–15 This paper aims to describe the experience of pain, its impact and treatments, in children with CFS/ME using a person-centred perspective.
Methods
Study design
Qualitative interviews were conducted as part of two studies (a feasibility study and a full study) investigating pain using quantitative sensory testing (QST). Data collection was conducted between January 2019 and January 2020. All children who attended for QST were invited to participate in a single qualitative interview. Recruitment was terminated prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it is difficult to assess whether data saturation was reached.
Participants
Children were recruited through purposive sampling from a specialist paediatric CFS/ME service and were eligible if they were: aged between 11 and 17 years; diagnosed with CFS/ME11 and able to attend a single study visit. Exclusion criteria included: children unable to attend an outpatient appointment, children with neurological comorbidity and children who were unable to undertake QST. Children did not have to have pain to participate.
Health professionals informed children and their families about the study, provided patient information and obtained consent/assent to contact. The researcher obtained consent. Participants received a £15 gift voucher following completion of the study.
Qualitative data collection
A semistructured topic guide (online supplemental appendix 1) was developed to guide qualitative interviews, based on previous work exploring children’s experiences of CFS/ME.3 The topic guides explored children’s experiences of CFS/ME, their experiences of pain and the impact of pain on their lives. Children were also asked about their experiences of QST. Qualitative interviews were conducted via phone, Skype or in person, according to participant preference. CA conducted four interviews; TS undertook nine interviews, with training from RMP. Interviewers had no interactions with participants outside of the study. Interviews were conducted on a one-to-one basis, although parents were present in some cases. Interviews were recorded with consent, on an encrypted digital audio recorder, transcribed verbatim and anonymised. No field notes were made. Transcripts were not returned to participants.
Supplemental material
Qualitative data analysis
Thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO 12 Pro.16 Transcripts were read several times to facilitate familiarity and were checked for accuracy. Transcripts for subgroups (males vs females, children≤15 years vs those >15 years) were coded separately. The codes were compared between the subgroups searching for similarities and differences in the data and the coding framework was expanded as coding progressed to reflect the different experiences. This helped identify themes which do not appear in all parts of the data.17 Some of the qualitative data were quantified (eg, the number of participants taking analgesics) to aid data interpretation.
We were particularly interested in descriptions of pain (location and frequency), its impact and the different experiences of treatment between children. Therefore, data analysis initially used deductive codes derived from topic guides and structured on these broad ‘sensitising concepts’.18 Transcripts were read and re-read to develop inductive codes and expand on the deductive codes using participants’ own language. Codes were reviewed and combined or separated, as further interviews were conducted to provide more detail on the dimensions of the themes, expanding the coding framework. Six transcripts were double coded (RMP) and compared with improve the trustworthiness of the analysis and aid the interpretation of the data. Participant feedback has not yet been sought.
Patient and public involvement
All study documentation was adapted from previous studies in paediatric CFS/ME that had significant input from the young person’s advisory group (PAG). They have been designed based on the guidance published by the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Medicines for Children Research Network Young Person’s Advisory Group. The study’s research aims and design were discussed with the young person’s CFS/ME PAG prior to seeking ethical approval and commencing the study. This group was made up of young people with a diagnosis of CFS/ME and included a male and female patient at different stages of recovery. The research team will continue to consult with them with regard to dissemination of the study.
Results
Overall, 15 children had QST, of which 13 were interviewed (two lost to follow-up). Most (9/13, 69%) were female, with a mean age of 15 years (range=11–17 years). Interviews were conducted via Skype (n=6, 46.2%), phone (n=6, 46.2%) and in person at the University of Bristol (n=1, 7.7%). Four interviews (31%) were conducted with one or both parents present. Interviews lasted between 10 and 25 min.
Overall, 12 of the 13 children interviewed experienced pain as part of their CFS. The results describe three themes: (A) children’s wide-ranging experiences of pain, (B) negative impact of pain and (C) lack of effective treatments for pain (table 1).
Themes and subthemes
Theme A: Children’s wide-ranging experiences of pain
A spectrum of pain: (‘dull’ to ‘being stabbed’)
Children described a range of distinct pain experiences, varying in character, location, frequency, onset, triggers and intensity of their pain (table 2).
Participant quotes relating to theme A: Children’s wide-ranging experiences of pain
Some children had very severe pain (see quotes 1a, 1b, 1d), while others experienced more subtle pain (1c, 1e). Of note, older children were able to use more complex language to describe their pain experiences (1a–1d). Some younger children found it hard to express what type of pain they experienced stating ‘it’s hard to describe’ (P12).
Distribution of pain: from ‘everywhere’ to specific body sites
Children experienced pain at multiple sites. A wide variety of locations were described, most commonly: the back, legs and neck (2a–2g). Others were unable to pinpoint distinct painful areas and experienced pain throughout their bodies (2g, 2h). Two participants experienced heightened sensitivity in their skin and hair (2j, 2k), particularly triggered by touch.
Random to specific triggers for pain
While some children were unable to identify a clear trigger for their pain (3a, 3b), several identified physical activity, ‘walking…and any kind of sport’ (3c) and/or ‘tiredness’ (3d–3f) triggering or worsening pain. Two participants found that pain was linked to temperature, experiencing worse pain in colder climates (3g, 3h). Others found pain was triggered by sensory stimuli. Specifically, two children who experienced headaches frequently found that auditory and visual stimuli worsened pain (3i, 3j).
Theme B: Negative impact of pain
Limited and altered participation in education and leisure
Pain limited children from participating in a range of activities, including sports, dog walks, gardening, spending time with friends and attending school (table 3)
Participant quotes relating to theme B: Negative impact of pain
One child was unable to attend school some days due to pain (4a), while others found pain interfered with other aspects of education (4b–4e) including the ability to concentrate (4b) and write (4c). Another participant found her school uniform exacerbated the pain she experienced in her skin (4e).
Children’s participation in physical activity was severely limited due to pain. Some children could not take part in sport (4g, 4h), while another had to be more careful to avoid exacerbating the pain (4f). Three children could not walk at the same pace as their peers due to pain (4i–4k) which impacted on their social lives. Sensitivity to audio-visual stimuli meant one teenager found going to the cinema too painful and sometimes found sunshine too bright to tolerate (4l).
While most children described some impact of pain on their daily activities, older children expressed more of an impact on social activities—‘my friends used to go down town and spend the day there…I couldn’t barely last a few hours’ (4k) as well as their relationships with friends—‘I don't want to stop everyone else just because I'm in pain’ (4i).
Limiting basic daily activities
Daily activities were limited by pain for several children. Two children found mobilising around their homes challenging due to pain (5a, 5b, 5f). One described pain during any movement (5c). Two young people found that abdominal pain prevented them from eating (5c, 5d). One teenager experienced pain that prevented her from carrying out self-care activities (5e), requiring help from her family. She also found it had a noticeable impact on her sleep (5f).
Negative impact of pain on mental health
The majority of children interviewed described a negative impact of pain on their mental health.
Some children found pain was intricately linked to feelings of anxiety. One young person explained that his pain was related to his levels of stress (6a). Another described anxiety related to increasing her activity levels and whether this would worsen pain (6b). For one participant, pain became so severe that she became bed bound, resulting in profound worsening of her mental health and panic attacks (6c). One teenager found his pain was so severe that it made him feel like breaking down (6d), while another felt ‘miserable’ (6e). Two young people found pain made them frustrated (6f, 6g).
Several participants described the impact of activity limitation on their mental health. Pain meant that they felt left behind compared with their peers (6h–6k) and subsequently felt different or isolated.
Pushing through despite the pain
Some children were able to continue with activities despite pain. One teenager described it as something they have ‘just grown up with’ and so persevered with most of his activities (7a). Others endured pain to take part in activities (7c, 7d). Participants showed resolve and determination despite pain (7c–7f).
Several children did not discuss their pain with their friends, family or professionals. One participant had never discussed his/her pain with anyone prior to the interview for this study (7c).
Theme C: Lack of effective treatment for pain
None of the children described complete resolution of pain with any treatment (table 4).
Participant quotes relating to theme C: Lack of effective treatment for pain
A range of treatments (prescribed to home treatments)
Nine of the children interviewed had used simple analgesics for pain. Five took analgesic medications daily or on most days. Medications named by participants included paracetamol, ibuprofen and amitriptyline. Children trialled a range of home treatments for pain, including massage, baths, vitamin supplementation, herbal teas, electric blankets and heat packs (8a–8i).
Three children experienced gastrointestinal symptoms as part of their chronic fatigue, but only one trialled dietary modification to improve abdominal pain. One wore ‘acupuncture bands’ which he found effective for nausea (8c). He was also taking ‘sulphidine and magnesium tablets’ for pain (8i), in addition to conventional analgesic medication.
Children had not received any other interventions specifically targeting pain other than those mentioned.
Limited to no impact on pain
Response to analgesic medications was variable. Analgesia ranged from helpful (9a), partially effective (9b, 9c) to helpful for some pain but not others (9d). Others felt that analgesia was not helpful at all (9e). As previously described, many children sought to avoid pain triggers in the absence of effective treatments for pain.
Negative side effects
Medication to manage pain resulted in negative side effects. One child described severe mood side effects secondary to amitriptyline (10a). Another explained that her doctor was concerned regarding possible side effects from frequent analgesic use (10b). Two teenagers found that non-pharmacological interventions for CFS/ME, such as physiotherapy (10c) and osteopathy (10d), worsened pain.
Discussion
Experiences of pain in paediatric CFS were highly individual and diverse. Children experienced a wide range of symptom severity and symptom frequency. For some, pain had clear triggers, while others found this to be unpredictable. Pain has a profound impact on children, affecting exercise, education, mental health and social activities. Children found treatments for pain to be largely ineffective, with some suffering side effects.
Strengths and limitations
The sample included children across a comprehensive age range. The majority of participants were female consistent with other studies.2 19 Data analysis was systematic with double coding from independent researchers.
Although we did not set out specifically to recruit children with pain, children with pain may have been more inclined to participate. Clinicians were encouraged to discuss the study with all eligible patients; however, they may have been more likely to discuss it with children with pain or who mentioned pain during their appointment. The interviewers were both doctors, which may have biased lines of questioning and analysis. Further, given this sample was recruited from a specialist CFS/ME service, there may be an over-representation of severe cases which may be disproportionately affected by pain.
Future research would benefit from recruiting a larger sample size. A larger sample size should also aim to recruit more children managed in primary care, male children and children from minority backgrounds, to ensure their experiences are represented. Our small sample size, due to recruitment being stopped prematurely, prevented subgroup analysis. Larger sample sizes would allow researchers to evaluate specific pain experiences, such as in primary versus secondary school aged children. Although we noticed some differences between older and younger children, our sample size was too small to draw definitive conclusions.
While a minority of children were interviewed together with their parents, children’ parents may have been present during the interview, without the interviewer’s knowledge. Parental presence may have modified children’s responses, particularly surrounding sensitive or difficult topics.20 21 Children’s use of language may have also changed, due to the presence of their parent(s) and/or the interviewer. Examining parental perspectives of their child’s pain could provide a more complete understanding. Future studies could ensure parents and children and interviewed separately, where feasible and acceptable.
Pain is a common, highly variable symptom associated with paediatric CFS/ME, which has a substantial impact on children’s well-being. Healthcare professionals caring for children with CFS/ME should explore pain with patients, as children may not discuss this without prompting. Pain, where present, is likely to contribute significantly to fatigue, activity limitation and mental ill health and vice versa. Understanding how these symptoms are inter-related and the impact on children will be valuable in understanding the specific pain experiences of children with CFS/ME compared with those with other chronic pain conditions.
Gaining further temporal data exploring fluctuations in pain, associations between pain and other CFS/ME symptoms and an improved understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of chronic pain in paediatric CFS/ME may result in optimised treatments. Interdisciplinary multimodal approaches with a specific focus on pain may be of benefit in this population.
Data availability statement
All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. All relevant data have been presented in the manuscript.
Ethics statements
Patient consent for publication
Ethics approval
Ethics approval was obtained from NHS (National Health Service) Research Ethics Committee (19/SW/0233), University of Bristol, and the relevant research and development department.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the participants who took part and their families. The authors are grateful to the clinicians and supporting staff at the paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis service who facilitated the identification and recruitment of participants.
References
Supplementary materials
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Footnotes
Contributors EC, CA and TS designed the study. TS and CA collected the data. TS and RMP analysed the data. All authors contributed to the interpretation of results and drafting of the paper and read and approved the final version of the manuscript. EC is responsible for the overall content as the guarantor.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.