Acute pain serves an important protective purpose, alerting us to injury, illness, or potential danger and helping us respond appropriately. Chronic pain is different: over time, the nervous system can become increasingly sensitive, and pain may continue or intensify even when it is no longer providing the same useful information about immediate injury or threat. Persistent or chronic pain does not necessarily mean that there is ongoing structural damage to the body; instead, it can reflect a nervous system that is having difficulty accurately interpreting and communicating signals of safety and danger.

The resources below offer education, practical strategies, and support for children, teens, young adults, and families navigating chronic pain. They include information about pediatric chronic pain, pain neuroscience, nervous system regulation, improving daily functioning, and returning to meaningful activities.