25% of Children Suffer from "Invisible Pain" — The Latest Approaches to Help Families Battling Chronic Pain

1. The Impact of Invisible Pain: The Reality of 25%

A figure that shatters the assumption that "children are naturally healthy" was published in The Independent on June 14. Professor Natoshia Cunningham, a pediatric pain psychologist at Michigan State University, reported that "one in four children experiences chronic pain," raising the issue by sharing her own experience with migrainesthe-independent.com.

In Japan, cases of children visiting pediatric clinics for "unexplained pain" are increasing, but parents tend to dismiss it as "growing pains" or "stress-related." Pain is difficult to visualize and is often misunderstood as "skipping school" or "faking illness" at school. On social media, hashtags like <#MyChildIsFightingPain> and <#InvisibleDisability> have resonated, with approximately 18,000 posts in a week, according to a private analysis (June 1-7, 2025, SocialDog survey).

2. What is Fibromyalgia?

A representative example of chronic pain is fibromyalgia (FM). It involves widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and brain hypersensitivity. Although the cause is unknown, the theory that the autonomic nervous system and central sensitization hold the key is prominent. In 2017, the European League Against Rheumatism recommended exercise therapy as a top priority for treatmenten.wikipedia.org. However, patients often feel that "exercise increases pain," and without a companion, dropout rates are high.

3. What Pain Takes Away: School, Friends, Future

In U.S. surveys, children with chronic pain have a 20% increase in annual absenteeism, lower high school graduation rates, and higher rates of coexisting depression and anxietythe-independent.com. Japanese research also reported that about 30% of children with abdominal pain carry symptoms into adulthood.

There is also significant anxiety about being perceived as a "risk of not being able to manage oneself" in situations like advancing in education or employment. On the bulletin board "5ch," a high school student's post saying "when I say it hurts, I'm called 'spoiled'" received over 500 responses in one day (May 23, 2025).

4. Voices of Those Affected Reflected on Social Media

On X (formerly Twitter), <#VisualizeChildren'sChronicPain> rose to the third trending topic (June 12, 10 PM). Extracting main posts――

• Mother A (Hokkaido)"My fourth-grade daughter is bedridden with migraines. She cried when told she 'lacks motivation.'"

• School Counselor B (Okayama Prefecture)"Health room attendance is increasing. Many cases involve a combination of pain and mental health issues."

• Physical Therapist C (Tokyo)"Currently guiding 10-minute CBT and simple stretches online. Continuation rate is 80%."

Simultaneously, a note article introducing <#MetaverseClassroomForLearningDespiteChronicPain> was rapidly read, gaining 10,000 likesnote.com.

5. The Reality of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

It is difficult to eliminate pain with medication alone—that is the conclusion of international guidelines. Instead, CBT is gaining attention. It involves learning about the mechanisms of pain, correcting thought patterns, and planning activities and rest systematically.In the United States, the completion rate is only 33% with online tools alone, and Professor Cunningham emphasizes that a "hybrid model with human support" is key.the-independent.com.

In Japan, a "10-minute CBT" workshop will be held at the Japan Society for the Study of Chronic Pain in February 2025, and there is a movement to explore its introduction in schoolsjsscp-sendai.jp.

5-1. Flow of 10-minute CBT (Example)

1. Lower body tension with breathing techniques/mindfulness

2. Educational session to learn "Pain is not a danger signal"

3. Homework: Resume a favorite activity for "5 minutes + α" and keep a diary

4. Next time, verbalize success experiences to enhance self-efficacy

6. Community Support—Hopes Entrusted to School Nurses

In Michigan, USA,CBT training was conducted for over 100 school nurses, expanding access to children in rural areasthe-independent.com. Is a similar system possible in Japan? It is said that illustration materials and video teaching materials for nurses provided by Kango-roo! are beginning to be applied to pain education in school health roomskango-roo.com.

7. Trauma and Pain—A Perspective on Mental Wounds

In a discussion in the Clinical Psychology Magazine iNEXT, it was pointed out that "trauma and chronic pain are inseparable," and cases were presented where psychological trauma lurked behind somatic symptoms such as toothache and abdominal painnote.com. Physicians and psychologists are required to be sensitive to whether bullying, abuse, or disaster experiences are behind the pain.

8. Case Study—The Case of Second-Year Junior High School Student, Hina

(Note: Some modifications for privacy protection)

• Symptoms: Dull pain in both knees and lower back/attends school twice a week

• Background: Ski accident two years ago.Persistent pain remains after rehabilitation, increasing anxiety

• Intervention : 10-minute CBT + physical therapy + online learning support

• Change : Absentee rate decreased from 50% to 15% in 3 months, short-term return to club activities

Hinata says, "It hurts, but understanding in my head that 'it's okay to move' was significant."

9. Six Actions Parents and Educators Can Take

1. Write a symptom diary to visualize pain and activity levels

2. Early consultation with the school nurse or counselor

3. Choose a pediatric chronic pain clinic or pain clinic at medical institutions

4. Appropriate exercise : Stretching & light aerobic exercise under the guidance of a doctor or PT

5. Utilize ICT : Learning environments like metaverse classrooms that can adjust the load

6. Correct family cognition : Do not dismiss pain as "lies" or "laziness"

10. Recommendations for the Future

Chronic pain is a "silent disease." As more children speak up and more adults support them, "invisible pain" will become visible in society, and support measures will advance. In the hybrid era where ICT and community care connect , it is urgent to establish a system in Japan where schools and healthcare work together.