After an injury or operation, signals are sent from the injured area or site of the operation to the brain where the signals come together to produce the feeling of pain. This feeling is partly from these signals but is also changed by emotions (such as anxiety or fear), memories (good and bad), and previous pain.
It is important to bear in mind that pain is an individual experience. Each person feels their own pain and nobody else can say how bad it is or what it is like.
Pain after surgery is common and stronger after more serious surgical procedures. The pain normally eases over the first few days after an operation. It is important to explain to a child that the pain will not last for ever and will gradually get less. Pain varies over the course of the day and it is common for the pain to be more intense when moving and being mobile. A child can even be in pain when sleeping, resting or playing. Some children show pain by crying, or wriggling, or grabbing at the painful area while others may go very quiet and withdrawn.
Distracting attention from pain is natural and can even be used as part of pain management. It is important both to help the child describe the feelings and be able to assess children’s pain to allow the best pain treatments. In other words, there is no point in being heroic and not complaining about pain.