The difference between the pain self-perceptions of children with cerebral palsy and those of their caregivers

Introduction/Objective Pain is often an underrecognized entity in children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in pain self-perception between children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers. Methods This retrospective study included 70 children with cerebral palsy and 70 of their caregivers, treated at the Institute of Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Serbia. Pain intensity ratings on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) provided by children and/or their caregivers were analyzed. Results The research involved 70 children with cerebral palsy and the same number of their caregivers. While only 43 (61.4%) of these children were testable, all 70 caregivers participated. Pain was reported by 19 (44.2%) children and 42 (60%) caregivers, while 17 (39.5%) children suffered from musculoskeletal pain, which was noted by 39 (55.7%) caregivers. Average caregiver rating for musculoskeletal pain for children at Level V, I and III on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was 6.20 ± 2.10, 2.67 ± 2.18, and 2.50 ± 2, respectively. Average self- and caregiver-reported VAS rating for headache/stomachache was 2.73 ± 1.86 and 2.35 ± 1.49, respectively (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were noted in the musculoskeletal pain VAS scores provided by the caregivers for children at different GMFCS levels (p < 0.01). Conclusion Although no differences in pain perception between children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers have been established, in children with the most severe level of motor disability, caregivers report a statistically higher level of musculoskeletal pain.