Fifteen-year-old Lindsay suffered from persistent pain from the age of 10, but has learned to enjoy life again after deciding to fight his fears and “make pain his friend”.
About one in five Australians live with persistent pain. It affects both adults and children and everyone’s experience is unique. Persistent pain can interfere with a person’s ability to function, for example, going to school, sleeping, physical activity and emotions. The suffering and functional impact of persistent pain can itself prevent recovery.
Like many who suffer from persistent pain, Lindsay saw a number health professionals and was given many explanations for his pain. This journey was at times confusing, and despite his best efforts, persistent pain continued to plague him, leaving him unable to play sport and struggling to live the normal active and social life of a teenager. He missed a lot of school, and often slept for 12 hours a day, rarely leaving his room.
It wasn’t until Lindsay was referred to the Paediatric Persistent Pain Management Service at Queensland Children’s Hospital in April 2016 that both he and his family began to make sense of his persistent pain.
“The pain team has been wonderful and I’ve experienced some phenomenal changes,” Lindsay said.
“I now know what is going on. Everything fitted into place and started to make sense.”
“Once I realised I didn’t have to be scared of the pain anymore, it really helped my recovery. I realised I could start to do things if I gave it a try.”
Lindsay is now in a much better place and managing his persistent pain: he’s off major painkillers, and only attending occasional appointments at the hospital.
A budding musician, Lindsay has found music therapy has helped him through the darkest times of his pain journey. In fact, he recently performed with the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in the US, where they won a gold medal. He will also shortly perform at a friend’s wedding.
Linday’s other passions include martial arts and he is now happily enjoying spending time with his friends and family, and regularly attending school again.
His final, important advice to others is: “Always listen to your body, never ignore it, always keep an open mind about things, and don’t give up until you are at a place you want to be.”