"If it weren’t for this program, I don’t know if I would have ever walked again. I have decided to go to school to become a physical therapist myself and hope to help kids reach their goals like Children’s Specialized Hospital helped me reach mine,”
“I have suffered from chronic pain and misdiagnosis since 2015. Originally diagnosed with a slipped bone and bulging disk, which later herniated. In 2018, this pain was still debilitating, but the tests did not reveal any abnormalities anymore. I was diagnosed with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS) in 2019 and soon after begun my stay at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the beginning, I could not tolerate wearing a shoe on my right foot or a full shirt covering my back because of the pain. Even a light touch was excruciating. I was in a wheelchair and had not walked in months. After four weeks under the care of Dr. Katherine Bentley and the team of physical, occupational, recreational therapists and psychologists, I was back to doing back walkovers and front handsprings. Although, I still have pain every day I am able to manage it now, and if it weren’t for this program, I don’t know if I would have ever walked again. I have decided to go to school to become a physical therapist myself and hope to help kids reach their goals like Children’s Specialized Hospital helped me reach mine,” stated Paige Meek.
Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Chronic Pain Management Program promotes the wellness of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain by teaching strategies to manage pain and encourage functional activity.