“The thought of going to a hospital as a little kid is terrifying, but everyone was so welcoming, and I made friends. It was a good sense of community,”
When Emily Case was 10 years old, she was ball of energy and turned everyday moments into a performance. One day, while putting on a concert with her friends, she decided her grand finale would be a dramatic leap from a dresser. The landing didn’t go as planned and she hurt her foot. The pain caused her to become very protective and she did not want anyone to touch it.
After a few months and still struggling with the pain, she went to go see RWJBarnabas Health Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Thomas McPartland who diagnosed her with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS). AMPS is a chronic pain condition where an amplified pain response occurs in the muscles, joints, and soft tissues, often without a clear ongoing injury or inflammatory cause. “I was unable to put on a sock because of the pain and if my foot would move in the car if we went over a pothole, I would be in instant pain,” stated Emily. “Beside the pain aspect, I was also struggling mentally because school was difficult. I was on crutches and not able to participate in a lot of the activities other kids were doing, like going to recess.”
Dr. McPartland recommended Children’s Specialized Hospital’s (CSH) Chronic Pain Management Program to help Emily learn strategies to manage pain and encourage functional activity. The program includes intense physical and occupational therapy and integrated mental health intervention.
Managing the Pain
Now at 21 years old, Emily reflects on her time in the Chronic Pain Management Program. “I remember the first day with my therapists, they needed to take measurements to see my range of motion. I had none and my foot hurt so bad,” noted Emily. “As time progressed in the program, I was able to do more, and the pain started getting better. I was feeling happier. One of my goals was to ride a bike, and I did. It felt amazing.”
“The thought of going to a hospital as a little kid is terrifying, but everyone was so welcoming, and I made friends. It was a good sense of community,” added Emily. “I spent about two and a half months at CSH, and I remember being discharged on the same day as Walk n’ Roll. My dad took me to the walk and while it wasn’t easy, I did it! CSH made me strong and flexible.”
Giving Back to the Place that Helped Her
As a senior at Rutgers University on the road to pursing a career as an occupational therapist, Emily began volunteering at Children’s Specialized Hospital outpatient facility in East Brunswick, New Jersey. “When I left CSH, I always said I wanted to be one of those therapists one day,” highlights Emily. “I want to give back and help kids. It’s amazing to share my story and connect with others who may be going through something similar. I always reflect on my favorite quote by Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it,” this quote helped me get through a lot and I still use it today.”
Learn more about the Pediatric Chronic Pain Management Program.