BOSTON -- Can pain experienced during childhood increase a person's risk of suffering chronic pain as an adult?

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Liz Brunner Reports On Study

NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported Thursday that pain experts meeting in Boston are looking into the problem and potential solutions.

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines and a variety of other illnesses. Now pain researchers meeting in Boston report that some of that discomfort may stem from pain experienced during childhood.

"There's some increased evidence that babies that have a lot of exposure to pain in the newborn period, as they start getting older they're more likely to be reactive to pain," UCLA Children's Hospital Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer said.

The researchers found premature babies and children who undergo surgery or are injured at a young age can experience changes in their nervous system that can make them more susceptible to pain.

Parenting can also affect how a child reacts to pain. Children of parents with chronic pain are more likely to have chronic pain. Doctors say genetics play a role, but more often children learn how to deal with pain from their parents. For example, if a child falls at the playground.

"Mom grabs the child and goes, 'oh poor baby. What a boo boo.' That's one way, and the other mom says, 'It's no big deal. Be a big boy,' kisses it and says go back to play and the child is learning I have this sensory information that's aversive, what's the appropriate way of responding," American Pain Society President Dr. Dennis Turk said.

"By preventing chronic pain in children and addressing it early and well then you really have the opportunity to not let these systems get so solidified that they start developing more biologic baggage until they're adults," Zeltzer said.

One change in the way doctors now treat children with chronic pain is they are embracing alternative treatments such as yoga, massage, acupuncture and even hypnosis. They say those treatments, along with medication and psychological therapy can help reduce or even turn off the pain entirely.