Relieving total pain in an adolescent: a case report

BACKGROUND: Total pain is a concept that approaches pain holistically: physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. Any individual may experience pain in each domain at a different level. This is the case report of an adolescent who suffered from total pain and how his healthcare team and peers helped to relieve it. CASE PRESENTATION: A 15-years-old Thai male was diagnosed with recurrent T-cell lymphoma and readmitted to hospital. He was admitted to an adult ward and suffered from pain due to his disease and from the fear of being alienated. As a result, he had an existential crisis. His parents felt unsure whether they or the patient should make the medical decisions and advance care plan. CONCLUSIONS: This case report emphasises the importance of total pain assessment in the relief of total pain in an adolescent whose needs are different from both children and adults. It also highlights the role of medical decision-making in adolescents and the importance of the social support of peers in the alleviation of pain.