A pain workshop: an approach to eliciting the views of young people with chronic pain

•  Chronic pain is complex and there is still much to discover about the burden that it places on children and their families. •  The aim of this study was to explore the way in which the experience of chronic pain impacts on the lives of young people. •  Through the use of a pain workshop that involved a series of guided activities and a focus group, young people were able to share their experiences with each other and the facilitators/researchers. •  Data were analysed using a theoretical coding technique supported by Atlas.ti ® . •  Five key interlinked themes emerged from the data and each theme is expressed in the words of the young people themselves: `no one's pain's the same', `getting on with it', `it's hard 'cos…', `keeping with the dream', and `it depends …  some are OK'. •  The young people did experience significant disruption in their lives as a result of their pain. •  Pain was experienced as if it was both a separate entity as well as an intrinsic part of them and, to a degree, blighted their future. •  Based on the experiences shared by the young people, professionals need to develop insight and strategies into the challenges young people with chronic pain face on a daily basis.