Michelle McMahon and her daughter Laura face a daily struggle that most people can't see.
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Behind their smiles and strength, their lives are shaped and often limited, by the relentless presence of chronic pain.
Laura hasn't been the same since a bout of shingles when she was just 10 years old.
She went from being a fit and active middle child to living in increasing pain, unable to run or go to her beloved gymnastics classes.
By the age of 11 she was unable to walk or move without a wheelchair.
The inaugural Kids in Pain Report from national peak body Chronic Pain Australia shows how the condition affects every aspect of life for 877,000 children and young people nationally, as well as their families.
The research shows almost half of carers have to quit their jobs or reduce work hours to be able to care for their children.
A conservative estimate suggests that parents leaving, reducing, or changing work due to their child's pain costs Australia around $15 billion in lost productivity each year. The real figure is likely higher, potentially $27 billion or more, once long-term wage loss, superannuation, and compounding impacts over years of caregiving, are factored in.
Ms McMahon said she's lucky to have a supportive boss who understood what Laura was going through, but not everyone is so lucky.
"Without his support I wouldn't have been able to maintain my job and I'm the primary income earner for the family, so its really important - especially with doctors. bills, therapies - they all cost money," she told AAP on Sunday.
The now 16 year old student is grateful for an 'incredible' case worker though her school, daily breaks in the library and the unwavering support of her family.
She was also lucky in being able to take up a part-time job with an employer offering shorter shifts and being understanding when she's going through a flare up.
Chronic Pain Australia chairperson Nicolette Ellis said one in five Australian children experienced chronic pain.
"Chronic pain has been the leading cause of disability and lost productivity in Australia for decades, yet it is still not recognised as a condition in its own right," she said.
"If the Federal Government is serious about boosting productivity, we need urgent recognition and investment in chronic pain diagnosis, management and treatment for children so that these families can get the care and support they so desperately need."
Chronic pain is categorised as pain experienced for more than three months. While about a quarter of young people report the onset of their pain between ages 10 and 12, about one in ten experience pain from birth.
The Kids in Pain Report marks Kids in Pain week, which runs from 22 September to 28 September.
CHRONIC PAIN IN KIDS, THE NUMBERS:
* Every aspect of life is affected - 84.3% of children struggle with sleep, 85.1% are unable to participate in sport, and 82.5% experience significant mental health impacts
* Schooling suffers - 82.7% miss school due to pain, 80.6% reduce participation in activities, and 56.6% fall behind academically
* Healthcare fails families - 64.4% wait more than three years for a diagnosis or receive none at all. Seventy per cent (70.7%) are told their pain is due to anxiety, 53.9% had their pain passed off as "growing pains" and 48.7% were told it was "normal".
Source: Kids in Pain Report
Australian Associated Press
