Cooper Smylie was just nine years old when he injured his knee while playing tag at school. Initially, he thought little of it. "A few days later, I just woke up in screaming pain," recalls Cooper, now 15. For the next six months, he and his family sought answers in emergency rooms and clinics, trying to understand the persistent "burning, searing pain" in his right foot. "I just thought that one day I would wake up and get better, but nah, [the pain] never went away," he said. A recent report from Chronic Pain Australia reveals that chronic pain affects approximately 877,000 young people in Australia, or about one in five children. The report surveyed 229 young people with chronic pain and their families, highlighting the significant impact on various aspects of a child's life, including mental health, social interactions, education, and sleep. Kelsi Dodds, a neurophysiologist at the University of Adelaide, explains that chronic pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that complicates daily activities. Cooper struggled to walk without a diagnosis and felt that his pain was not taken seriously. "They … at the start saw it as me just trying to get out of school," he said. "I just didn't feel heard." The report indicates that 71% of young people were told their pain was due to anxiety, while more than half had their symptoms dismissed as "growing pains." Dr. Dodds notes a common misconception that young people's pain is fabricated or exaggerated. Living near theme parks on the Gold Coast, Cooper missed out on activities like roller coasters due to the vibrations that caused him pain. "Seeing all my friends around when I was still in school [and they were] playing and being able to be a kid … it was quite hard mentally just to live, really," he said. After six months, Cooper was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare condition that can develop after an injury. "I was lucky. I got it quick, but with a lot of people, if it isn't treated, it just gets worse," he said. He later learned he also had allodynia, a nerve condition that causes extreme pain from light touch or air movement around his foot. The report found that nearly two-thirds of affected young people waited three or more years for a diagnosis, or never received one. Dr. Dodds explains that obtaining a diagnosis often involves a lengthy trial-and-error process across various health disciplines. For Dayna Mattchewson, who was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age three, there is no cure for her condition. "I can only slow it down," she said. Now 20, Dayna missed significant time in school and faced challenges with peers and teachers who did not understand her needs. "They'd be like, 'Why are you using the elevator? You don't look like you have something wrong with you,'" she said. Dr. Dodds emphasizes the difficulty of invisible illnesses, stating that others often struggle to empathize because they cannot see the condition. Dayna noted that her chronic pain significantly affected her mental health and ability to participate in activities. According to the survey, 83% of children with chronic pain missed school, and more than half fell behind academically. Cooper now has better support than he did initially. He recalls a doctor who resorted to Googling CRPS during their appointment, which he found concerning. Dr. Dodds explains that managing chronic pain often focuses on daily pain management rather than complete relief. For Cooper, this involves pacing himself and using his energy wisely, which he channels into creating fishing videos. "It's a real good distraction from the pain and is quite calming," he said. Dayna adapts her plans during flare-ups and receives weekly biologic injections to reduce inflammation. She also wrote a song about her pain, hoping to inspire others with invisible disabilities. Dr. Dodds stresses the importance of ensuring children receive the care they need to prevent feelings of isolation from worsening as they grow older. "We don't want Australian children to grow up and move throughout their life, thinking that their pain is normal … and you have to just live with it," she said. Both Cooper and Dayna advocate for greater understanding of their conditions and improved support for young people in pain. "If a kid was to go into the hospital and say to their doctor, 'Hey, I'm in pain,' it needs to be looked at as opposed to dismissed," Cooper said. Dayna added, "We're always feeling it in some way or another. Yes, we're good. But we're still dealing with something."