The Hidden Link Between Chronic Pain and Sensory Seeking

The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

You’ve tried weighted blankets. You’ve experimented with noise-canceling headphones. You’ve adjusted diets, changed routines, and scoured support groups looking for something—anything—that helps your child feel less overwhelmed by their body and more in control of their world. But what happens when the thing your child seeks out isn’t silence or softness… but more input? More pressure, more movement, more sound?

Parents of kids with chronic pain often expect their child to avoid touch, noise, or physical exertion. But some kids go the other way entirely. They slam into walls, chew on shirt collars, crave tight hugs, or beg to be swung higher, faster, longer. At first glance, this might seem unrelated—or even confusing. But there’s something deeper going on. And it might explain a lot.

When Pain Doesn’t Mean Avoidance

Most people associate chronic pain with hypersensitivity. And often, that’s true. But pain isn’t always straightforward, especially in growing bodies still trying to interpret signals from muscles, nerves, and joints.

For some children, especially those with neurological differences or connective tissue conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), chronic pain doesn’t just coexist with sensory issues—it changes them. The brain, in trying to protect the body, rewires how it processes touch, temperature, movement, and pressure.

Some children become pain-averse. But others? They start seeking out more sensation—because their body is under-registering sensory input or confusing pain signals with sensory ones. It's not just a sensory processing quirk; it's often a coping mechanism. And it can be deeply misunderstood.

The Science: Sensory Seeking as a Regulation Tool

Pain isn’t just a physical event—it’s a brain-and-body response loop. When nerves misfire or communicate poorly (as in central sensitization), the brain may either amplify sensation or dull it. In children, whose nervous systems are still maturing, this becomes even more complicated.

Some kids with chronic pain experience hypo-responsiveness, meaning their bodies underreact to certain types of sensory input. Deep pressure, for example, might not register unless it’s intense—like jumping from a couch or smashing into a beanbag. Movement becomes a way to “feel” their bodies more clearly.

This isn’t misbehavior or attention-seeking. It's regulation.

Children instinctively search for ways to organize their sensory world. That’s what sensory seeking is: an attempt to find balance, to feel grounded, to feel real. And when their body constantly sends confusing or inconsistent pain signals, high-intensity input can temporarily help them make sense of it all.

Clashing Signals: When Touch Both Hurts and Helps

The most baffling thing for caregivers is when a child says, “That hurts—do it again.”

Compression socks might make their legs ache… but they refuse to take them off. A therapy swing might cause a dull pain in their back… but they ask for one more push. There’s a push-pull between discomfort and craving.

Pain and sensory processing use many of the same neural pathways. When these get dysregulated, especially in children with trauma histories, ADHD, or autism, the messages become messy. Deep pressure and rhythmic movement often trigger calming chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. This calming effect can override mild pain—making the input worth the discomfort.

It’s not contradictory. It’s strategic.

What Parents Often Miss (Because No One Teaches This)

Sensory-seeking behaviors in children with chronic pain aren’t a red flag—they’re a clue. A clue that your child’s nervous system is looking for safety, stability, and feedback. Understanding this opens up better support options.

You may notice:

• Craving strong bear hugs after procedures
• Wanting to press or punch into pillows when pain is bad
• Rocking or bouncing when pain peaks
• Chewing aggressively when anxious
• Asking to carry heavy backpacks or push carts

These aren’t just quirks. They are adaptations. The body is trying to self-soothe and recalibrate in real time.

Everyday Ways to Support Safe Sensory Input

Sensory-seeking behaviors aren’t inherently bad—but they can become unsafe or exhausting if not guided. Here are some strategies families have used to meet these needs without dismissing the reality of chronic pain.

1. Build in "Heavy Work" Safely

Heavy work refers to activities that engage the muscles and joints through resistance. It’s one of the most regulating forms of sensory input for kids who crave deep pressure. Try:

• Pushing laundry baskets across the floor
• Kneading dough or squishing putty
• Animal walks (bear crawl, crab walk)
• Wall push-ups or “crashing” into a beanbag

Adapt based on physical limits—especially for kids with joint instability. Support joint protection with braces if prescribed, and keep movements controlled.

2. Use Weighted or Pressure Tools… With Consent

Weighted lap pads, compression vests, and tight Lycra suits can offer consistent deep pressure that mimics the comfort of a hug. Let your child be part of the decision—autonomy helps build trust. Always monitor for fatigue or joint strain.

Our inclusive medical support play kits at The Butterfly Pig include weighted accessories that double as play and regulation tools—especially helpful during pretend procedures or transitions like medical appointments. The idea is to embed these supports into fun, familiar routines instead of isolating them as therapy tools.

3. Incorporate Rhythm and Predictability

Swings, rocking chairs, or gentle bouncing can calm the vestibular system. If your child has migraines or motion sensitivity, shorter bursts may be better. Drumming, clapping games, and even rhythmic storytelling (with body percussion) can serve the same need.

Pretend medical play can also use rhythm—like tapping with a toy stethoscope or creating a “heartbeat beat” to march to. Kids often turn to rhythm when trying to organize their internal sensations. That’s why we design our medical play support tools with movement prompts in mind—each item can double as a sensory tool.

4. Create a "Yes Space" for Impact Play

When a child needs to crash, stomp, or squeeze something hard, they’re not being aggressive. They’re asking for input. Create a space where this is allowed and expected—pile of crash pads, stomp tiles, or a chewable corner with resistance toys.

Let medical play live here, too. Our kits encourage pretending to do procedures, not just receive them—giving kids a healthy outlet to act out stress with pressure, pretend impact, and safe role-play.

Watch for Redirection Points

Sensory seeking can become compulsive if a child is in constant discomfort. It’s not always easy to tell when a behavior is helping or just becoming repetitive. Here’s a way to check:

• Before: Does the child seem dysregulated, fidgety, or agitated?
• During: Are they smiling, focused, or visibly more organized?
• After: Do they seem calmer and more aware of their body?

If not, it might be time to redirect or offer a new activity. Sensory diets (routines of input throughout the day) can help reduce the “urgent seeking” that crops up when the nervous system is running on empty.

What Medical Teams Sometimes Miss

Pain management is rarely designed with sensory-seeking kids in mind. Many pain clinics focus on desensitization or avoidance techniques, which can feel invalidating when a child wants more input. Occupational therapists who specialize in both pain and sensory needs can bridge that gap—but they’re not always included in care teams.

When we co-create medical support play tools and therapeutic play kits, we work closely with providers who understand this intersection. Kids need tools that match their lived experience—not generic toys that assume every child avoids touch or fears sensation. Our designs reflect real-life behaviors, including the urge to press, crash, and play through pain.

Listening to the Body, Not Just the Behavior

It’s tempting to correct sensory-seeking behaviors that look disruptive. But these behaviors are often the body’s way of speaking. Chronic pain isn’t just about what hurts. It’s about what helps a child feel anchored in their body again.

That might mean building a sensory cave in the living room. It might mean introducing pretend medical play where kids take charge of “treatments.” It might mean replacing a stress chew toy weekly because it gets destroyed—and that’s okay.

What matters is tuning in. You’re not just managing pain. You’re helping your child rebuild trust with their own body. And when medical play includes sensory regulation, role reversal, and humor, it can become a powerful way to reframe pain not as something scary or shameful—but as something that can be talked about, explored, and even played through.