ADHD is linked with a higher risk of pain
People with ADHD & autism are more sensitive to pain
they have a lower pain tolerance and lower pain threshold when compared to people without ADHD &/or autism
Sensory Pain
It is common for people with ADHD & autism to have pain from sensory stimuli that aren’t normally painful, including:
touch, sound, smell, noise & temperature
ADHD is linked with a higher risk of these pain conditions:
Facial Pain
headaches
migraines
TMJ
facial pain
Chronic Pain
chronic non-specific neck pain
chronic persistent low back pain
Widespread Pain
pain that is widespread
pain that is in many areas of the body
Muscle Pain
stiff and achy muscles
musculoskeletal pain
Stomach Pain
irritable bowel syndrome
recurrent stomach aches
chronic abdominal pain
Pelvic Pain
vulvodynia
chronic prostatis
Pain Conditions
fibromyalgia
chronic fatigue syndrome
complex regional pain syndrome
Female Pain
endometriosis
severe period pain
PMDD
worse perimenopause
This is not an exhaustive list.
To learn more about the links between ADHD and chronic pain, consider booking our upcoming presentation on ADHD & Chronic Pain, at the link below.
book ADHD & chronic pain webinar now!
References
Csecs, J. L. L., Iodice, V., Rae, C. L., Brooke, A., Simmons, R., Quadt, L., Savage, G. K., Dowell, N. G., Prowse, F., Themelis, K., Mathias, C. J., Critchley, H. D., & Eccles, J. A. (2021). Joint Hypermobility Links Neurodivergence to Dysautonomia and Pain. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 786916. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.786916
Kasahara, S. (2021). High Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderScale Scores Among Patients with Persistent Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain. Pain Physician, E299–E307. https://doi.org/10.36076/ppj.2021/24/E299
Kerekes, N., Lundqvist, S., Schubert Hjalmarsson, E., Torinsson Naluai, Å., Kantzer, A.-K., & Knez, R. (2022). The associations between ADHD, pain, inflammation, and quality of life in children and adolescents-a clinical study protocol. PloS One, 17(9), e0273653. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273653
Martin, R., Taylor, R., & Kelly, C. (2023). Recognising the Rheumatological Needs of Neurodivergent Females: Commentary. Rheumato, 3(4), 221–227. https://doi.org/10.3390/rheumato3040017
Mundal, I., Schei, J., Lydersen, S., Thomsen, P. H., Nøvik, T. S., & Kvitland, L. R. (2024). Prevalence of chronic and multisite pain in adolescents and young adults with ADHD: A comparative study between clinical and general population samples (the HUNT study). European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(5), 1433–1442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02249-x
Ng, R. W. Y., Chen, Z., Yang, L., Wong, O. W. H., Leung, A. S. Y., Tsui, K. W., Kwok, N. M. W., Tang, L. H. Y., Cheung, P. M. H., Chan, P. K. S., & Ip, M. (2025). Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and intestinal disorders: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 19278. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04303-x
Roecker, C. B., & Schut, S. M. (2025). Nociplastic pain: an introduction. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 69(2), 131–144.
image credit: @ysrr
