We have been to sooooo many doctors and my 9 year old son has been in Physical Therapy now for almost 4 months. I am sure this is what he has and I am watching him get worse. We have an appointment with a rhumetologist on August 3rd (finally). My question(s) is...
How old was your kid when they got diagnosed and what type was it?
How did you cope/stay postivie?
What treatments were the most effective?
What is the outcome, does anyone actually "outgrow" this?
Somedays my son feels so helpless, and I try to be postive but I worry so much about his future. I also worry what the lonjg term use of NSAID's is doing to his system. The pain is so bad after walking just a bit that he has started using a wheelchair if we have to go anywhere that requires more than about 20 minutes on his feet.
I wanted to add that my son has several joints affected, his toes, his knees (both) and his fingers :(I believe this is what you would call polyarticulate type.Feel free to set me straight though :)
You are not alone, and neither is your son. Here is a group that really understands what your family is going through and can be a great support for you.
Rocky Mountain Juvenile Arthritis Foundation
2280 South Albion Street
Denver, CO 80222-4906
____@____.com
Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####
Toll-free: (800)475-6447
http://www.arthritis.org/chapters/colorado/juvenile-arthr...
A great friend of mine has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for years, to the point where it was very debilitating. She has been taking a product called K48 plus and is now off of all of her medications and has not had any issues with her condition. If you want some info on this just shoot me a message, it may help with your son.
I was diagnosed with Juvenile RA as a ten year old. Nothing the doctors did helped. My mom took me to a homeopathic doctor who put me on a special diet because of food allergies and gave me supplements that helped. I only had symptoms in my knee but I had to have surgery twice. Maybe a nutritionist can help or an alternative doctor. I still have minor knee problems and my blood tests show that I have RA but I don't have any other symptoms (I'm 40 now). I don't know if my knee problems are because of RA or if it's a result of my surgery. They took out my knee pad during one of my surgeries.
I don't have JA, I have Osteoarthritis. I've found this organization to be an invaluable tool to dealing with my OA. They have access to the latest information on all forms of arthritis.
Best of luck to you and your son.
Our daughter was around 9 when she was diagnosed. She had JRA. Just because they have JRA doesn't mean they will have RA. Most don't. Our daughter only has it in her left knee. When she was a toddler, she had a severe infection in her knee joint. We were lucky, she didn't have to have a knee replacement at that time or loose her leg. But that is what kicked it years later into JRA.
Unfortunately, she does have RA in that knee and will at some point have to have a knee replacement. It has been difficult. She had to give up a lot of things. Cheerleading, soccer, softball. She has flare ups from time to time and uses ibuphrphin (sp). She is 22 now. She does play softball but knows that chances are she will pay for it. She has a brace for the knee that helps. She lives her life. She is in college, was in marching band in high school (several flare ups but she wouln't quit!). She doesn't let it define who she is and what she does.
Follow the treatment plan. He should be better. Good luck!
