My Child Has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis!

Does anyone have any advice to help her with the swelling and pain? She is taking ibuprofen 3 times a day. It doesn't seem to help much. She has a very difficult time walking and getting around....especially in the morning hours or after naps. Has anyone heard of a child with leukemia with these symptoms? She is having blood work done on the 19th to check for that plus many other diseases.

I feel so helpless. She hurts so terribly and I just want to make her feel better. I have lupus and fibromyalgia, so I kind of know how she feels. My mom has rheumatiod arthritis too. Is it genetic? Is there some way that I might have given it to my daughter? When I was pregnant with her, I had to have MRI's and x-rays b/c I had a condition called placenta percreta....the placenta grows through your uturus and into other organs. Mine grew into my bladder. Could the radiation from the x-rays or MRI's caused her JRA?

I'm sorry that I'm asking so many questions. She has only seen her rheumatologist once and I'm new to all of this. I just want to do what is best for her.

Oh, she saw an eye specialist and they said her eyesight was bad. She is severely far-sighted. That she would need glasses at an early age. Can it be corrected? Anyone have trouble with their eyes?

Thank you for the help! I greatly appreciate it.

I don't have answers for any of your questions (*sorry*), but I did want to welcome you to the group!!

There is another member (Hoshii, who is 14 yrs old and just recently signed up on this forum) who talked about having problems with eyesight. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Sending you a great big hug!!

For the morning hours / after naps, I've heard of people having the child lay on a heating pad and setting it to turn on around when the child woke up. Never tried it myself but people say it works..

Rheumatoid IS genetic and can "skip" a generation. For me, my dad has it - and his mom has it, and I'm pretty sure his grandma did too..not sure about any farther back than that though. I will pass it on to my kids (the gene associated with it, at least), as will my brother. Though I THINK me having it (he doesn't) gives it a higher chance for one of my kids to have it. However there is no specific known cause for it - many things can cause it, from genetics to a change in the environment (I've heard of vaccinations causing it too).

If the eyesight is eye inflammation brought on by the JRA, it is possible to try and cure it if you caught it soon enough. Look up "uveitis" on Google and you will find things about it. I believe kids with pauciarticular are more prone to it, though I have systemic-onset and I have it.

Also don't be afraid to ask her Rheumatologist questions. My information is from what I've learned from my mom (since I was diagnosed in Kindergarten and my memory isn't the best [can't even remember what I had for dinner last night!] I learn most of what mine said from her) and well - the internet and personal experience.

Good luck!

Have you had any troubles from your arthritis? How do you handle going to school? What have your parents done that made it better or worse?

Thank you again! I'll talk to you soon!

My daughters name is Samantha she is 13 was dx at age 10 she too has polyarticular type, that is very painful I just joined so sorry I am months behined. And I hope that things have leeld out for you and if not, the best advice I can give is educate yourself and be knowledgeable you are your child's ADVOCATE you will not be able to take the pain away but you can help offer suggestions to simplyfy your visit HUG,RUB,AND LOVE that's what we do. I'm sorry that your daughter is going through this but i will tell you that the earlier dx.the better response they have to the meds,I wish you the best and I hope all is well please keep in touch if you like there may be a age difference but that is all Sam is on her 3rd med no response if she would have gotten dx sooner she would have had a better chance, like I said HUG,RUB,AND LOVE. GOD BLESS YOU