Helping Your Child Deal with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

As an adult man who had to deal with severe bouts of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my lower joints all the way up until my mid-teens, I know from firsthand experience how painful – and disheartening - the debilitating disease can be.
However, when I had the relentless bouts of pain which were mostly concentrated in my feet and legs throughout the 1970s, doctors were totally unaware that arthritis could occur in children. As a matter of fact, I saw so many specialists during my youth, that it became an almost regular routine in futility that left everyone - my now deceased parents, my grandmother and myself totally exhausted, both mentally and physically. 

These painful episodes which would either keep me up or wake me, for several hours in the middle of the night – and were it not for my now deceased grandmother, Pearl Scott, who found a simple remedy of putting my feet in nearly scalding water, I can’t begin to fathom how much pain I would have actually been in. 

At any rate, my reason for writing this column is to share some insight into the world of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – for both – parents and their children. 

Home Treatment
Living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflamed, swollen joints, often means making lifestyle changes and adjustments. This can be frustrating and demanding for you, your child and your family. However, most children with JRA do not have long-term disease and disability and go on to lead healthy adult lives. To help both you and your child cope with the challenges of chronic illness, work as a team with your child's doctors and other health professionals. 

Home, school, and community activities
Regular exercise, taking medications, and using assistive devices when needed will help your child function as normally as possible at home and school.