Functioning with Juvenile Arthritis
As we age, our bodies have many more twinges and creaks and groans.
Doing things we used to take for granted, such as exercising or working in the yard, take a higher toll on us, and it takes us much longer to recover. This is an expected part of growing older, but hundreds of thousands of children also feel this often debilitating pain.
What starts as discomfort or minor irritation can become severe pain. For some, juvenile arthritis can be debilitating.
Juvenile arthritis inflames joints and impacts their motion. Since this autoimmune disease attacks the joints at such a critical developmental stage, growth may be slightly to severely impacted.
It is common for children with juvenile arthritis to experience stiffness in their joints in the morning.
This and other signs may indicate that a child has juvenile arthritis. Since there is no one single test for this disease, doctors must rule out other possible causes for joint stiffness and pain. Barring other conditions, and providing the symptoms last for six weeks or more, then the child is usually diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.
Pediatric rheumotologists are specialists in this form of arthritis. Often, a primary care physician will refer children to a pediatric rheumotologist for final diagnosis.
Joint pain is difficult for anyone to handle, especially children. Juvenile arthritis can limit their physical growth or participation in certain activities. Parents and care providers are a key component in helping children deal with this disease and its effects.
Three types of juvenile arthritis can afflict a young body. Pauciarticular juvenile arthritis affects four or fewer joints; polyarticular juvenile arthritis affects five or more joints; and systemic onset juvenile arthritis affects at least one joint and causes inflammation of internal organs as well.
Any treatment program for juvenile arthritis is meant to alleviate discomfort of the sufferer. This is achieved by controlling inflammation, preventing or controlling joint damage and maximizing joint and bodily functions.
A key component of a child’s treatment will be exercise. This helps prevent the joints from becoming tense or inflamed.
Yoga is one such exercise that is good for minimizing stress in the joints. In addition, meditation and other relaxation methods can be used. Splints, when worn at night, also help reduce the stiffness and pain that children with juvenile arthritis experience in the morning.
Depending upon the severity of the arthritis, more specialists may be involved with a child’s care.
Since arthritis can affect the whole body, it is important to have all areas checked on a regular basis for signs of inflammation.
It is common for children coping with juvenile arthritis to become depressed. Their disease may impose physical limitations on their activities that isolate them from their peers. Psychologists should also be an integral part of the health care team.
For parents and caregivers, it is important to acknowledge the child’s feelings, and yet help the child focus on what they can do instead of what they cannot.
While juvenile arthritis is very painful and stressful, it is vital that stress and anxiety be reduced as much as possible. It interferes with the treatment process and quality of life for the child. Having a good understanding of juvenile arthritis and being supportive will help minimize stress.
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