Resolving the Problems of Juvenile Arthritis
Growing older is associated with more aches and more pains.
Tasks require more effort than they did in the earlier years, and you still feel the day’s work a week, or maybe even two, later. Unfortunately, this pain is also experienced by hundreds of thousands of children every year.
It begins as discomfort, but soon, juvenile arthritis can become severe and even disabling.
Juvenile arthritis causes joints to become inflamed, which limits their range of motion. It is an autoimmune disease which can affect the rate of growth in children because it strikes just when young bodies are growing. The effects can be minor or severe, depending on the child and the type of juvenile arthritis from which they suffer.
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.
Most often, a pediatric rheumatologist will be the one to finalize the diagnosis, as they specialize in arthritis in children.
When joints become inflamed, as they do with juvenile arthritis, it can be extremely painful. Children with this disease need to understand the physical limitations that they will have to live with. Parents can help by having a good understanding of the disease.
Within the category of juvenile arthritis, there are three subsets from which children may suffer. If a child suffers from inflammation and pain in four joints or less, then they have pauciarticular juvenile arthritis. Those who have five or more joints affected have polyarticular juvenile arthritis. Some children have one or more joints and internal organs which are inflamed. This is known as systemic onset juvenile arthritis.
Treatment of juvenile arthritis is aimed at reliving the pain, not curing the disease. The goal is to control the inflammation and try to prevent joint damage. Treatment also seeks to expand and retain the range of motion for joints and their functionality.
A key component of a child’s treatment will be exercise. This helps prevent the joints from becoming tense or inflamed.
Exercise can be used in conjunction with relaxation techniques characteristic of yoga and meditation to help ease the stress within the joints. Splints can also be used during hours of sleep to prevent morning stiffness.
If the type and presentation of juvenile arthritis is especially severe or debilitating, the child may need to see additional specialists.
Since arthritis can affect the whole body, it is important to have all areas checked on a regular basis for signs of inflammation.
Depression can also be a factor for children with juvenile arthritis. Often, they are not able to participate in the same activities as their peers, which can cause feelings of low self-worth or low self-esteem.
It is vital to understand the child’s feelings and maximize their potential by highlighting their abilities rather than their limitations.
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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Written by Brad Morgan on October 10th, 2009 with
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