Juvenile Arthritis

While arthritis is most commonly associated with an older population, Juvenile arthritis (JA) is a term used to describe a range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in children under the age of 17. Most forms of juvenile arthritis are autoimmune disorders, resulting in redness, heat, pain and swelling in the joints.

To be classified as juvenile arthritis, a patient’s symptoms must have started before the age of 16. Doctors will typically suspect JA when a child presents with persistent joint pain or swelling, unexplained skin rashes, and fever associated with swollen lymph nodes or inflammation of internal organs. Since there is no one test to diagnose JA, typically a diagnosis is made once doctors have performed tests to rule out other conditions.

What Can I Do to Minimize Pain?

NSAIDs and prescription medications are helpful in managing arthritis pain, but sometimes you will still have pain after taking your medication. To ease this pain, you can try:

●      Taking a warm shower

●      Doing gentle stretching exercises

●      Using an ice pack on the sore area

●      Resting your sore joint

●      Trying range of motion exercises that help maintain joint movement and flexibility

●      Taking daily vitamin supplements, including calcium

●      Trying ginger and willow bark extract, as noted by The American College of Rheumatology, as a natural pain reliever.

●      Taking fish oils that contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been reported to relieve pain and joint tenderness

●      Taking steps to reduce stress, which can cause muscle tension and increase arthritis symptoms

If these things don’t work, you should call your doctor to discuss whether another kind of medication might be more appropriate for you. In more serious cases, patients may be able to benefit from surgery, such as joint replacement.