Well, it looks like JRA...

DaisyFace

Love me...Love me not
My DS was seen by a pediatric orthopedist today...who says he is 80% sure he is looking at Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. They did more X-rays and now have ordered bloodwork.

The Pediatric Rheumatologist cannot see us for a couple of months - but the ortho is going to try and get them to squeeze us in sooner.

Also, I guess DS needs to get some kind of eye test at the opthamologist.

Meanwhile, we are to treat DS with Aleve...

And I have to spend some time researching JRA - I really don't know that much about it.

Thank G-d I don't have to spend time researching cancer/cancer treatments!
 

Josie

Active Member
I hope one of the blood tests is for Lyme.

Has your son had any ticks, bug bites, or rashes recently? Any flu-like symptoms?

Here is an article about Lyme and swollen knees. http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lyme_disease_views/379.html

There is a huge controversy over Lyme testing and treatment with the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America - the experts) promoting guidelines that many patients feel miss or undertreat Lyme. I wish I had known about it when my daughter had her bullseye rash. Instead, I believed the doctor when I was told my daughter didn't have Lyme and she went untreated. Now, she is chronically ill and disabled for the most part.

Especially if your son's blood tests do not come back with the JRA markers, you should look into this for yourself and make up your own mind about how much to pursue Lyme.
 

Hound dog

Nana's are Beautiful
Well, RA is not great news, but yeah it does beat cancer. Guess it's all in the perspective.

Good thing is that it has been diagnosed early which also means correct treatment can start early. Kuddos to the ortho doctor.

And many (((hugs))) to you.
 

serenity

New Member
Daisy Face...my difficult child has JRA...please do as much research as you can NOW. Possible tick bite? Lymes? Hereditary? You must stay on top of the eyes and ears, as well as joints. My difficult child has his first iritis at age 20. If he hadn't had the previous JRA diagnosis (at age five) he would have been given the wrong treatment. What worked for my boy...a pediatric rheumatologist who was willing to look beyond the traditional treatments to mask pain and reduce swelling...we did six months of antibiotic therapy when he was eight. By age eleven, his thighs, previously uneven, were the same length. We did the yearly checks with specialists for eyes and ears, as well as fourX/year with the rheumatologist. There were no problems whatsoever from the age of eleven until the iritis hit this past summer when he was 20. Please do as much research as you can...you will have to stay three steps ahead of this...and you can.
Good luck. This can be alright. S.
 

gcvmom

Here we go again!
I'm sorry about the news, but glad it's not the worse scenario. There a lots of new medications out there to treat it, so do your homework and ask the questions. Like others have said, this is manageable, and you'll eventually get the upper hand.
(((Hugs)))
 

DaisyFace

Love me...Love me not
UPDATE:

Poor DS had bloodwork...they stuck him three times because his veins are so uncooperative...and then the results were inconclusive.

So the rheumatologist ordered more bloodwork. Poor kid!

They also did a PPD test and ordered some medications. We are to see whether the medications have any impact over the next week.

If there is no improvement...they are going to schedule DS for surgery to remove the fluid from the knee joint. (I guess it would be a simple procedure for adults, but for children, they perform this under general anesthesia.)

:anxious:
 

Shari

IsItFridayYet?
Its still a simple procedure, but its utmost importannt to stay still, and its FREAKY. I would imagine the general is just to make sure no more damage is done.

I am SOOOOO sorry. RA is tough. Hugs.
 

DammitJanet

Well-Known Member
Yeah removing fluid is freaky but simple...lol. He would go bonkers seeing the needle. Im glad they will sedate him. Wish they would sedate me for many of my icky stuff!

I know I have told you my oldest has RA and he has probably had it for a lot longer than we have known about it. He has had psoriasis all his life and joint problems for at least the last 15 to 17 years but just in the last two to three years has he been able to actually go to a doctor that did more than treat his psoriasis. When he was a kid, the docs treated his psoriasis with creams but no one connected his "weak ankles" with the psoriasis. They just said he was clumsy and overweight.

Now his blood work comes back chock full of factors and all that jazz and my history isnt good either. They are starting to think I may have serum negative RA because my hands shouldnt be this bad this fast.

He takes methotrexate and indomethacine I think that is the name and it seems to help him right now. I am on ketoprofen which they use for both RA and OA. I know a girl who had JRA and she was on gold shots. You would have never known she had a thing wrong with her. She looked in perfect health and had a great life. Lovely woman. Had kids and everything. She used to work with me.
 
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