Juvenile Arthritis and Non-Medicinal Approaches
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Growing older is associated with more aches and more pains.
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 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.
Joint stiffness that is apparent upon waking up in the morning is a very common sign of this disease.
If a child experiences this and other symptoms of juvenile arthritis that do not abate after six weeks, and there is no other medical cause for the pain or discomfort, then juvenile arthritis is often diagnosed. This disease is not diagnosed by a single test but must be made when other conditions have been ruled out.
Most often, a pediatric rheumatologist will be the one to finalize the diagnosis, as they specialize in arthritis in children.
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.
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.
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.
It is important to keep the joints relaxed and quell any swelling. Exercise is useful in achieving this and will be included in a child’s treatment.
Movements that relax the muscles and joints, such as yoga, are often very effective in treatment of juvenile arthritis. When used with relaxation techniques like meditation, it can help take tension away from the joints. Splints also do this. Since many children experience pain or stiffness in the morning, wearing splints at night can be very helpful.
It is important to consult with specialists in juvenile arthritis, particularly if the child’s condition is severe.
Pediatric rheumatologists and primary care physicians are important members of the health team. Any and all signs of inflammation should be checked because juvenile arthritis can affect bodily functions.
Psychologists are commonly employed, as the child’s inability to perform age specific tasks without assistance may trigger depression.
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.
Stress is detrimental to health and serves no purpose in the treatment of juvenile arthritis. Therefore be sure to reassure the child in a way the causes them the least amount of stress.
