reactive arthritis in 14 year old.

lifesupsanddowns

hello i have an ongoing thread in the child forum but thought i would pop here to see if anyone can advise.

14 year old daughter started with painful hips at begining of june. Doctor did some blood test RF was raised. The pain continued and started in her knees and ankles.

In August she was hospitalised as she had mouth ulcers that had become infected and she was dehydrated. by this time the pain and stiffness was in her hips knees feet toes ankles and fingers.

in hospital they suspected JIA, she saw a pediatric consultant once she was discharged and she felt she was showing sihns and symptoms of JIA. She refered her to a pediatric rhuematologist who wasnt convinced it was JIA.

Today i have recieved a letter from the rhuematologist she believes ahe has reactive arthritis and an appointment to return in november.
She has also refered her to a physiotherapist and an ocupational therapist. to help with her mobility.

Can anyone advise on reactive arthritis how long i can expect her to have it for and will it come back when she is once again poorly.

Pain and stiffness is still happening on a daily basis and i cant see her improving at all.

thank you for your help.

Dawn

LignumVitae

Hi Dawn

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Arthritisbasics/Typesofarthritis

There's a fact sheet on here which might enlighten you both a bit more. I'm sorry to hear that your daughter had reactive arthritis but it is good that the doctors are on to it and are working out a diagnosis for you. Physio and an OT will both help her so hopefully things will get comfier soon.

Good luck to you and please feel free to come and ask any questions you may have or support you may need!

LV xx

frogmorton

Hi Dawn

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter I can understand a little of what you are going through as my youngest daughter had her first ever tonic-clonic seizures in April and she is 14.

It feels to me very very unfair.

You have the link to the A/C information which should help, but we have had folk on here who have had reactive arthritis. If they are still around I am sure they will post.

As her Mum I know you will want to do your very best for her and must be feeling immensely worried :? You have to be her advocate don't you? My daughter wants me to shut up about it and 'stop treating me like an invalid'. Yours may feel similarly, but maybe she wants you to find out as much as you can :?

In your shoes l would be asking the doctors why they have decided it is this particular form of arthritis, (given the RF factor result), what the meds they are prescribing are for and whether they expect her to make a full recovery.

I am so glad she is going to see the OT and physio - they will be a fantastic help to her and will make YOU feel so much better. Like I did yesterday when we met the epilepsy nurse

I hope I haven't been telling my Grandmother to suck eggs here - sorry if I have :oops:

If you want to I know we would want to know how she gets on......I will be thinking of you

Love

Toni xxx

salamander

Hi, I agree with Toni about asking about the diagnosis - though reactive arthritis is a much better thing to have as it is, supposedly, self limiting. My consultant hoped that was what I had and said it should resolve itself in about 9 months. However, after six months he decided it was RA and began treatments with dmards.

villier

Dawn Hi

So sorry to hear about your daughter, I really don't know about ar I just have the the good old OA in my hands with nerve damage on a lot of my body.

I am sending this post to say thinking of you and your daughter, be there to support you whenever you need, I am sure there will be a lot more around soon to pitch in and send good wishes.........Marie xx

elnafinn

Hi Dawn

I am so sorry to read about your daughter. It is so upsetting and worrying to see one's own child suffering so I truly feel for you both. She really does need you at this time, even if she does not always show it, teenagers being how they are at times.

I wondered if this link may help in any way:
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/system/search-results.aspx?keywords=reactive+arthritis

What I will say is that knowledge is power. Learn as much as you can about ReActive Arthritis from reliable sources. This enables you to ask questions of the medics. If you do not always understand fully what they are saying do not be afraid to say so and ask them to explain things in another way for you. Write things down if you wish as they are speaking. You could even ask if you can record the appointment - not sure how some will take this though. It is always difficult to remember all that was said.

I have just typed the words "reactive arthritis" in the Search icon at the top of the page as I know many members have posted about it over the years. Some youngsters too. It will take a lot of trawling through, but I started to look and found the above link for you from one of the posts.

I hope that things become easier for you both but unfortunately sometimes it does take time to get the correct diagnosis and then the right drugs that will help your daughter, as people react to drugs in different way and what suits one may not be good for another individual.

I wish I could do more to help you and your daughter.

Elna x

lifesupsanddowns

sorry for not replying to this thread last night,but i went out for a much needed bit of of me time.

Thank you for everyones thoughts it really helps to know there is people that understand. I am not a stranger to arthritis, i have osteo in most of my joints. Although my problems started when i was 7. what i know about the other forms of arthritis you could write on a postage stamp.

My daughter seems to be taking a different path to the way mine started, mine stayed a few years in certain joints then gradually took over the body. hers seems to have gone bam there you go and in the space off 4 mths it has affected in some way a lot of joints and new ones seem to be appearing every month.

I have read the factsheets that were posted and the links so feel better prepared now. She has finally gone to school after having 4 days off. this is the bit that bothers me she is an A pupil but with all the time off and generally feeling awful, im bothered she ill fall behind and she is in her last year ready to sit her exams, with the hope off going to 6th form.

Thank you Dawn

tjt6768

I'm so sorry but can't advise..
However, I really wanted to say that I hope she's alright and that they get her sorted with treatment... It must be dreadful seeing your little girl suffer. My daughter is showing signs of similar pains to me, she's twenty four.. She's been referred to the rheumy. I really hope I've not passed my dodgy genes into her.

Best of luck, keep us up to date please?