Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
(Part 3)
Complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Several serious complications can result from juvenile idiopathic arthritis. But keeping a careful watch on your child’s condition and seeking appropriate medical attention can greatly reduce the risk of these complications:
• Eye problems. Some forms can cause eye inflammation. If this condition is left untreated, it may result in cataracts, glaucoma and even blindness. Eye inflammation frequently occurs without symptoms, so it’s important for children with this condition to be examined regularly by an ophthalmologist.
• Growth problems. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can interfere with your child’s growth and bone development. Some medications used for treatment, mainly corticosteroids, also can inhibit growth.
Treatments
There is no cure for JA, but with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, remission (little or no disease activity or symptoms) is possible.
The goals of JA treatment are to:
• Slow down or stop inflammation and prevent disease progression.
• Relieve symptoms, control pain and improve quality of life.
• Prevent or avoid joint and organ damage.
• Preserve joint function and mobility for adulthood.
• Reduce long-term health effects.
Self-Care
It’s important that children and teens make healthy lifestyle choices and use complementary therapies to manage the pain and stress of arthritis. These include:
• Healthy eating. Eating some foods, like those found in the Mediterranean diet (i.e. fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and extra virgin olive oil), and avoiding others (high-fat, sugary and processed foods) may help curb inflammation.
• Hot and cold therapies. Heat treatments, such as heat pads or warm baths, work best for soothing stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold is best for acute pain. It can numb painful areas and reduce inflammation.
• Topicals. Creams, gels or stick-on patches can ease the pain in a joint or muscle. Some contain the same medicine that’s in a pill, and others use ingredients that irritate nerves to distract from pain.
• Mind-body therapies. Meditation, deep breathing, distraction techniques (listening to music or reading) and practicing visualization can help relax and divert attention away from pain, especially during shot time.
• Massage and acupuncture. Massage may help reduce pain and ease stress or anxiety. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the body along special points to relieve pain. If there’s a fear of needles, acupressure, which uses firm pressure, may be used instead.
• Supplements. The use of supplements is rarely studied in children, but some supplements that help adults may help children, too. Ask a doctor about which supplements and vitamins may be helpful and which ones may cause side effects and medication interactions.
• Stress and emotions. Kids and teens with chronic diseases are more likely to get depressed. Therapists and psychologists can help kids deal with tough emotions and teach positive coping strategies. A strong support system of friends and family can also provide emotional support during tough times.