Easy Life with Arthrities
Activity is one of the best medicines for a child with arthritis because it makes the child feel like other children. Moreover, exercise helps reduce joint stiffness. However, the arthritic child should be encouraged not to overexert during strenuous activities that may cause more inflammation. Although a child can go to school during a flare-up of the arthritis, some limitations should be placed on physical activities in the classroom and playground at those times.
Making Each Day Easier
Children with arthritis may benefit from suggestions for coping with everyday situations. For example, they may sometimes have difficulty in carrying schoolbooks and lunch trays, turning door handles, flushing toilets, turning on water faucets, writing fast enough to complete tests during the allotted time, opening lockers, writing on blackboards or raising a hand to ask a question. Many of the self-help aids available for adults can be adapted for use by youngsters.
Young people with arthritis find a variety of ways to overcome difficulties. For example, some students keep one set of books at home and another at school so that books do not have to be carried each day. Some use a shoulder bag or backpack to avoid putting stress on hands and wrists. Others enlist a group of buddies to assist routinely with specific difficult tasks. When children understand each other’s limitations they are generally eager and willing to help without making the affected child feel different and uncomfortable.
You can help by advising your child’s teacher that long periods of sitting can make the pain and stiffness of arthritis worse. The teacher might help by occasionally asking the child to perform some chore involving movement, such as collecting papers from the class. If there is difficulty in walking fast enough from one room to another, the child might be excused a few minutes earlier- than the other children. In a multistory school building, the child might be permitted to use an elevator to prevent undue stress on leg joints while climbing stairs.
Your Child’s Future
Although current treatments are effective for many children, much remains to be learned about juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. As more is learned about possible causes, better treatments can be initiated earlier. Your physician keeps up to date on developments as they occur and will advise you when better medications are available or when changes in your child’s treatment plan are necessary.
To serve the special needs of young arthritis patients and their families, the US Arthritis Foundation has established a membership section called the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization. Parents, patients, relatives, friends, teachers, and health professionals are invited to join. Through this organization you can learn about additional association that provides information, assurance, and assistance.