Help w/JRA Questions? | Arthritis Information

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Hello there,

 
I am hoping that you can help me answer a few questions about medicines and JRA. My eight year old was diagnosed with JRA about two and a half years ago. He has it in both hands, both knees, both ankles, and both feet. He also has Raynauds, but I guess that is another story.
 
Over the last two years, my son has continued to add more joints and continued to walk up the medicine ladder. He is currently on MTX and Humira. At his RD appt today, he still had inflammation in one of his knees, and his doctor said we may need to "try the next thing" if his blood work doesn't come back OK. He has already tried Enbrel but had to stop it due to bad side effects. I know I should have asked the doctor what he meant, but I didn't think about it until he was out of the room.
 
So here are my questions:
 
What is the next thing? Remicade?
 
What medicines are still left on the list, after MTX, Enbrel, and Humira?
 
If he is already potentially moving past Humira at 8, is he going to eventually run out of options?
 
And, finally, do your doctors tend to move you up the ladder if you are only having moderate pain and swelling?
 
If you have made it to the end of this post, you have my many thanks. I know this is a lot, but my head is spinning right now. I keep thinking we are going to get somewhere, but any progress we make always turns out to be very short-lived. I'm getting a little frustrated!
 
Thanks in advance for your answers,
 
Kippy
 
 
I don't know much about JRA as I was diagnosed as an adult, but just wanted to say welcome, even though I'm sorry you had to find us. There are quite a few members here who have JRA and some Mother's of children with JRA, so just be patient and I'm sure they'll be able to answer your questions.ooh i wanna say welcome too!! im sure somebody will answer ur questions
 
i dont know tho, of course. actually i have JRA and im 13. all i take is MTX and prednisone, but thats cuz mine isnt too bad. ive had JRA since April.
 
anywayz i hope u get all of ur questions answered. there are alot of helpful people on here and im sure you'll find out what u need.
Thanks Brisen and Star! I'll keep checking back.Bump...hate to see this get pushed to the bottom until the JRA's have an opportunity to respond.Bumpbump

I was DXed with JRA when I was 18 months old, and am now 30 years old. I cannot really help you with your questions. As when I was a kid, I was told to take asprin. And when I was a teenager, I was only given NSAIDs, mainly naproxan sodium and Lodine XL. I did not get offers of harsher drugs until I was 20.

So... I really am not much help to you. Sorry.
 
Even with us adults, on here, it seems that if we are still experiencing moderate symptoms, that our RDs will still want to move us on to something else that they hope will put us into remission or have less flares. It takes a lot of trouble shooting for the right drug combo. Sometimes you go up the ladder, and then they will go back down the ladder and retry some meds, and sometimes those meds that did not seem to work before will work the next time around.
 
I hope the best for your son.
bumpThank you so much for your responses and bumps. I guess its either not a terribly interesting question or not something people feel comfortable commenting on.
 
Oh well, at least I tried.
 
Good luck on your journies,
 
Kippy
I am often concerned about moving up the ladder.  I take Rituxan which is often the last med for many people.  Been there, done that with the others.  I am 32(not nearly as young as 8 of course) but it still scares me.  My Rd always says that there are many many drugs being developed for RA so I shouldn't be concerned.  Of course, I still am.  And as a mom, you can't help it.
 
If you son has swelling while on a biologic, the dr. will want to try another med.  I am glad your dr. is being agressive with the illness so prevent future damage.  I was finally diagnosed at 19 and started MTX the same day.  There are many people on the board who had to wait for a diagnosis or were moved too slowly up the drug ladder. 
Hang in there Kippy...sometimes it takes several days to get multiple responses.I have a friend whose daughter has JRA.  She said the Parents and Parenting board at
arthritis.org might help.  Her daughter is on the Antibiotic Protocol.

She said there is also a JRA board here on AI.

HI Kippy!
Sorry your little guy is dealing with this! 
I was DX'd w/ JRA when I was 10 years old... and we took aspirin and used ice.... that was all I as permitted.. PT and braces were my other options..
I can understand feeling that at 8 w/ Humira being tossed aside, you may run out of possibilities.. but they are always researching... and finding new options for us....and.....
 
who knows?  Maybe a true cure would be discovered?
 
Keep the hope!!
 
Best to you and your son!
Babs
By the way, her daughter is doing well.Bump
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