how do they diagnos JA? | Arthritis Information
I'm 15 years old, and for the last 3 or 4 months, I've been experiencing symptoms that are pointing me towards some type of Juvenile Arthritis. I have been to just a normal pediatrician, and he diagnosed me as having carpal tunnel in both of my wrists and hands. I have stiffness in the morning and afternoon, back pain, i've lost my grip in my hands, and swelling and pain in my knees and ankles. Also, the symptoms seem to get a lot worse when I'm "under the weather". I'm not sure what else it COULD be, other than arthritis. I was just wondering how the doctors are supposed to diagnos someone with JA. I've been trying to ignore the symptoms but now it's getting in the way of my life and happiness.
Any insight would be very helpful!
thank you!
<3 emily
Hey emilyann, I think they diagnose it the same way they do adult RA.
There are 7 criteria and if you have 4 of them it's RA. I think sometimes
Doctors don't want to diagnose it because they don't want you to have it!
But if you do have RA, it's important to get early, interventional treatment,
so please see your doctor and ask to be sent to a rheumatologist.
Also, sometimes people have symptoms of RA and then they go asway by
themselves. It's actually not that common but if you haven't had the
symptoms for long it's still possible.
I hope whatever it is you get it under control and that you feel better
soon.
Here is some info from another website:
DIAGNOSIS — There is no single sign, symptom, or test result that allows
the definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, the diagnosis is
based on a consideration of many factors, including the presence of the
characteristic signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, the results of
laboratory tests, and the results of x-rays.
Doctors usually base the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis on the
presence of at least four of the following criteria:
•Morning stiffness that lasts at least one hour and that has been present
for at least six weeks
•Swelling of three or more joints for at least six weeks
•Swelling of the wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), or proximal
interphalangeal (PIP) joints for at least six weeks
•Swelling of the same joints on both sides of the body
•Changes in hand x-rays that are characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis
•Rheumatoid nodules of the skin
•Rheumatoid factor found in the blood
However, these criteria are most helpful in people with established
rheumatoid arthritis, and they may be absent early in the course of the
condition. Furthermore, the criteria may be present in some people in the
early stages of other rheumatic conditions.
Several other medical conditions have signs and symptoms similar to
rheumatoid arthritis, including other inflammatory rheumatic diseases,
fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis, as well as arthritis caused by psoriasis,
infection, and gout.
In most cases, the pattern of signs and symptoms and the results of
diagnostic tests help differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis and other
conditions. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to monitor the
condition over time before a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be
made or excluded with certainty.
The website I got that from was
http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=arth_rhe/2411
do you have access to a juvenile rheumatologist where you live..that ought to be your next step
Diagnostic Criteria of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Criteria include (1) onset before age 16 years; (2) arthritis involving one or more joints or presence of at least two of the following findings: (a) limitation in range of motion (ROM), (b) tenderness or pain with joint movement, (c) increased fever; (3) disease persisting 6 weeks or longer; (4) clinical features of (a) polyarthritis: inflammation in five or more joints, (b) oligoarthritis: inflammation in fewer than five joints, (c) systemic: characteristic arthritis that develops with fever; and (5) exclusion of other juvenile arthritis.
I'm definitely going to look into finding a rheumatoligist around where I live.
Thank you so much for your help! I wouldn't have known what to do without
your insight. I honestly didn't even know rheumatoligists existed.
thank you :]
Emily I just want to wish you well and do hope that this is one of those that will go away on it's own.
Take care
Emily, best of luck, I sincerely hope it burns itself out, but if not, know that you can visit here anytime for chats, support, venting, anything you need, OK, lots of luck, regards Janie.
I already feel better knowing there's a ton of support out there for me if I
need it! Thank you :]Hello Emily!
I was diagnosed with JRA when I was 15 or 16 ish.
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