Questions about a new diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Hello, Our 2 and a half year old daughter was diagnosed with JRA in

Aug of 2005. We have been to Vanderbilt (since there isn't a Pediatric

Rheumatologist in Alabama) where we were initially diagnosed with

Pauciarticular JRA and put on an oral steriod and ibuprofen. This

reduced the swelling in her right knee, but did not completely knock

it out. We have also been to the pediatric opthamologist, which we do

have at UAB (good checkup, thankfully).

We are trying to decide what kind of treatment to go with. She is

scheduled to have surgery on her knee (steroid injection) on Mon Jan

30. We are trying to avoid using Methotrexate, if possible. Also, we

have just changed Doctors and are using a new M.D. at Emory in

Atlanta. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? This is still new to

us. Do you think we should go to another program in another state

(Philadelphia, Hopkins, Houston, etc.). We live in Alabama and can

travel to anywhere!

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

- Casselman