adult with history of systemic JRA .... I have questions!!

[Guest guest]

Hello!

I am 35 years old and was diagnosed with sysJRA at age 5. Back then

(1978) the disease wasn't treated as agressively as it is today so I

was only on aspirin therapy. I had all the classic symptoms...high

temps, rash, elevated sed rate and wbc's, warm, red, stiff, painful

joints, nausea, poor appetite. These systemic symptoms remitted

after 6 months on aspirin. The joint pain and stiffness continued

throughout my childhood in varying degrees of severity.

My questions are concerning the long term effects of JRA on my adult

joints. I do not have active disease now, but wonder the likelihood

of having residual cartilage damage in my joints. I ask because

recently I injured my right knee (torn meniscus) and required

arthroscopy. During the procedure, the doc found an area of

articular cartilage damage typical of advanced arthritis. I wonder

if this damage could be from continued inflammation in the joint as a

child. I'm sure if I was a child today I would have remained on

medications as long as I had joint pain but back then they considered

and absent fever and rash remission. I've been searching the

internet for information on the long term effects of JRA on the

joints in adulthood but have not found too much!! Any info would be

very helpful and apreciated!!

Thank you,

New Jersey