waiting for possible diagnosis

March 15, 2011

my daughter is 6 and has had knee and ankle pain in her right leg for at least 2

years. No stifness ever but waking at night at least twice a week and crying for

several hours of pain. She also complained during the day a few times a week. We

thought it was growing pains but the pain is so bad and so frrequent and just in

one leg. I took her to a Rheumy 5 wks ago. Blood work was all normal. Rheumy

mentioned her RT leg was longer and her knee and ankle felt different than her

good leg. She started her on Naproxen once a day and my daughter has been on it

for 5wks and NOT ONCE has she had lef pain. AMAZING. We go back April 6th. Im

wondering if she will be diganosed with JRA or not. Any thoughts?

March 15, 2011

Hi - it sounds quite possible that your daughter has JIA. My daughter,

is has pauciarticular JIA - affects 4 joints or fewer, and hers has only

been in her left wrist. Pauci also tends to be " assymetrical " - meaning one

joint on one side of the body may be affected, but not the other side. is's

blood work has all been normal as well - rheumatoid factor, sed-rate, CRP, etc.

Sometimes JIA can be a diagnosis of " exclusion " - where they've tested for

everything else and can find no other causes. She was ruled out for Lyme's

disease, leukemia, MRI for fractures or sprains, etc. We did naprosyn twice a

day for almost 11 months, prednisone (not recommended), and methotrexate. The

thing that has best helped Lexi it seems is a cortisone shot that she received

about a week and a half ago. For the first time in over 18 months she has full

range of motion and is using her joint correctly. Glad to hear you have another

appt with a rheumy (make sure its someone that is " pediatric " ).

You have found a great group here - so many people to be in touch with and

they're so helpful. I've been on here for about 2 months and have learned so

much.

, daughter is, 5, pauci

>

> my daughter is 6 and has had knee and ankle pain in her right leg for at least

2 years. No stifness ever but waking at night at least twice a week and crying

for several hours of pain. She also complained during the day a few times a

week. We thought it was growing pains but the pain is so bad and so frrequent

and just in one leg. I took her to a Rheumy 5 wks ago. Blood work was all

normal. Rheumy mentioned her RT leg was longer and her knee and ankle felt

different than her good leg. She started her on Naproxen once a day and my

daughter has been on it for 5wks and NOT ONCE has she had lef pain. AMAZING. We

go back April 6th. Im wondering if she will be diganosed with JRA or not. Any

thoughts?

>

March 15, 2011

Hi .

While our son had indications of inflammation all over his blood work and no

obvious issues in his joints, what I have learned from our rheum is that it

sounds possible your daughter may get a JRA diagnosis. In my limited experience

so far, I think it's good news that the naproxen has worked for her already (it

didn't for us - he held steady but needed heavier duty stuff). I hope she

continues to do well.

Let us know how the appointment goes in April!

Sharon (, early onset systemic, 16 months old)