Children and teenagers get a kind of arthritis called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In this video, Duncan, Danielle, and Lindsey discuss how they felt after being diagnosed with arthritis.
This video is provided for general information only. It does not replace a diagnosis or medical advice from a healthcare professional who has examined your child and understands their unique needs. Please speak with your doctor to check if the content is suitable for your situation.
For more information, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca/jia
Teens can visit the JIA teen site to learn about managing symptoms, and coping with JIA management now and in the future, teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/jiateenhub
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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Duncan: I found out that I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was two. Um, so really it's just been a way of life for me. I never knew anything different. It's just sort of right now who I am and who I've always been.
Lindsey: When I was trying to develop, you know how babies learn to walk, well instead of learning to walk I kept crawling. And then I was nursing certain parts like my arm or, you know, on my legs.
Danielle: When I first found out, it was kind of a shock. I thought only old people get arthritis.
Lindsey: Because arthritis is so uncommon in, you know, children and babies so I had to go through a bunch of tests.
Duncan: So how would you diagnose arthritis?
Dr. Cameron: Well anytime the word 'itis' comes up in medicine, it means inflammation.
Danielle: One day I started having pains in my hands and next thing you know I'm diagnosed with arthritis.
Dr. Cameron: The main steps involved in making a diagnosis usually include having a complete health history and physical exam.
Lindsey: CAT scans and MRIs.
Dr. Cameron: You might also have to have tests of your joint, blood, and tissue fluids, to check for infections and inflammation. It's arthritis that's lasted at least six weeks in a person under the age of 16 and for whom no other cause is found.
Danielle: I learned more about it and I became more comfortable. It was actually a good thing, not that I had arthritis, but it was good because now I could get medications and feel better and not have to be in pain anymore. So, though it was a big shock, I got used to it very quickly.
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AboutKidsHealth - The Hospital for Sick Children