Childhood Arthritis

Arthritis is mainly associated with adults and when I've told people that I suffer from it, I normally get, "What, arthritis?" or "Isn't that what old people get?" And yeah I thought that too but that's not the case. Childhood Arthritis is very rare compared to adult Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis and the cause for it is unknown. 

The most common type of childhood  Arthritis is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). This was my diagnosis and it was also 'polyarticular' meaning in more than five areas. It can make it harder for children to do everyday tasks such as dressing and walking and in the worst cases can result in disability. Although there is no permanent cure you can achieve permanent remission, where the disease is inactive.

I first realised that something was wrong when I was in year seven at secondary school and I couldn't press the palms of my hands flat together, which for any eleven year old should be easy. I told my Mam and we made an appointment at the doctors. We then noticed some other changes. My knees had fluid around them and my wrist and ankle bones weren't visible and my fingers were swollen but I think the worst was the pain every morning. My Mam ended up having to wake me up half an hour early before school just so I could take tablets to reduc the pain and be able to get out of bed. I found that not being able to tie my hair back or write properly at school were hands down the most frustrating things. Common symptoms can include joint pain, swelling, fever, rash, fatigue and loss of appetite, which I also struggled with immensely. 

At the doctors appointment I was referred to a local hospital where I was diagnosed. I remember feeling like my world was literally over. For me it was the worst news I could ever hear and I actually ran from my Mam and Nana to the stairwell of the hospital because I didn't want them to see me cry.  I have relatives that are in wheel chairs because of Arthritis, and dramatic as it sounds, I thought that would be the same for me. I was then referred again to the RVI hospital in Newcastle where they have a specialist ward to deal with immune deficiencies. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an immune response in which the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells.

I was kept in for three days whilst they had me on an intravenous steroid drip to calm my system quickly and so they could organise long term medication. Okay, so I'd NEVER taken tablets before. I was the typical Calpol or Nurofen sachet gal and they told me I'd be on six tablets a day, which is the worst thing to say to a non-tablet consuming eleven year old. So I spent my afternoon in Elden Square trying to swallow tic-tac's. Fun.

The medication they give to children basically decreases your white cell count as your body is over producing them. This weakens your immune system significantly. Initially I was on tablets and after many appointments they switched me to injections as it gets into your system a lot quicker. The first set of injections contained 'Methotrexate' which I didn't mix with at all. They told me it was a very small dose of what they would give to cancer patients and the side affects I had were awful I had anticipatory sickness and it made me sad. They then changed to an alternative called 'Etanercept' which was much more pleasant. I was on Etanercept for two years and then they took me off  it, which was around the time I did my GCSEs. At some point, which I can't quite place when, I was put under for direct steroid injections into my hands which was my worst effected area. So this was all over a course of four years. 

When I was on the medication I honestly felt normal again. For some they don't get back to having a full range of movement and have permanent effects from the disease but I was very lucky and apart from loosing a bit of my flexibility I had no long lasting damage.

After starting my first year at MEPA I did relapse. I had been clear of any 'active' arthritis for about a year and a half at this point and it was yet another gutting set back. Over the last two years I've successfully been taking medication with no flare ups. So hopefully soon I will be looking at a way to see if I have achieved remission again and best case, stop the injections.

I know this was a long one but I thought it would be nice to talk a bit more in depth on the topic. I feel like unless you know someone well who has arthritis or work in a hospital, you wouldn't know a lot. I'm forever grateful for my parents who looked after me endlessly, love them both untold amounts.

Thank you for reading!