Question:
I`m too interested in the answer to that…My doc. just 2 days ago asked me how long I have had pain, I said I had pain that goes all the way back to my childhood. I had alot of trouble with my knees. Other trouble like not being able to keep up with the other kids…Thanks for asking that question. Jansi — janisD in SaultSte.Marie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s obvious from the responses to Aaron’s "question for everyone" that the media has fallen down on the job of making the public aware of JRA–could you folks with JRA help them out a little and give us a brief explanation of the main differences between JRA and adult-onset-RA or point me to a link that explains it well. I am asking because some of my RA symptoms have been problems that range back into childhood for me, and I am wondering if it could have started then, or if JRA has distinct differences that set it apart from adult-onset-RA. LizG
Response:
ok I have had Systemic onset JRA since I was 8. also known as still’s diease. I really don’t think that there is much difference between JRA and RA. I lot of it is the age thing. If you are dxed at 16 and under it is JRA. There are differenet symptoms for the three differenet types of jra. If you are dxed after 16 then it is called RA. I will do some more research for you and let you know if I find anything else that is different. Aaron Aaron’s JRA World http://members.aol.com/acnelson24 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s obvious from the responses to Aaron’s "question for everyone" that the media has fallen down on the job of making the public aware of JRA–could you folks with JRA help them out a little and give us a brief explanation of the main differences between JRA and adult-onset-RA or point me to a link that explains it well. I am asking because some of my RA symptoms have been problems that range back into childhood for me, and I am wondering if it could have started then, or if JRA has distinct differences that set it apart from adult-onset-RA. LizG
Response:
I should made myself little more clear. your right sysmetic onset is totally different then the other two forms of jra. I know just how bad that systemic jra can be. Since I to have had it now for 16 years. But for the other two forms of jra is or has some of the same effects of ra. Aaron Aaron’s JRA World http://members.aol.com/acnelson24
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Aaron & others, I’ve had systemic JRA Dx’d since age 5 but had symptoms since birth. The main difference (other than age) is most evident in the systemic form of the disease. In this type there can be organ damage as well as connective tissue damage. Systemic JRA works in much the same way Lupus does (which I also have). Systemic JRA can even be fatal (depending on which organs are affected and how severely). It is rapidly crippling and most are in a wheelchair within a few years of the diagnosis. It is NOT simply RA in children. It is a whole other disease, but with the same debilitating process. Even many doctors are not very well educated as to the differences in the diseases. I hope this helps a little bit to clear up the mystery. Krystie Rose
Response:
It’s obvious from the responses to Aaron’s "question for everyone" that the media has fallen down on the job of making the public aware of JRA–could you folks with JRA help them out a little and give us a brief explanation of the main differences between JRA and adult-onset-RA or point me to a link that explains it well.
Drdoc has a page on his website that explains JRA at http://www.axtec.co.za/users/drdoc/jra.htm I was 15 when I developed JRA. For me it was sudden onset and pretty severe. My joints from my neck to my toes would be hot, red, and swollen. I had profound fatigue as well as the generalized malaise that accompanied the disease. I spent long periods of time in hospital. Joint destruction was pretty rapid. My symptoms seem pretty classic from the description given on drdoc’s site, as well as from what others in this group have mentioned. I don’t know if there are profound differences between juvenile and adult onset, except that jra can take three forms.(pauciarticular with fewer than 5 joints affected polyarticular more than 5 joints, and systemic). There can be other health problems which develop as a result including growth retardation. Anemia is also present. If you are researching jra, also look for Still’s disease which is another name for the systemic form of the disease. HTH (now I’m getting fancy (g))
Response:
It’s obvious from the responses to Aaron’s "question for everyone" that the media has fallen down on the job of making the public aware of JRA–could you folks with JRA help them out a little and give us a brief explanation of the main differences between JRA and adult-onset-RA or point me to a link that explains it well. I am asking because some of my RA symptoms have been problems that range back into childhood for me, and I am wondering if it could have started then, or if JRA has distinct differences that set it apart from adult-onset-RA. LizG
Response:
Aaron & others, I’ve had systemic JRA Dx’d since age 5 but had symptoms since birth. The main difference (other than age) is most evident in the systemic form of the disease. In this type there can be organ damage as well as connective tissue damage. Systemic JRA works in much the same way Lupus does (which I also have). Systemic JRA can even be fatal (depending on which organs are affected and how severely). It is rapidly crippling and most are in a wheelchair within a few years of the diagnosis. It is NOT simply RA in children. It is a whole other disease, but with the same debilitating process. Even many doctors are not very well educated as to the differences in the diseases. I hope this helps a little bit to clear up the mystery. Krystie Rose
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.