Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

How is it Treated?

Splints

Splints help keep joints in the correct position and relieve pain. If a joint is developing a contraction (bent in the wrong position), a splint may help stretch that joint gradually back to its normal position. Commonly used splints include knee extension splints, wrist extension splints and ring splints for the fingers.

An occupational or physical therapist usually makes the splint. Arm and hand splints are made from plastic; leg splints are sometimes made of cast material. The therapist custom-makes the splint for your child and can adjust the splint as your child grows, or as the joint position changes.

Morning Stiffness Relief

Many children experience a period of stiffness when they get up each day. This morning stiffness can be one of the best measures of disease activity; the longer the stiffness lasts, the more active the disease. Taking a hot bath or shower, sleeping in a sleeping bag or warm bed, doing range-of-motion exercises, or using a hot or cold pack can help relieve it. Although most children do better with warmth, there are a few who respond to cold treatments (a plastic bag filled with ice or frozen vegetables works well).

Surgery

Surgery is rarely used to treat juvenile arthritis in the early course of the disease. However, surgery can be used to relieve pain, release joint contractures and replace a damaged joint. 

In joint replacement surgery, the entire joint is replaced with an artificial joint. This procedure is used mainly in older children whose growth is complete or almost complete and whose joints are badly damaged by arthritis. This operation is usually used to replace the hip, knee or jaw joints. It can reduce pain and improve function.

Soft tissue release may sometimes help to improve the position of a joint which has pulled out of line by a contracture. In this operation, the surgeon cuts and repairs the tight tissues that caused the contracture, allowing the joint to return to a normal position.

Medications | Exercise | Splints/Surgery | Eye & Dental Care/Diet