Coping with Pain for Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

If you've ever experienced aching joints, imagine what a child with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis must go through on a consistent basis. Here are some tips for coping with pain for children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Although the doctor should prescribe something to help with pain and inflammation, there are things you can do to help your child deal with the pain of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Validate the pain. This is not to say to baby your child through the pain, though some extra hugs, love and concern during extremely painful times can go a long way to help ease your child's pain. If your child feels you care that he or she is hurting and go out of your way to be there, it will help a lot.

Moist heat or cool. The doctor might suggest your child sit in a tepid bath with epsom salts to relax your child. Alternately the doctor might suggest warm or cool compresses which can be as simple as a soaked towel wrung out enough to use on the child. The doctor might even suggest alternating heat and cool for your child's joint pain. Be sure to find out from your child's doctor if warm or cool moist heat is right for your child.

Movement. Your child may hurt to much to want to move the affected joint(s), but lack of movement can create stiffness and make joints hurt even worse. Encourage movement of the affected joint(s) eve if it's just small range of motion exercises while your child is relaxing reading a book or some other quiet activity.

Massage. You should only massage the affected joint(s) if recommended by your child's doctor. Certain people react differently to massage even in the same condition, so be sure to check with the doctor to be sure any home remedy or alternative therapy is okay to use on your child.

Doctor ordered treatments. Be sure your child attends all treatment sessions, including for physical therapy and possible cortisone shots. It is important to follow the doctor's care when helping your child, but you can do any of the above-mentioned home remedies if the doctor says it's all right to do so.

REFERENCE:

Kids Health; Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/arthritis/jra.html#