Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020

Parenting a Child With Juvenile Arthritis Requires Balance

Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

When you say “juvenile arthritis,” many people imagine it’s the same disease that affects older people. (Hint: It’s not.) But despite having an “old person’s disease,” kids and teens with ... Read more

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

Overcoming Loneliness Caused by Juvenile Arthritis

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Juvenile arthritis can be such an isolating disease. Flares can cause you to miss out on activities and events. Doctors’ appointments may mean missing school and time with friends. And ... Read more

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020

How to Stay Positive When Others Share Negative JA Experiences

Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

There are groups for everything nowadays, especially online! I’m a member of several Facebook groups. I provide updates to the ladies on my crocheting group and offer advice about my ... Read more

September 3, 2020September 4, 2020

Injuries Can Be a Big Deal With Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

While I like watching sports, I have never been an athletic person. So, naturally, gym class was always my least favorite. But my disdain for gym class went beyond not ... Read more

August 27, 2020August 28, 2020

Getting a Diagnosis Sometimes Brings Considerable Relief

Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

When I was a child dealing with undiagnosed juvenile arthritis, my mum struggled to have a provider listen to her concerns. I remember her telling me about the show “House ... Read more

August 13, 2020August 14, 2020

5 Overlapping Symptoms of JA and Depression

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Being a teen is tough, and it’s no secret that teens with juvenile arthritis tend to have higher incidences of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. Neither is it ... Read more

August 6, 2020August 12, 2020

4 Ways to Ease the Pain of Biologic Injections

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

You’d think that the last thing a parent ever expects to learn is that their child has arthritis. But in reality, many people are more shocked to learn that some ... Read more

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020

Sometimes Kids With Juvenile Arthritis Need Encouragement

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I’ve heard it said that when you suffer from chronic pain, everything takes twice the effort. I know I feel that way, especially during flares, when it feels like I’m ... Read more

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020

For a Child Newly Diagnosed with JA, There’s Hope for the Future

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Even after I had suffered from symptoms for years, being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis brought a lot of fear and hopelessness. I wondered what my future would look like. Would ... Read more

July 16, 2020July 22, 2020

When Juvenile Arthritis Becomes the Butt of the Joke

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

It’s hard as a child to deal with bullying. Unfortunately, kids with chronic illnesses can be frequent targets. Not every child with juvenile arthritis deals with this issue, but some ... Read more

July 9, 2020July 10, 2020

‘Inside Out’ Helps Kids With JA Talk About Their Feelings

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I’m a giant Disney nerd. So when “Inside Out” came out a few years ago, I had to see it. While I loved the jokes and colorful animation, I was ... Read more

July 2, 2020July 6, 2020

Is Remote Learning the Best Option for Kids with JA?

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I chuckled, looking at pictures of my little cousin on a Zoom call with her classmates. It looked like the world’s cutest business meeting. Twenty smiling faces, so happy to ... Read more

June 25, 2020June 26, 2020

How to Thoughtfully Raise Awareness About Juvenile Arthritis

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Ten years ago, a Disney Channel special inspired me to start an online journal. Almost every day after school, I curled up next to the family dog and wrote a ... Read more

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

During JA Flares, Just Keep Moving Forward

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

It felt like gravity was pulling me down. I was trying to walk up a hill, but my legs felt like jelly. Worse, my hips were screaming in pain. They ... Read more

June 11, 2020June 12, 2020

When Juvenile Arthritis Predicts the Weather

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

A few weeks ago, I couldn’t get comfortable. I sat on the couch, fidgeting and shifting, but couldn’t find any relief. Climbing into bed and propping my knees with pillows didn’t do ... Read more