Teenage Arthritis
Yeah, you read that right.
I have arthritis. I am 17. A 17-year-old with arthritis. You may be thinking how is this possible? This is a misdiagnosis! Teens can’t get this disease!
Well, you’re wrong. I have JIA. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. What is this? I’m not a doctor, but I can tell you from experience.
My Diagnosis
I was a sophomore in high school, dealing with normal high schooler stuff. Managing practice, homework, friend drama. The morning after a hard cheer practice, I noticed that my wrist was swollen. I was thinking are you kidding me, another injury?! But, the swelling went down during the day. Until this lump on my left wrist kept coming back and it started causing me pain at practice.
So, after noticing this pattern of inflammation, like any normal person I googled “why is my wrist fat?” and lo and behold, google diagnosed me with a cyst! My mom agreed, so we tried home remedies to remove the cyst while we waited for an appointment at the “hand doctor.” My favorite method of trying to burst the cyst was slapping a heavy book on my hand. That did not work. The doctor disagreed with my diagnosis and sent me to Rheumatology (I still haven’t memorized how to spell it).
After waiting months for an appointment, my doctor presumed it was arthritis. I was shocked. We did many tests to confirm this diagnosis, and this time it was correct. I had Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at 15 years old. And now, at 17 years old, I still have it!
Side note: I found it very interesting to learn that after I turn 18, it is still referred to as juvenile arthritis!
My Journey
After coming to terms with my diagnosis, I felt embarrassed. How was I supposed to tell my friends and coaches that I have arthritis? After some therapy, I found the courage to come clean. They didn’t understand, and I accepted that, because, quite frankly, I didn’t understand either. I thought to myself, how did this happen, why me? I later found out there is no direct cause of juvenile arthritis, it just sort of happens. By this point, the pain was getting worse. The inflammation was larger and stayed longer. And it hasn’t gone away since. As of today, I have tried 3 different forms of medicine all in the form of an injection, they all didn’t work. Onto the fourth one. Additionally (through the advice of relatives), I have tried many home remedies, such as going gluten-free, eating more anti-inflammatory fruits, and drinking more green tea. Although I always appreciate the tips, I wish they would work. Despite having arthritis, I find it critical to remain active. I have continued to cheer throughout this whole journey and have recently taken up yoga. It’s been a long experience of trial and error, mainly errors, but it’s important to remain hopeful.
How I Stay Positive
Although I wish (on a daily basis) that I could exchange my body for a healthy one, I try to have a positive attitude. I find comfort knowing that I am not alone. In fact, almost 300,000 kids across America struggle with a form of juvenile arthritis. Hearing stories from others make me grateful that I am still able to compete in the sport I love. It has also sparked an interest in me for learning about genetics! Overall, it sucks, but I remain hopeful that one treatment will work. I remind myself that an optimistic perspective can make a huge difference.