Rheumatoid arthritis: Caitlin's story
Caitlin, who lives in Canberra, was only a baby when she was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis. Her parents first became concerned when they noticed that her knee joints were red and swollen, and she appeared to be in constant pain. She was hospitalised for 5 days with what the doctors thought was ‘a virus’, but the diagnosis of arthritis was not actually made until several months later, when she was 9 months old.
Caitlin is now 9 years old, and still has arthritis in her knees, toes and wrist joints. Not that it slows her down at all—Caitlin is in Year 4 at school, and does everything that her classmates do. She loves playing soccer and footy, and goes skiing with her family every season.
Caitlin was first prescribed naproxen (Naprosyn), an anti-inflammatory medication, to help make her joints less stiff, particularly in the mornings. However, it was not sufficient on its own to control her arthritis, and for this reason she was referred to a rheumatologist who prescribed methotrexate (a drug used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis). Caitlin also takes supplements of folic acid to help alleviate the nausea and vomiting that the methotrexate causes.
‘I have folic acid every night,’ Caitlin explained, ‘and on Saturday nights I have the methotrexate. I used to take it on Thursday, but then I was sick the next day on Friday, so I’m taking it on Saturdays now.’
That way, Caitlin misses very little school, and it doesn’t interfere with her Saturday soccer training. Caitlin also goes to hydrotherapy classes at the Canberra Hospital every Tuesday, where she does exercises to help her joints.
Assessments
Caitlin’s family takes her to Sydney every 3 months for regular assessments of her arthritis, which seems to be improving the older she gets. She has been having cortisone injected into her joints and the fluid drained from her knees under general anaesthetic every year. This procedure was not necessary last year and Caitlin hopes that by the time she is 12 she will have outgrown her rheumatoid arthritis and will no longer have to take medication.
In fact, the arthritis no longer affects her ankles, and she has already been able to reduce her methotrexate from a weekly dose to a fortnightly dose without her symptoms worsening. However, at her last rheumatology appointment, she was advised that it was early days yet, and that if she were to come off her medication too soon she could suffer a major setback.
Progress
Caitlin’s parents are very pleased with her progress. ‘We were actually more concerned when she was little,’ her mother said. ‘She started to walk but soon went back to crawling, as she couldn’t weight-bear. She’s so much better now that she’s on the methotrexate.’
In fact the main concern that her mum has these days is when Caitlin uses her arthritis as an excuse not to do her homework!
Annual camp
Last year, Caitlin went to Sydney for a very special reason—she was just old enough (8 years old) to go to Camp Footloose, the annual camp run by the Arthritis Foundation of New South Wales (now Arthritis NSW). She made some great friendships while she was there, and can’t wait to go back again in October.
The camp provides a fun environment that allows children and teenagers with arthritis to learn about ways of coping with, and gaining control over, their condition. The camp also gives the children the opportunity to develop leisure and sporting skills, and to increase their confidence and self-esteem.
Many activities are provided at the camp, such as horse-riding, BMX, water activities, golf, grass skiing, a farm visit, day trips and barbecues — all in a fun environment.
For more information on Camp Footloose, contact Arthritis NSW.
Last Reviewed: 14 February 2001
