Obstacles overcome
At the end of 6th grade I started experiencing unpleasant, if at the time inconsequential changes. Puberty was supposed to hold as much, so I paid little regard to my mild stiffness and slight reduction of range of motion. Then in the spring I experienced pain in the metatarsus of both my feet, both with and without pressure at times, something I initially attributed to track, but worsened even after the season ended. So off I went to our pediatrician. She at first though that it was plantar fasciitis, but my mother (a PT) was suspicious, that is regionalized in the heel. Given her family history, and my diminished range of motion in other joints, she eventually argued me into an appointment with a juvenile rheumatologist, along with blood tests to test …show more content…
I eventually conclusively diagnosed with JRA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, later in the summer. I remember after we left the appointment she, one of the tougher people I know was crying, where I was mildly annoyed, but satisfied I had found an answer. I had not yet realized the long reaching effects and consequence. Then of course, I was fully hit in the face with them. What was simply a pain to walk with, worsened. My right knee, left wrist, elbows, feet and fingers on my right hand were affected initially and seriously, often hurting whether or not they were in motion. I went through pills twice daily, weekly injections, trips to the infusion center, blood draws, and three steroid injections in different joints. I still swam during those years, and had vivid bruises and scrapes all over my shins because I had trouble getting myself out of the pool, as I couldn’t lock my elbow easily. I’ve gone through the interesting process of having my eyes number and dilated to check if there was inflammation that