Does anyone have any experience of this/these conditions?  #2 son has been backwards and forwards to A & E for the past 2 years or so with unexplained very acute pains in his right arm, lately it's been leading to loss of feeling and an inability to move the wrist & fingers :(  Today was the 2nd time in a week he's been so affected, and each time it's been after a blow to the arm :(  The Dr he saw today has suggested RA,which has been on my mind for some time now.  He's otherwise active and healthy, takes part in Scouts and wants to be a jet pilot when he grows up :(

Hi Digger rheumatoid arthritis cause disfiguring to the joints and fingers it can also cause the sufferer to get like nobules on their knuckles. my father suffered with rheumatoid arthritis and he said it was very painful, but there are many different forms of Arthritis your son could have a form of any. has your doctor not said about refering your son to a specialist or taken any blood samples to try and find what is the cause of his pains.Ihope he is feeling better soon
regards polly_45

Thats very sad, I do hope ur son is able to ful fill his dream :)
Wishing him the best

Hi Fran
I've only just seen this, what a shame :(
Sorry no advice, just hope his arm improves and that it's not arthritis.

Lindsay
x

I'd also get cervical spondylosis checked for if his bloods etc. come back clear.  I have this and last year for 9 months I suffered with severe pain in my shoulder, causing numbness and loss of feeling in my arm, fingers etc.  The CS caused a trapped nerve and only after 9 months do I not suffer with any pain.  At the moment I only have numbness in my thumb and one finger.

Hope your son finds out soon what it is and I've got everything crossed.

Yes, we had a whole research unit (3 wards) for juvenile rheumatism at the hospital where I trained in the 1960s. Juvenile RA was called Still's disease then - we had several children with it, the youngest I met was about 13 months. They came from all over the country, and it was the early days of steroid treatment. Thankfully, now there is more expertise countrywide, and treatments are more effective. Physio, though, was and still is one of the cornerstones of treatment. Please make sure your son is referred to a rheumatologist as soon as possible, and I do hope he will soon be receiving appropriate care and will make good progress.

Thanks for the support folks.  He came home from Scouts on Friday because he was in so much pain after somebody bumped into him :(  Had another bout this morning when he younger brother jolted his arm :(  Half the time I want to wrap him in cotton wool, and the other half I just want him to do the things he wants to do.  His Dad won't let him out of the house this weekend either, because of not being able to administer pain relief if he needs it, and it's not fair to let other parents deal with a sobbing 10 year old.  Because of this, I've had both boys under my feet all weekend - it's OK for their Dad - he's playing in his office! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

The A & E Dr has asked for him to be referred to a rhumatologist (sp?) and the GP's surgery say that appointment should be through in a couple of weeks.

I'm glad the referral's been made, and please keep us in touch with his progress. :-)

:( Sorry to hear you son is in pain with this Digger.
I was diagnosed with the condition aged 11 - mainly in my hands. With me it used to flare up for a few weeks at a time and then the symptoms would ease right off for a while. It unfortunately meant I was unable to continue playing the piano as the movement in my fingers wasn't good enough. It was probably at it's worst when I was around 16 and doing my exams. I actually had someone to write up my essays and things for me because writing was quite painful.  By the time I was 18 the symptoms had almost disappeared. I'm 30 now and only really have problems when the weather changes or it is particularly cold and/or damp. I rarely take painkillers now. I was told not to eat too much red meat and this seems to have helped me alot. My hands don't look particularly arthritic anymore either. I'm sure your rhumatologist will help to get the symptoms under control. Good luck with everything :)

Thanks everyone, the school phoned this morning, wanting us to bring him home because he was in so much pain :(  Big Dave took the painkillers and anti inflamatories up to the school and administered them (the school won't allow him to take them into school for the staff to administer!) and sat with him while the pain subsided, then #2 son went back into class.  If we'd done what the school had wanted, he'd have missed a whole days schooling!  The Headmaster also observed #2 son, as he had suspected he was swinging the lead - but has had to agree the poor lad is in considerable pain :(