I haven't posted in a long while.  I'm actually posting this in the RA forum as well in the hopes someone there might be able to help too.  I'm hoping everyone's hanging in there.  Brianna had both knees and ankles injected June 16th with terrific results!  Even before then, with the exception of a couple of flares, she had been doing pretty well.  So, after the injections, she was bouncing off the walls, doing anything and everything, and life was great again. Well, then about 2 weeks ago, she started getting intermittent hives (not itchy at all).  We thought it was sunscreen, so switched a couple times.  They kept coming and going.  Took her to the pediatrician who said it could also be a virus.  I also considered it a possible reaction to Enbrel...  But then, she was struck with sudden, severe, migratory foot pain!  This past Friday, I put her down for a nap at 1:30 pm (she was perfectly fine), and she woke up less than 2 hours later with a swollen, almost bruised-looking left foot, and was unable to walk!  Took her to the pediatrician because I thought she injured it.  She spoke with the rheumy via phone who thought it sounded like her arthritis flaring, and advised us to give her prednisone until we could get in to see her.  That same night (really only a few short hours later) she was absolutely fine again!  We gave her the steroid for 2 days, and then stopped because she was fine!  After spending a wonderful day at the beach without incident today, she awoke from bed tonight screaming in pain.  But this time, it was her right foot that was swollen, and she wouldn't apply the slightest bit of pressure or weight on it. 

The good news is, her rheumy is seeing her tomorrow afternoon.  To think, I had actually called to cancel tomorrow's appointment on Monday because she was fine by Saturday afternoon!  I thought that perhaps this was just some kind of fluke.  Ahh, just some wishful thinking.  I guess things were going so well, it was just too good to be true.  When I ask her if she wants me to kiss it to make it feel better, she says "no, because it's inside."  She's only 2 1/2, but she's able to articulate her pain specifically.  So it's not the bottoms of her feet, but rather, the tops and "inside."

Just wanted to ask if anyone has any experiences with hives and sudden foot pain.  I'm so frustrated and depressed tonight.  Why won't this get better?  What the hell is going on with her now?  Crazy thoughts are creeping into my mind.  I'm starting to wonder if this truly is JRA, or something else...Just sad, and looking for guidance.  Thanks so much for hearing me out...

All the best,

Karen and Alex, 6, poly (04/09)

Thanks so much for responding.  I also posted on the RA Connect forum, and the people there are wonderful too!  The rheumy visit went really well yesterday.  The doctor believes that Brianna has angioedema, which is hives under the skin and in the joints.  Super weird.  I'd never heard of it.  But because she was having recurring hives, and this strange pain that was so very different than her "typical" flares, angioedema is the theory.  I hope she's right, because she just wants to treat her with a round of Zyrtec (1 month to start).  So, no prednisone.  Wa-hoo!  She doesn't think it really has anything to do with the arthritis, other than that this angioedema can be an autoimmune response.  It's confusing, but I'll take it.  The angioedema could also be caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment (sun exposure), or to certain meds (I thought it may have been the Enbrel), but either way, it seems treatable. 

Otherwise, her knees and ankles are great, with just a tad bit of fluid in the right knee.  The joint injections did wonders for her.  She did suggest some physical therapy at this point because her right ankle seems a bit tight.  Overall, a good visit.

Thanks so much for your concern, and I truly hope that your children are doing well, and are having a good day!  Thanks again,

Vicky

Great news (strange what we consider great news some days) on the hives.  I take Zyrtec and it makes me very sleepy so I take right before bed...it's better now that I've been on it a couple months.  At first I really knocked me right out.   And I am so happy for the good news on her knees and ankles...

Let us know how the Zyrtec works. 

Karen and Alex, 6, poly (04/09)