Hi. If you go into the "forum" section, there is a Young Adult subsection.

http://community.arthritis.org/forums/Forum1828-1.aspx

You should be able to find some people in the same boat as your husband.

Best of luck!

I was also diagnosed in my early childhood. I am 47 now and things are really out of control. My parents did not know enough to get me the proper treatment back then.

I also need a knee replacement. My orthpaedic surgeon keeps telling me to tuff-it-out until age 50. I live in such pain because my arthritis is rheumatoid and is now in most joints and internal organs (systemic).

My advise is just to be your own best advocate. These doctors don't live with the pain day in and dayout. You need to arm yourself with all the knowledge that you can get and find a good rheumatologist, ophthamologist, and internist.

Good luck to you. Cass

Hi, Stellabella126, I just wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with JRA when I was 18 months old and I am now 26. I can relate to his pain. The arthritis has been under control throughout my life with medication, but the past few years I've been experiencing more pain. I have also recently been considering having total hip and knee replacement surgery. I would love to help you in anyway I can; friendship, support, and advice. Hope to hear from you soon. My email is Holly5172@aol.com.
Sincerely, April

your husband should toughen up and be a man...

I was diagnosed with Reiter's Diease by a Rheumatologist at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, N.Y.C.in 1954. I was 20 and worked from 2-10 p.m. as an IBM Proof machine operator at a bank in Wall Street I tried to write during the day. I was prescribed 10 aspirin a day. I had joint pains in the heel and elbow. My knee would swell up with synovial fluid.

When I got out of work, I'd have a few beers at a bar on Lexington Avenue. I found out that when I walked the four blocks back to my apt., the joint pain began to decrease. But it would come back with a vengeance in the a.m.

It took six months before the first remission set in. I had three bouts of Reiters, each lasting about six months in a span of 20 years. When the last attack occurred in 1973, I called the Rheumatologist. He said go back on the aspirin and added that the disease could burn out of my system.

I've had no attacks since 1973. However, a Ct Scan of my bone marrow revealed a "hot left big toe" which resulted in a minor case of the Gout. So far I can live with it, at my tender age.

THE ONLY WAY I DEALT WITH THE PAIN WAS TO CURSE IT OUT. I'm not recommending that unusual approach to anyone else. Each to his own, as they say. I have three grown kids, and five grandchildren.

To all you RA sufferers, try to hang in there.