What are the non-surgical treatment options for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?
For juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), the main goals of treatment are to preserve a high level of physical and social functioning and maintain a good quality of life. To achieve these goals, doctors recommend treatments to reduce swelling, maintain full movement in the affected joints, relieve pain, and identify, treat, and prevent complications. Most children with JRA need medication and physical therapy to reach these goals. Possible medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Will I need surgery? For children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, surgery is rarely needed. Usually, non-surgical treatments, including medications and physical therapy, are sufficient. However, there are a few scenarios where surgery may be recommended: • spinal deformity: In severe cases, the way JRA affects the joints in the spine can cause it to curve too much. Surgery can address this deformity. • spinal in
