Jennie Garth's 5-Year-Old Has Arthritis

Jennie Garth's 5-Year-Old Has Arthritis

Thursday, September 4, 2008

90210 star speaks out about her family's health crisis.

Today, the news broke that Jennie Garth's 5-year-old daughter, Lola, has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that went undiagnosed for months. "She got very sick and we didn't know what was wrong with her," Garth, who has three girls with husband Peter Facinelli, told People. "I was basically locked in a closet with her for three months. It turned out to be a form of JRA; we treated her and it's in remission. It was tough, but she's better now."

What is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and what are the symptoms? Pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson fills us in:

• Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. In Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (also known as JRA), kids have one or more swollen, painful joints and often get fevers or rashes.

• JRA affects somewhere between 150,000 to 250,000 kids in the U.S., and it is twice as likely to appear in females. It can be short term (lasting a few weeks) or chronic and progressive (lasting years).

• JRA is not the same as your grandmother's arthritis. It tends to affect the big joints (like the hips, knees, elbows and shoulders) rather than smaller ones (though it certainly can show up in the fingers and toes, too). It can be
present in one joint, many joints, or all over the body with "systemic" symptoms.

• The symptoms of JRA can be obvious--like massively swollen knees and elbows with no preceding trauma--but they can also be subtle. Sometimes kids just have soreness in a joint or two or waxing and waning rashes. Fevers often accompany JRA. These fevers spike high in the evening and then go away during the daytime.

• JRA is thought to be autoimmune, meaning that the body's immune system accidentally turns on itself, generating inflammation and swelling. Therefore, the medical treatments for JRA are anti-inflammatory medicines. Physical therapy and exercise are extremely important with JRA, because the joints need to be mobilized--otherwise they can become stiff and the muscles around them weak. Often, JRA is managed by muscle and joint specialists called rheumatologists.

Any advice for Jennie Garth, Moms? Please comment below.

29 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

JRA could possibly be linked to too many vaccines and toxins in the body from them. Yes, it IS on the rise in recent years along with type 1 diabetes, autism and other autoimmune disorders. Why don’t you go look at the VAERS web site for vacicne reacitons? WHy does the govt. pay out for this condition as vacicne damage if it isn’t related? DO YOUR RESEARCH!

- JRA MAY be linked to vaccines

Posted 09/11/08 09:57 PM

Jennie, I saw your story on TV and was immediately taken back some 16 years. Our third daughter was diagnosed with JRA at the age of 2yrs after I, her mother and dance instructor, started noticing improper body alignment when she was 13 months old. It took us almost 2 years to get a definitive diagnosis. BUT, the positive side of all this is that our beautiful daughter, though challenged over the years, is a 21yr old Senior Business Major, graduating in May,in our Southeast Kansas town. She stayed active in dance, even finishing 7th in Tap at age 14yrs in NewYork City with Dance America. She is our inspiration. Having had 4 children in 4 and one half years, being a special education and dance teacher and my husband and I owning our own business, it has been overwhelming at times, but a blessing too. Our daughter has two older sisters that have always been there for her, as well as our youngest son. He often carried her books into school and made sure she was safe. I have had over 20years of experience in dealing with this chronic disease and have just under 2 years ago, been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis myself. BUT, I WILL NOT let it stop me. I am currently performing in the Nutcracker and am in our community theatre, Dinner with Friends play. I have noticed that most of the kids, as well as the adults I know with RA or JRA, are fair complected and blonde headed. I truly believe the recessive gene, a virus, chemicals or a combination of the previous is to blame. But, it really doesn’t matter so much as it matters that you stay educated, positive and advocate for your daughter,ALWAYS!! Please give her our love. We have an Arthritis Walk this Sunday at our YMCA. Our oldest daughter lives in Beverly Hills and she forwarded this to me. We are always here for you if you ever need anything. God Bless!

- Susie Lundy

Posted 09/11/08 10:33 PM

My Child was diagnosed early this year with JRA, it was very quick - she had the classic symtoms and was diagnosed. It has been heart wrenching to see my 3 year old suffering. I really want to thank Jennie for being BRAVE enough to announce this to the public and I hope that she will raise awareness so perhaps they can try and help our children. Please do not mock her, all she meant was that she had a hard time with her daughter and that she was probably majorly depressed. I was very depressed and I almost lost myself but came back because my child needed me. It is a horrible disease but I am hoping that it will be cured. I hear FISH OIL helps with this.

- Concerned Mom

Posted 09/13/08 07:43 AM

Our 13 year old daughter was diagnosed one year with JRA and about 6 weeks ago went into remission. It was a long struggle to get her there and we hope it lasts a long time. My side of the family carries the pre-disposition for rheumatoid arthritis and I have a severe case of it with extensive damage and our 23 year old daughter was just diagnosed 3 weeks with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also. For anyone out there looking for support if you have a child with JRA please visit www.kidsgetarthritistoo.com

- DannisMom

Posted 09/14/08 09:41 PM

I am 24 years old and have had JRA since I was 5 as well. Its not a death sentence people, and this little girl doesnt need those around her feeling sorry for her. she needs everyone around her to assure her that she can do everything that a child without JRA can do. My blessing in disguise was that I went undiagnosed for 4 years (JRA wasnt as well known back then). through these four years of my life i learned how to manage a normal life with the pain. there would be days when i couldnt straighten out my elbow or my knee and i could only limp to school. but i figured out that with a little heat and some movement the stiffness would go away. my doctors told me that i should not play sports or instruments due to my arthritis. YOU CANT TREAT A CHILD WITH JRA LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL. so, in the rebellious spirit that most children have, i participated in soccer, basketball, track, & cross country and learned to play the piano and violin (the two no-no’s according to the doctors). every doctor i came across told me that if i did not stop these activities i was going to need a knee replacement by the age of 25 so what did i do…became the captain of every one of those teams in high school. then i went on to compete in 3 consecutive Jr Olympics for track and field and earned a full scholarship to a division I university for track where i had an extremely successful college track career. and well, i have 1 more year until i am 25 and a knee replacement does not seem to be in my forecast what so ever. but even if it was, i would not regret living a full life up to this point. i can not imagine how miserable my life would be if my family kept me locked up because of the doctors orders. i feel blessed to have been able to accomplish all that i have amidst the JRA. i feel that it gave me a winning spirit and the knowledge that nothing could stop me from my dreams. every person in the world comes across undesired situations that provide an opportunity to close off life and protect ones self from the world, but that is not life. I

- elleMarie

Posted 10/25/08 10:27 AM

Our daughter was diagnosed at 10, she is now 15. It took us about 1 1/2 years and numerous doctors to get a diagnosis. She has become a wonderful activist to spread awareness. The Arthritis Foundation is a huge support network. Get in touch- they’ll connect you with moms, doctors, and kids with JRA that will give you hope and inspiration. You are not alone!

- jessmom

Posted 01/11/09 02:00 AM

My daughter was diagnosed with Stills Disease at age 6. It started with strep throat and as a result she had developed JRA. The doctors finally after several trips to the hospital emergency room admitted her and within 10 days we had a diagnosis. She was treated with Naprosen and the disease went into remission. At the time there was not much information available about Stills Disease (the type she had).There were no further signs of the disease and she led a normal life into adulthood. She is now 24 years old, married and expecting her first child in February,2009. My prayers go out to all who suffer with JRA as well as the continued efforts to find a cure. -Amanda’s Mom

- Amanda's Mom

Posted 01/12/09 06:42 AM

I am currently 21 years old. But at 2 years old i was diagnosed with JRA. As a kid i remember being in pain and crying a lot, having to wear a knee cast like thing when i slept, waking up and not being able to walk some days, taking meds forever which i still dislike certain candy that reminds me of the former taste of my old meds. In high school, at 15, i joined a pep flag team and went through the worse swelling pain and inflammation. Doctors even told me that i wouldn’t be able to walk by the age of 18. But i proved them wrong. even at 21, i sometimes still get pain in my knee, esp. when its cold, but I am able to walk, and able to run. I sign up for 5K and 10K runs for myself since i know that i can. At one point i was even running up to 8 miles. Its nice knowing your not alone. Stay hopeful =)and have faith

- Melanie A

Posted 01/14/09 12:24 AM

for 7 months my 15 year old daughter keeps getting bouts of reactive arthritis she is seeing consultants in the hospital dose anyone know why she keeps getting this its driving me mad seeing her in so much pain thankyou

- Anonymous

Posted 02/11/09 09:43 AM

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