Hi, I'm Madison. I saw my friend post something in here about her Lupus so I thought it was time for me to share my story. Though I do not have lupus, I have arthritis in every joint and it causes many pains. I'm 14 years old (soon to be 15) and a freshman in high school. I have had my arthritis since I was in 5th grade (4years). Being in high school with arthritis can be challenging. Many do not know what it is, or why I have it at such a young age. People are always wondering why I get off easy in gym or why teachers give me extra time while doing writing assignments. They do not know why I'm on so much medication or why I go to the hospital every other month. I think this is because I do not open myself up enough and they don't open their minds to the possibility of a young girl having arthritis in every joint. When I was first diagnosed with JRA so many people in school thought that if they touched me they would get it or that my disease was deadly - for the record, ARTHRITIS … [Read more...]