WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Embarrassing Bodies, 1:10am Friday 17th February 2012 on Channel 4. Catch up for free on 4oD »

Conditions

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition which sees inflammation within a joint, often causing severe pain. There are over 200 types of the affecting 2.5 million adults and children in the UK. In some manifestations the body’s immune system attacks tissues in and around joints, causing pains stiffness and swelling. In other types inflammation occurs when bones try to repair damaged cartilage and alter the shape of the joint. 1 in 1000 of the UK population develops arthritis in childhood, which is known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. There are 3 main types of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; oligo-articular which has good recovery rates, afflicts 4 or less limbs – most typically the knees, wrists and ankles; polyarticular which affects 5 or more joints, can spread quickly from one to another and is often accompanied by a rash and fever; and systematic onset which starts with swollen glands, lethargy, fever and rash and develops into enlarged, inflamed joints. There is no miracle cure for arthritis and whilst it is a serious, chronic condition it only causes severe disability in 5% of cases. Treatment varies with each individual case and can vary from medication and surgery to physiotherapy, osteopathy and acupuncture.

Comments and Questions

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

My son is 10 an 2 1/2 years ago he became Ill to start with it was his right foot it swelled an felt hot 2 touch, he was sent for tests but they found nothing after about a year they said he had juvenile polyrticular arthritis. He has it in both feet, ankles, knees an his right hand which makes writing hard because this is the hand he should use, I don't remember the last time he wasn't in pain he has med called methotrexate but the doctors say it's not working so they need 2 add more meds in which means more injections which he doesn't like. I just wish somebody could help an get the arthritis under control an give him a brake he a young boy with what most people think is an old persons disease. If anyone else has a child with arthritis it would b good for him to no what there going through please.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

got one just under my knee cap ,hurts when i put pressure on it and had it for nearly 2 years what could it be





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Does the pill affect joints? Ive taken the pill for 3 months and my ankle has been painful for about 2 months. Please help!!!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi im 53 i have arthritis in my neck, and other places to but why does it travel up to my head, then i get a tightness in my head making me feel giddy and effects my eyes? it makes me panic.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi i am a 21 year old female and have been suffering from pain in my joint. Its at the top of my thigh where it meets the hip although its not my hip that is painful. In at the joint can be painful if its moved in certain ways and is only on my right thigh. What could it be ive had it for over a year now?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

you might have problems with cysts in the hip joint, go to your GP, I did and 3 years on I have a new hip

I am 19 years old, and my joints click sooo much !! Recently iv been having a lot of pain in my knees due to it, like aching and pain all around the knee joint. My fingers also crack and bend strangely (i can get the last digit of my finger to point horizontally :|) My ankles constantly click, and when my feet are in a certain position and i move them i can hear the bones grinding !! I have hyperextension of the shoulders, so have always thought the clicking there is due to this. And my wrists click all day long. I have been taking fish oils for the last 2 months and have noticed no difference at all, could this be athritis???? x





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hey Megan, Im 16 and for the past few years all my joints have been aching and i can feel them creak and when i put my ear to my hand at night i can also hear my fingers, wrists and neck creak. My joints click all day long (especially my ankles in the morning.)I thought it could've been arthiritis so i went to my doctor and she said that i might just have Hypermobility syndrome but has booked xrays for my neck just to check. i think maybe u might have that too? X

You sound like you definately have hypermobility of your joints as myself and my 2 daughters do. I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and as far as im aware there can be a link so it may be worth seeing your GP and they may refer you to a rheumatologist. I have taken and tried lots of alternative treatments and suppliments but personally i find no benefits, however i do know lots of people who swear by suppliments. Good luck. x

I'm a 35 yr old woman. For the last 5 years or so I've had discomfort in both knees. When I kneel down, bend my knees and walk up hills/stairs. Thet both also do a horrid crunching sound when I straighten them. The pain is getting worse and at times I need support whilst standing from a kneeling position and getting up from the position. There isn't any swelling.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi I'm 16 and suffer from intense aching pain in the hips and thigh muscles after being stood up for a few hours. A relative of mine who is 55 can do the same walk without feeling the effects. I do dance regularly (very little pain there) so my leg muscles are built up. Despite this, it still aches after a day or two - is this normal for a young person?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Is it possible to tell if there is arthritis in the hips by just prodding the painful joints, and can the doctor accertain how much pain it is causing? Or can only a scan or bone density test tell?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi Sandra No it isn't, I have had arthritis for 16 years (I am 32) and have osteoarthritis as a result. Joints with RA tend to be swollen and hot but you will need a blood test to diagnose it. Osteo arthritis will need an xray or MRI to see if there is damage to the joint. The pain could be caused by all sorts of things so you do need a test.

Hi I'm rachel & I'm 21 In evening times I get very stiff ankles its often quite painful. It goes so stiff its hard to walk and move about, its only in 1 ankle though.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


Be On Embarrassing Bodies

The clinic is opening again for a new series.
Apply for Embarrassing Bodies >