Jan
JRA stands for Juvinile Rheumotoid Arthritis. It is similar to the condition in adults. There is joint deformity and severe pain. It can go into times of remission. When the child is in extreme pain they cannot participate in the usual activities like their peers. It is very frustrating. When the disease starts, it may look like there is nothing wrong with the child and the deformities are not seen, but the pain is there. The young person that wrote in may be getting teased because they can't participate in running and jumping and pain cannot be seen by the naked eye, so other kids may tease them or call them names and may infer that they are "faking" it, and they truely are not