Jeanne
Michelle, My daughter was diagnosed with pauciarticular JRA @ 18 months of age. At age 5 she had her first cortisone injection into her right knee also. It was extremely painful for her and she was laid up for about a day or so afterwards. Her doc told us that she could have releif for up to 6 months with the shot. It lasted one month. Her doc also said that if the level of cortisone injected the first time didn't work, that they would up the level everytime. I did some research at our local library on cortisone and I did not like the side effects at all!! After a long period of time with injections, the body becomes immune, and eventually does more damage than the arthritis itself. I felt that for my daughter that cortisone was not for her. We currently have her on Celebrex. She has been on this for over a year now and has had NO side effects and is doing pretty good. Please feel free to E-Mail me anytime. By the way, she is now 7 years old.