Is arthritis hereditary?

Young 15 teenager with arthritis?

• i have constant pains def places of my body, they end up anywhere. that range differently from how much it hurts each time, i don't go more then a minute without haveing a pain somewhere! it's horrible! my mom thinks i have arthritis BUT my sister is having medical problems that my mom considers bigger then mine, but I AM CONCERNED! very concerned about what it is if its not arthritis, AND if it is arthritis.. im very young! what could it lead to? i'm sure if i have it at 15 it'll get worse throughout the years, but i want to know exactly what it could lead to. i've had unbearable pains in my legs since like 6years old! it being everywhere throughout my body started prob in middle school, and it being a constant thing where it hurts dif place on my body non stop through the whole day just started 2years ago when i started highschool. so if you know what, if it is, arthritis could lead to as i get older since its started so young, OR anything else it could be besides arthritis, PLEASE let me know! THANKYOU!!!!

• Answer:

  From what you have said, it does sound like you have some concerning symptoms. I would recommend seeing a specialist who can accurately diagnose the cause of your pain. There could be MANY different reasons for your symptoms other than arthritis, so seeing a specialist in this area would probably be a good idea. If it is arthritis, it would most likely be Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. This is not the same type or arthritis that people may develop as they age. JRA and RA are systemic disorders that cause varying amounts of inflammation throughout your body. The inflammation of the joints and other connective tissues is what can cause so much pain. Though it is a lifelong disease (there is no cure), these days, it can be well managed with a variety of medications.