But at OIC, we specialize in pediatric medical conditions and understand the many symptoms and medical issues that can arise in children with connective tissue disorders. Our goal is to develop a treatment plan that provides maximum healing and relief for your child.
Diagnosing Connective Tissue Disorders
The first step in treating connective tissue disorders is getting the right diagnosis. Diagnosing a connective tissue disorder can take a multifaceted approach.
In some cases, a healthcare provider can diagnose a disorder through a physical exam. Other times, your child might have to undergo blood tests or imaging tests (e.g., X-rays) to confirm a diagnosis.
At OIC, we are here to provide care and support throughout this journey, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond into recovery.
Treating Connective Tissue Disorders
Many times, connective tissue disorders can be treated with:
Treatment for connective tissue disorders not only varies by diagnosis, but is based on your child’s overall health. The treatment team at OIC will work closely with you to design a treatment plan that is tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Here are some of the typical treatment options for several common connective tissue disorders:
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment has several goals, including:
Treatment for your child’s rheumatoid arthritis might include:
Medications
Several types of medications are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as:
Exercise
Exercise is important for all children, but this is especially true for kids with connective tissue disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Regular exercise can help children with RA by promoting good muscle tone and joint motion.
At OIC, our physical therapists are ready to teach your child how to exercise in a way that is right for his body in order to reduce RA symptoms and promote overall health.
Splinting
In some cases, wearing a splint for part of the day can decrease inflammation and keep arthritic joints from becoming deformed. These splints are usually used on arms or hands. The treatment team at OIC can work with you and your child to determine if splinting should be a part of RA treatment.
The main goal of scleroderma treatment is getting the inflammation under control. To accomplish this, your child’s treatment options might include:
As with scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis, the goal of treatment is to control inflammation and many of the treatments are similar. In order to do this, your child might have to take a type of medication called an immunosuppressive, which is designed to keep the immune system from attacking the body’s tissue.
Lupus treatment might include a combination of several medications, such as:
Immunosuppressives
Suppressing the immune system can both decrease lupus symptoms and keep organ damage at bay. There are several different types of medications that can be used to suppress the immune system in lupus patients.
Corticosteroids
Your child might also need to take a corticosteroid—like prednisone—to help manage inflammation.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen can also be an important part of lupus treatment. They are typically taken to help manage your child’s pain.
As with most disorders, the goal of osteogenesis imperfecta treatment is to control symptoms and prevent complications in order to improve your child’s quality of life.
Treatment options will vary based on the type and severity of your child’s OI and might include:
The main goal of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome treatment is lowering your child’s risk for injuries and complications.
To accomplish this, treatment often includes a combination of:
But at OIC, we specialize in pediatric medical conditions and understand the many symptoms and medical issues that can arise in children with connective tissue disorders. Our goal is to develop a treatment plan that provides maximum healing and relief for your child.
Diagnosing Connective Tissue Disorders
The first step in treating connective tissue disorders is getting the right diagnosis. Diagnosing a connective tissue disorder can take a multifaceted approach.
In some cases, a healthcare provider can diagnose a disorder through a physical exam. Other times, your child might have to undergo blood tests or imaging tests (e.g., X-rays) to confirm a diagnosis.
At OIC, we are here to provide care and support throughout this journey, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond into recovery.
Treating Connective Tissue Disorders
Many times, connective tissue disorders can be treated with:
Treatment for connective tissue disorders not only varies by diagnosis, but is based on your child’s overall health. The treatment team at OIC will work closely with you to design a treatment plan that is tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Here are some of the typical treatment options for several common connective tissue disorders:
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment has several goals, including:
Treatment for your child’s rheumatoid arthritis might include:
Medications
Several types of medications are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as:
Exercise
Exercise is important for all children, but this is especially true for kids with connective tissue disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Regular exercise can help children with RA by promoting good muscle tone and joint motion.
At OIC, our physical therapists are ready to teach your child how to exercise in a way that is right for his body in order to reduce RA symptoms and promote overall health.
Splinting
In some cases, wearing a splint for part of the day can decrease inflammation and keep arthritic joints from becoming deformed. These splints are usually used on arms or hands. The treatment team at OIC can work with you and your child to determine if splinting should be a part of RA treatment.
The main goal of scleroderma treatment is getting the inflammation under control. To accomplish this, your child’s treatment options might include:
As with scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis, the goal of treatment is to control inflammation and many of the treatments are similar. In order to do this, your child might have to take a type of medication called an immunosuppressive, which is designed to keep the immune system from attacking the body’s tissue.
Lupus treatment might include a combination of several medications, such as:
Immunosuppressives
Suppressing the immune system can both decrease lupus symptoms and keep organ damage at bay. There are several different types of medications that can be used to suppress the immune system in lupus patients.
Corticosteroids
Your child might also need to take a corticosteroid—like prednisone—to help manage inflammation.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen can also be an important part of lupus treatment. They are typically taken to help manage your child’s pain.
As with most disorders, the goal of osteogenesis imperfecta treatment is to control symptoms and prevent complications in order to improve your child’s quality of life.
Treatment options will vary based on the type and severity of your child’s OI and might include:
The main goal of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome treatment is lowering your child’s risk for injuries and complications.
To accomplish this, treatment often includes a combination of: