It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments [Hardcover]

Thomas J. A. Lehman M.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195157281 | ISBN-13: 978-0195157284 | Publication Date: May 20, 2004 | Edition: 1

Arthritis is usually considered a disease of older adults, but nearly 300,000 children in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, such as juvenile arthritis (JRA), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or Kawasaki disease. Yet until now very little information has been available to guide parents and doctors in properly diagnosing such children.
Here is a readable, reliable guide to the common causes of bone, joint, muscle, and arthritis pain in children, designed to help parents and physicians understand these disorders, arrive at the proper diagnosis, and choose the most effective treatment. In this comprehensive resource, Dr. Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the most prestigious pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers easy-to-understand information on the causes, symptoms, tests, and treatments for a wide variety of rheumatic diseases and childhood pain.
Dr. Lehman writes with great clarity, providing numerous case examples that illustrate the topic at hand and offering practical, down-to-earth advice. Equally important, he answers the questions that parents are most likely to ask: What should they observe in their children? What questions should they ask their doctor? Which tests are necessary? What risk factors should they be aware of? And how can they help their children cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illness. The book summarizes diagnostic tests, discusses the most effective medications, and discusses physical therapy, alternative therapy, and surgical options that are available.
Clearly written, thorough, authoritative, and up-to-date, It's Not Just Growing Pains is the definitive resource available on the subject for parents and health care professionals, helping them to understand the children's pain and find the best available care.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lehman is incredibly thorough while writing in an easily understandable manner. His chapter on laboratory and diagnostic tests is particularly helpful. An excellent addition to all consumer health and parenting collections."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Dr. Tom Lehman's experience and compassion are evident on every page of this book, and help guide the reader--child, parent, and healthcare professional alike--through the world of childhood arthritis. The book is an absolute gem written with a single goal in mind--improving the lives of kids with arthritis. " --John H. Klippel, M.D., President and CEO, Arthritis Foundation

"Dr. Lehman has given parents and families of children with arthritis the first book that speaks to the parent and child as equals. His book explains the illnesses, the medications, the lab tests, and the disease course in simple, understandable lay language and gives them valuable insight into how a pediatric rheumatologist thinks. Bravo!" --Charles H. Spencer, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Chicago/La Rabida

"A must have for any family with a child who has a rheumatic disease! I personally found this book to very informative. Dr. Lehman, as always, gives families a clear understanding of their choice of treatments and what they can expect from their child's rheumatic disease." --Kathy Gaither, Juvenile Scleroderma Network, Inc.

"This comprehensive guidebook is a must-read for pediatricians and health care professionals who treat children and adolescents. For parents of children who have already been diagnosed with rheumatic disease, as well as children who have baffling, undiagnosed symptoms, this book will be a valuable resource." --Enid Engelhard, CSW, Director of Social Services, S.L.E. Foundation, Inc.

"Navigating the health care system as an adult can be daunting, but doing so with a child who has a rheumatic disease can be a particularly anxiety-provoking experience for the entire family. Education is the key to understanding and to reducing the stress and fear that goes along with caring for an ill child. Dr. Lehman's book provides a thorough explanation of disease process, therapeutics, diagnostics and coping strategies all in a very friendly easy to read manner. The Scleroderma Foundation is excited about this guide and believes that it would be a great addition to the family library and to providing the insight necessary to becoming an informed, effective partner in their child's care."--Donna Kohli, President & CEO, Scleroderma Foundation

From the Author

This book is written to help the parents of children with joint pain and childhood arthritis and the many nurses, teachers, therapists and physicians who care for them understand the conditions which cause joint pain and make sure these children get the proper diagnosis, the best care, and the best possible outcome.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 418 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (May 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195157281
• ISBN-13: 978-0195157284
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #631,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Rheumatic Diseases

More About the Author

As a physician from the old school I have written these books to educate both families and physicians about the rheumatic diseases of childhood. I trained in medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia followed by training in pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. That was followed by two years in the Navy and two more years of training in rheumatology at the National Institutes of Health.
Following my training I returned to the faculty at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for four years before being recruited to establish the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. I've now been there since 1987 rising to professor of clinical pediatircs, senior physician....
With over thirty years of experience caring for children with rheumatic diseases I am able to bring a large degree of practical experience to each case. My books are intended to share the benefits of that experience with the readers whether they are patients, family members, or health professionals caring for children with rheumatic disease.
Good luck and best wishes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a perfect guide from diagnosis to treatment to prognosis, August 27, 2004

By 

Jennifer R. Gremillion (Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments (Hardcover)

This book was very well written, easy to understand and in depth enough for the average person.

If a child you know is having undiagnosed pain this would be an excellent sourcebook. It gives you the questions to ask the specialists, tons of disease specific information, and details about why certain diagnostic tests will/will not be performed on a child. You will also better understand the possible causes and various diseases that present bone and joint pain in children.

If a child you know has been diagnosed with a specific disease (as mine was), this book provides many more answers about many specific conditions than you can find online or during a single doctor visit. It also gives a realistic prognosis for a variety of diseases which many doctors are shy about giving.

While this book is slightly lacking in scientific depth, it does get one started in understanding a child's condition and finding additional sources. It is geared for the parent/caregiver but would also be great for general practioners and nurses because of the information prsented regarding diagnosing bone/joint pain in children. The information regarding juvenile arthtitis is particularly up-to-date, interesting and helpful.

If you are looking for a therapy guide for children's pain management this is not the book. This book thoroughly explains prescription medications, surgeries, and labs, but does not delve deeply into the theraputic realm. (I am still looking a book reagarding OT/PT therapy approaches for juvenile arthritis.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Book on Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases, March 25, 2005

By 

Walter Fekula (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments (Hardcover)

Thomas J. A. Lehman MD is Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City and also Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is considered the leading specialist in the world. As President of a charity that helps children in Russia, I have asked Dr. Lehman to volunteer his services and speak at seminars in Moscow to hundreds of rheumatoid pediatric doctors. He has done this several times over the past 5 years. He has also visited other countries as well besides allowing specialists from many other countries learn at his side. As a result of his unselfishness he has improved the lives of thousands of children throughout the world. He has written a book that every parent who has an afflicted child should read. My reason for writing this review is to assure the reader the he/she can rely on what it says, as there is no one who is more knowledgeable than the author. As can be gleaned from other reviews, the book has been written to be easily understood by the general reader.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - must have for JRA, January 25, 2005

By 

A. Shifflett - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book. Published for the first time in 2004, it is up to date with all the new medicines out there. If you have a child with Arthritis, you need this book. It addresses all issues surrounding the disease, the family, behavior, medicine, theories, how to relate to your doctor, etc.