A mum-of-three who has experienced daily joint pain for over 26 years fears her son may suffer the same discomfort.

Rebecca Beesley was diagnosed with chronic juvenile arthritis in her hip at the age of 10, after years of being told she was experiencing 'growing pains'.

The condition transformed her from a healthy, active child who excelled in sport, to a recluse - spending long periods of time bed-bound.

While the pain improved intermittently, the condition never went away and her arthritis has continued to impact on her life, leaving her unable to stand or dress at times.

She described coming home after being in hospital for a month and crying at the low ceilings of her bedroom, after staring at the high ceilings of a hospital room for so long.

"It was tears of happiness to be home but I hadn’t realised until that moment just how much of an emotional toll being away from home for so long had taken on me," she added.

Rebecca hasn't been able to play sports since the time of diagnosis, and anything other than a desk-based job has been impossible.

The 36-year-old said: "I cried when I got my diagnosis. I was devastated as I was hoping that once doctors knew what it was it could be put right and the pain would go, but I was wrong.

"I remember lunchtimes at school being difficult as I had to rely on others to help me carry my tray and it was hard asking for help."

She was forced to sleep for many months in an upright sitting position on the sofa, because the pain was so severe her hip was 'stuck in a 90 degree position, meaning she couldn't lie flat.

It isn't the first time she has experienced such pain, she said: "I remember being in a harvest assembly at school and as all the other children filed out the hall, I was ‘stuck’ in a cross-legged position on the floor and could not move because the pain had suddenly struck."

Now married with three young children, Rebecca still experiences pain and fears her eight-year-old son Daniel might also be blighted with the condition.

Daniel has experienced episodes of pain and is being monitored by doctors. It is thought he is experiencing symptoms of hyper mobility rather than arthritis, but there has been no definitive diagnosis.

Rebecca added: "I am very aware that my pain started as isolated episodes and so I have been worried seeing him go from being fine one day to unable to put his shoes on the next and unable to walk.

Daniel is still under investigations and has recently had blood tests and x-rays to help identify whether his hip pain could signify the early signs.

"I remember being in a harvest assembly at school and as all the other children filed out the hall, I was ‘stuck’ in a cross-legged position on the floor and could not move because the pain had suddenly struck" - Rebecca Beesley...

Despite facing ongoing challenges, Rebecca is becoming more optimistic about the on-going management of her disease after recently discovering a rose-hip extract named GOPO Joint Health.

She said: "GOPO is a clinically proven rose-hip extract with natural anti-inflammatory properties and I've noticed a real change since I began taking it.

"When my back seizes up I cannot even do simple tasks like carry my children or prepare meals. Since starting to take this extract I still have bad days but they have been significally more short lived and far less severe.

"After nearly three decades of pain, it's been incredible. I'm so relieved to have found something I know I can rely on long-term without the risk of damaging my health."

Although normally thought of as an affliction of the elderly, there are about 27,000 people in the UK diagnosed with arthritis under the age of 25.

Dr Prouse, a consultant paediatric rheumatologist, said Rebecca's case highlights that joint pain in children and young adults in not to be 'taken lightly'.

He added: ""For children and adolescents suffering with joint pain, the risk is that if their issues are not adequately addressed, it could lead to debilitating problems like arthritis in the future.

"Living with chronic pain also affects multiple aspects of quality of life including sleep and mood. Clinicians seeing young people who experience joint pain need to be aware of all the treatment options available to ensure the risks of severe joint damage are reduced and that pain is effectively and safely managed.’’