Carla Kienast

I ran across an interesting study the other day on pain in America that was reported by Rheumatology Network. While there is some very interesting data about pain in the...

Labor Day is a key milestone for a lot of people. Kids are starting back to school. Retailers put swimwear on sale and start making space for holiday merchandise. And...

Since my diagnosis just over eight years ago, I’ve steadily worked my way through all the biologics except one. Your body can build up a resistance to medications just like...

I am losing my grip. I don’t mean my grip on reality (although that’s a possibility). I mean the physical grip in my hands. When I was diagnosed, there was...

Of all the things about rheumatoid arthritis I hate (and there are too many to list here), fatigue has to be one of the worst. RA-related fatigue is not being...

My primary RA medication is a biologic that I get via infusion every four weeks. Normally I get the treatment in a dedicated infusion room at my doctor’s office. There...

Sometimes you read something and you just want to say, “Well, duh!” because you think it’s so completely obvious you wonder why it’s making headlines in the first place. The...

I am one of those lucky people who genuinely likes and appreciates her doctors. Granted, having good doctors is part luck of the draw, and over the years I’ve drawn...

With RA it seems like there is always something going on: pain, swelling, even the occasional fever. So how do you sort out what’s “normal” and when you need to...

I love words. Not only do I believe that they’re one of the most powerful forces in the universe, I’ve been blessed enough to make my living writing for more...

I’m amazed when I stop and think about how many “assistive devices” I now have in my life. I’m not talking about canes, crutches, or walkers (although I own all...

When I was a little girl, I hated getting shots. Annual vaccinations for school were bad enough but when you were sick and had to go to the doctor, it...

We’ve all had those seminal moments – instances where everything after that point changes. Maybe it was that moment when you knew you wanted to get married – or divorced...

I have a new dermatologist. It wasn’t really a choice. My previous dermatologist of many years passed away and the practice was sold. My records weren’t even in the system...

While certainly not inevitable, joint replacement is a viable treatment option for many people with RA when the effects of joint damage is no longer being adequately managed by other...

My last article covered the insurance trap in which I find myself -- having to work just to pay my health insurance premium. I've had some very interesting insurance adventures since...

It was Thursday about lunchtime. I’d decided I could no longer ignore the flare. My main RA treatment had quit working and even though I’d started on the replacement drug...

I don’t believe in coincidence. Karma, yes. Fate, yes. Coincidence, no. This is especially true in medicine. If you are trapped for hours in an airplane full of hacking, sneezing...

I was diagnosed with RA in mid-2008. Like many people, my rheumatologist began my treatment plan with methotrexate along with an NSAID and pain relievers. In the six years since...