L rick Phillips

I did something a little crazy, but it made sense to me: I changed my biologic. My previous one was working great. I had no adverse reactions, and I liked...

Have you considered joint replacement? Did you factor in your age when making the decision? Did your doctor give you a speech about joint failure and longevity? A friend of...

I refuse to be a warrior in the war on RA. Every time I go to an arthritis-related event, they honor warriors. I have arthritis, but I am not a...

I am grateful for many things related to health, in general, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA/RD) in particular. I try to regularly take time to think about the many things for...

I walked with Sheryl on New Year’s Day at our favorite local park. We like this park because it is a leisurely walk with some moderate uphill terrain, but the...

In 2021, my rheumatologist, Dr. N, told me he was about to retire. Oh, I knew it was coming, but it was a difficult message to hear. Dr. N and...

I recall my grandfather looking at a Caterpillar bulldozer sitting in his yard at the lakefront property he owned. No one lived at the cottage. The cottage was used on...

Do you ruminate? Wow, I do, and I hate doing so. For those who are unfamiliar, rumination is replaying words, events, or situations over in your mind. It is like...

Do you ever wonder why being declared disabled while having rheumatoid arthritis seems almost impossible? I know I have. Oh, and to be clear I do not have a good answer...

I use a biologic agent that costs about $15,000 every 4 months to administer. I have used it for 7 years and I have generally been pleased, but despite evidence...

I previously wrote about my rheumatologist retiring and how I was now tasked with finding a new rheumatologist by the end of May 2022. I developed criteria and searched the...

My rheumatologist told me that he is retiring in May. Gulp. I have been with him a long time, and I have always treasured his advice and skill in treatment...

This year, I was invited at the last moment to participate on a panel at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting. The panel I was invited to join examined...

On September 30, 2021, I had an item published titled The Maestro. Hey, it was a good piece about getting ready for surgery. I wrote in "The Maestro" that I...

From the time I was 8 years old, my Christmas memories were of my mother's constant fight to live. My mother suffered from Type 1 diabetes. I say suffered because...

This morning while walking, an acquaintance and I stopped to talk. How often have we said, "Everything is alright" when we are suffering from difficulties of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? I...

Cue the orchestra. The Maestro is ready to play once again. This time with special guest star COVID-19. I do not know a thing about reading music. I took piano...