Tips for Winter Flexibility and Self-CareWith winter approaching, time seems to be accelerating and slowing down at the same time. Shorter days make me feel like I must rush to get things done, but less...reactions5comments
Insurance SurprisesWhen living with chronic illness, health insurance is vital. There’s absolutely no way many of us could pay for treatment and care without insurance coverage. Maintaining access to health insurance...reactions10comments
Take Care of You!A common thread in our community discussions is the lack of family understanding and support you might face when you live with a chronic condition. It’s easy to feel betrayed...reactions24comments
Stress and RA Don’t Play Well TogetherHey, are you feeling stressed? Is life stressful? Is it the good kind of stress or the bad kind of stress? Does that really matter? Confession: I’ve been feeling a...reactions6comments
Self-assessment Tools and RAFinding a good rheumatologist can be a challenge. Getting an appointment with a good rheumatologist can sometimes be even harder. Once you have an appointment with a doctor you really...reactions8comments
Positivity and ReinventionHealthUnion has a great podcast called Living With. It features many of the fascinating people who contribute articles and moderate our communities. Recently, I was honored to participate in “Living...reactions5comments
Evusheld Feels like Winning the Immunocompromised LotteryIt feels like I recently won the lottery. No, not the lottery with money involved, but the lottery to receive a dose of Evusheld. This therapy provides me hope that...reactions8comments
Preparing for Total Knee Replacement SurgeryIf you’ve been following my story, you know that I finally decided to have total knee replacement surgery after years of struggling with pain and disability. Actually, I would end...reactions38comments
When Is It Time for Knee Replacement Surgery? Part 2In the past decade, the journey with my knees has involved multiple steroid injections, two rounds of hyaluronic acid gel injections in each knee, numerous x-rays taken by different doctors...reactions3comments
When Is It Time For Knee Replacement Surgery? Part 1"You’re not old enough for surgery," said my first orthopedic doctor 4 years ago, "but you will need total knee replacement at some point in the future." At that time...reactions22comments
Is My Doctor Good Enough?I’ve asked myself this question regarding several of my doctors, perhaps too many times, in recent years. As a person who lives with multiple chronic diseases, primarily rheumatoid arthritis and...reactions26comments
I Worry About My Care-Partner, My SpouseBlessed with a supportive spouse, I am fortunate to have someone who is able and willing to help me anytime I need. Rob makes a point to listen to me...reactions16comments
Monstrous Medical Misconception: You Can’t Have RA If You Can ExerciseExercise and being active are important parts of staying healthy and fighting back against the effects of aging and disease. Everybody and every body is able to exercise to some...reactions9comments
Springtime and Renewal During the Continued PandemicThirteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic, how are you doing? Although people are getting vaccinated at an impressive rate around the country, I’m wondering when the constant worry of exposure...reactions7comments
The Power of a Few Pain PillsPain can disrupt normal life in a way that can be devastating. Pain can also just be an annoyance. Sometimes pain can make you cry and, sometimes, it can only...reactions8comments
RA and Plantar Fascitis: What Do Lacrosse Balls and Bottles of Ice Have in Common?Ever since I was in my 20s, I’ve always enjoyed a really good foot massage. Not just a light-handed rubbing of the skin, but a massage with pressure that digs...reactions16comments
Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: It's Time to Repeat Hyaluronic Acid InjectionsI remember the occasion very clearly when osteoarthritis made itself known beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2010, I decided to paint my home music studio a fun combination of light...reactions6comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that affects more than joints within the body. It can affect connective tissue and internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, or...reactions6comments
Can a Blood Test Predict Treatment Response in RA?A recent study suggests that laboratory tests may be helpful in predicting which patients with rheumatoid arthritis will respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Common DMARDs include medications such as...reactions5comments
Scatter Brains and Organizational DisarrayNot long ago, Rob and I were sitting on our front porch listening to the birds sing and watching squirrels scurry around the yard. It was restful and we were...reactions9comments
