Living

I spent years living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before I was correctly diagnosed. I remember asking every provider I saw about the relentless pain I felt in my joints. The...

For a long time, I’ve wondered why my best friend remembers my childhood better than I do, why I get lost so easily and have to rely on the person...

Most of our lives, from a very young age, we are told to "overcome your limitations," "don’t let your shortcomings hold you back," and "work hard and you can do...

“Getting old isn’t for the faint of heart.” My grandfather was rather famous for saying that every time he had an ache or pain (or worse), and the older he...

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...

I just moved across the country for school. The full move was a lot, but I managed to keep stress at bay so let’s jump right back in, shall we?...

Last summer, I was happily and unexpectedly RA-united (reunited) with my friend Mara, who also has rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We first met and became friends some years ago when she...

The RheumatoidArthritis.net community forum is an insightful resource filled with thoughtful questions, tips, and perspectives. Each month we are sharing 5 forum discussions we think deserve extra attention. Explore the...

I have been battling rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 17-plus years now. When I was younger, I was a dreamer and a goal setter. Then in my 20s, my RA was...

"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...

Yes, it’s that time again. New Year. The time when everyone is making resolutions and promises to themselves for what their 2022 is going to be like, usually forgetting that...

2021 was truly a weird year. From the pandemic continuing to having to go back to work in-person to starting graduate school again, the word that best describes this year...

Most of us understand that the very nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), physically speaking, is chaotic and unpredictable. I have always understood this to be true and one of the most...

When people ask me, "How do you have the strength to live with rheumatoid arthritis and disabilities?", I shrug because I know no other way. I just must do it...

"Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill." We've all heard the saying. It’s the world’s way of telling us not to make more out of problems than they are...

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...

How do you handle work with your rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis? That is a recent question from one of our newer members. How do you choose a job you can do...

I live with 2 autoimmune diseases - rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. In order to manage both conditions, I take biologic medication via IV every 5 weeks, alongside several oral...

Why is it important to read and write about rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? As a writer and fellow experiencer of RA (a neologism I just made!), reading and writing about my...

I’ve spent a lot of the last 2 years at home. It’s been lovely, despite the harrowing aspects of a global pandemic. During this time, I’ve done a lot of...