Living

As signs that the long COVID-19 pandemic is retreating and more people get vaccinated, the health and safety restrictions are being lifted and I am pondering about how to make...

Although being treated with Plaquenil has made a huge impact on my quality of life, I realize that evenings are still difficult for me in terms of managing my rheumatoid...

Prednisone is my RA’s life-long friend. I have taken a low dose every day since my diagnosis in 2010. Because of this, I usually have free reign to bounce between...

I, and many other RheumatoidArthritis.net contributors and moderators, have written extensively on problems with sleeping when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). From joint pain to waking up constantly throughout the...

I just found out that my beloved rheumatologist is retiring at the end of 2021. While I knew it was coming, I was not prepared. This is the doctor who...

A systematic review of 19 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) studies found RA patients with multiple co-morbidities (or two or more long-term conditions) experienced impacts to their health and quality of life...

Ahh, it is finally here: infusion day. I have been waiting for over a month to have the infusion. Each day of waiting makes my body pay the price for a...

The last time I bought hard pants was a decade ago. What are hard pants, you might ask? To me, hard pants are anything that feels hard to get on...

Lifting without igniting a flare may be one of the biggest challenges we face in our day-to-day lives. When you stop and really consider how many times a day you...

Have you ever found yourself staring at your sock wondering what to do next? If you’re like me, the next step usually involves a groan, followed by, “Why is this...

The Person Before Patient Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! What makes us the people we are? Living with a serious health condition like rheumatoid arthritis can...

I think it’s time for a practical post, don’t you? We’ve talked about a ton of abstract concepts lately and, while those are valuable for sure, they aren’t going to...

I started teaching a mindfulness class for 2 graders and I was reminded about how important patience and focus are to my wellbeing. I’ve written numerous times about how when...

For Arthritis Awareness Month, we dedicated each week to raising awareness of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) journey. We explored topics such as: As this awareness month comes to an end...

Yesterday, I looked 90 years old. I was walking with ace bandages around my knees at a pace that was too slow for my patient parents who are around eighty...

I don’t remember where the worry came from, but when I reached my teen years with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - now known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) - I started...

Every day, now, I read about someone who is dealing with unsolicited advice. When you have a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it seems that people just can’t keep...

Exercise 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...

I had been living with RA-related foot pain since I was diagnosed in 2004. Unfortunately, my foot pain symptoms were not taken as seriously as I would have liked them...

I've been trying to eat better. Yes, it has been hard, mostly due to the pandemic but also because I regularly experience cravings for carbs and sweets (that's a nice...