Living

Rheumatoid arthritis has become such an integrated part of my life that it is hard to believe it’s been 13.5 years since I was diagnosed. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few...

I am very lucky that I do not have any sleep disorders but I still have trouble falling asleep and staying that way. I haven’t pinpointed the reason. It could...

Yes, I do believe that after 25 years with RA I have developed an ability to sense when someone I am around has RA.  I call it RA-dar. I certainly...

About three years ago, I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s syndrome as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. My hands can get really cold and alternate between turning whitish to purplish. My feet...

In the digital age, there are so many devices, websites, and technologies related to health. From fitness trackers to mobile apps, we use connected health technology to track symptoms, monitor...

I've written quite a few articles on my attempts at spontaneity and changes in habits. I appreciate routine and its benefits for my rheumatoid arthritis. If I take my medications...

Secondary gain is a psychoanalytic term for the advantages someone with pain has because of their chronic pain. The idea is that some people exaggerate their symptoms, consciously or unconsciously...

Prior to being diagnosed with RA, I took no prescription medications. I was able to get up out of bed each day and not have to worry about remembering what...

I clearly remember that once I began to do any type of research or reading online with regard to rheumatoid arthritis, it was not long before I began to get...

In September 2000, my life changed. I was 22 years old and was in what was supposed to be my last semester of college. While I should have been exploring...

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have changed the landscape of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment and improved the quality of life for many people living with the condition. However, only about 30...

What is a rheumatic disease? A rheumatic disease is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack a person’s joints, muscles, bones, and organs. There...

The uninvited house guest. I have for years compared my arthritis to an uninvited houseguest that just won’t leave. I never invited RA to come into my life. Honestly, even...

Practicing self-care looks different for each of us. For some, self-care means looking after our physical well-being. For others, it also means taking action to better our mental or emotional...

I went to sit down in my SUV on July 24, 2020, and my right hip yelled at me! I had to change positions and readjust my seat belt to...

Before my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) in 2000, I’d been repeatedly misdiagnosed for years. Doctors told me I had strains, sprains, tendonitis, and Reiter’s syndrome before I was...

The struggle with fatigue and rheumatoid arthritis is persistent and well documented. Treating it, however, is very much lacking. The general practice has been to say that well-managed RA (also...

Once I discovered that inflammation was the root of all evil within the rheumatoid arthritis world, I decided that for my own health and the health of my family, I...

I’ve had ankle pain for years. Perhaps I should have taken specific action about it sooner, but if you have severe rheumatoid arthritis in every bone of your body, it...

This article is for my dear friends, family, and co-workers. I wanted to let you know that I have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  If you're reading this, I...