Living

I need to start by saying I am incredibly grateful to have found a medication that is making a difference in my rheumatoid arthritis in the most substantial way I...

People with rheumatoid arthritis have more than a passing acquaintance with painsomnia—the sleep-disrupting pain caused by RA. In fact, more than half suffer from suboptimal sleep, thanks to pain. Throbbing...

Many RA medications come in the form of self-injectables. Over the last 18 years I have heard many people complain that they cannot learn to give themselves injections or if they...

Life with JRA has meant that for the majority of my life I haven’t felt good in one way or another. The triad of chronic inflammation, chronic pain, and fatigue...

A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis can be a lot to process. Yes, you're finally relieved to know what was causing all those awful symptoms like pain, unprecedented morning stiffness, and...

After years of painful experiences and even more painful delays, I’ve learned then when I deal with my health insurance and/or my specialty pharmacy, I need to adopt and execute...

I recently read an interesting article on Creaky Joints' website: "20 Things Arthritis Patients Wish Rheumatologists Knew." For the article, Creaky Joints asked several people with arthritis about what they wish...

The first blood test result after starting my new medication, I actually didn’t believe it. I thought there was an error at the blood lab. But after a second test...

I’ve had rheumatoid disease (arthritis) for more than 30 years, and I’m very interested in how the “opioid crisis” affects patients like myself. So, I’ve been reading articles in rheumatology...

We’re all familiar with that common and oh-so-subjective medical tool, the pain rating scale. “On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you rate your pain?” is a common...

At first thought, it may seem strange to discuss pre-pain as a concept but I believe it is a distinctive part of RA and one worth tuning in to.  It...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition, and most of us living with RA know from personal experience how inflammation can impact our joints! But how else might that...

Each time I encounter another person I face a choice: should I pretend to be the person I think I’m supposed to be or should I be authentic? Whenever we...

Part 2 of "Goodbye (and Good Riddance!) 2018" After suffering from painful whiplash from a car accident, an excruciating throat infection, and bizarre back spasms that landed me in the...

I’m guilty of not always being a patient person. But I cover it up well! I was recently surprised when a friend commented on how patient I am (with my...

I am, and at the age of 64, will likely remain, an optimist by nature.  I have always lived with the outlook that there is a positive side to nearly...

I speak about my seronegative Rheumatoid Disease often because it irritates me. I am a scientist so it does bother me! I strongly believe there is a reason for everything...

There are many things to hate about rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. There’s the pain, immobility, and crippling fatigue. There’s the cost, time, discomfort, and side effects of medical treatment. There...

Medical billing. Just saying those two words is enough to make a Delta Force soldier cringe.  It’s something all of us who are chronically ill deal with and it’s the...

Just like life in general, living with rheumatoid arthritis is a series of endless decisions. From the very big decisions about medication to the daily decisions about how much activity...