Acceptance May Mean Saying "No"It was a dream job. One of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to do meaningful work you enjoy with people you respect at a generous salary. Those jobs are rare to begin... By Carla Kienast3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Just Add Exercise?I recently found myself suddenly in the middle of a heated debate about opioids and pain treatment via an E-mail thread, surprisingly made up of other patients and patient advocates... By Angela Lundberg4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Why Do I Keep Doing That??When was the last time you pushed yourself too far and suffered the consequences of extra pain, stiffness and disability? My arms and legs screamed in pain. I felt the... By Monica Y. Sengupta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments32 comments
Three Things I've Learned About Living Well With RAMarc Ian Barasch is someone I discovered about ten years ago when I came across his books, The Healing Path, A Soul Approach to illness, and Remarkable Recovery, which he... By Kathryn Elton, OTR5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Fighting with the MirrorSometimes I get angry with the mirror. I feel it doesn’t reflect how I am feeling—specifically, how I am feeling on a bad RA day. There’s the saying: “It is... By Kelly Mack2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Caged to the Pain: A Story About My RibsThe ribs are an important part of our bodies. They protect our lungs and hearts and other organs like the spleen. They help us breathe by aiding the lungs and... By Monica Y. Sengupta2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments24 comments
The Frustrations of Driving with RABetween driving to doctor’s appointments, picking up prescriptions, and getting to therapy, you have plenty of places to go, in addition to work/school, family responsibilities, and/or social activities, driving is... By Editorial Team 5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Lessons from My FatherLately, I’ve been thinking about how what I have learned from my father has helped me to live with rheumatoid arthritis. Actually, it’s not just really about the RA, but... By Kelly Mack2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments9 comments
What is WeaknessIs weakness a state of mind? A feeling? Is it physical or mental? Can I control it? The definition of "weakness" is lacking in strength, feeble or slight defect so... By Monica Y. Sengupta2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A New MedicationLast December, I made the switch from taking methotrexate and a biologic injection to a new medication: Xeljanz. Methotrexate had worked well for me for many years. When paired with... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Reality of CareUntil the recent passing of our beloved dog, Leah, I had not really considered the parallels between her situation and mine, in terms of the intensity of care required for... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Don't Look BackAs I have moved through the years of my life I found myself, at times, looking back. I like to think this is a good way to take lessons learned... By Nan Hart2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments14 comments
The Importance of Wearing SunscreenI grew up a tomboy. I never cared too much for makeup. I only wore sunscreen during the summer or long periods outside. I had oily skin and some blemishes... By Monica Y. Sengupta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Being the Right PatientThe doctor who just performed my reverse shoulder replacement is new to me. He is in the same practice as the excellent surgeon that did my other shoulder replacement and... By Carla Kienast4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
How I Manage My Never Ending FatigueRaise your hand if you’ve ever brought up fatigue with your physician? Raise both hands if there was not a lot they could do to help you? Yup, me too... By Monica Y. Sengupta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments37 comments
Resilience and RA: A Call To ActionResilience is the ultimate life skill. We are all innately resilient; life on earth wouldn't prosper without it. Take a walk outside and you will see resilience everywhere you turn... By Kathryn Elton, OTR4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
I Spent Most of My 20s AsleepI was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 20. I recently turned 28. Do you know what this means? I spent half of my 20s asleep. If I really... By Monica Y. Sengupta2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments34 comments
A Surprise RelationshipIt may be a shock, but I never intended to get married. By age 30 I realized that I was a happy person, that I wasn’t looking for anything else... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
We All Have that Friend......The one who tells the whole gruesome story of how they twisted their thumb or sigh dramatically when they trip on the pavement and “twist” their ankle. And all the... By Monica Y. Sengupta2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments28 comments
Losing AgainKeeping my weight under control (if not as low as I’d like) has been an ongoing battle for me since I was a teenager. In the beginning, it was just... By Wren5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments