The Importance of Oral HealthDid you know that oral health and rheumatoid arthritis have the common link of inflammation? Recent research has found that people with RA experience gum disease at a much higher...reactions7comments
What it is That Grips Us (Part 3)The evaluation of the symptoms of a major depressive episode is especially difficult when they occur in an individual who has a general medical condition. — The Diagnostic and Statistical...reactions4comments
So what?It seems each year, around my birthday, I tend to reflect on purpose; more so now as I approach my last 18 months of full time work. That said, I...reactions3comments
When RA Severity Is Off the ChartsFirst, let me start by stating that every person with RA is unique and must grapple individually with pain, stiffness, joint problems and all the complexity of the disease. No...reactionscomments
Lisa Learns to Ride, Part IIOur riding adventures began last spring when we wheeled Lisa’s new bicycle out of the local REI store and into our car. Before that moment, Lisa had tested several bikes...reactions1comment
Press pauseOver the years, especially since the onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have come to deeply appreciate slowing down over the course of each day and “pressing the pause button” whenever...reactions2comments
What it is that Grips Us (Part 2)With my voice revealing the nervous tension seated somewhere in my rib cage, I stood in front of a classroom full of undergraduate students for the first time in the...reactionscomments
What the ACA Has Meant to Me: Dependent Coverage and No Benefit CapsPart III of a three-part series. When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), I was taking what was supposed to be my final semester of college. As it turned...reactions2comments
What it is that Grips Us: A Series on Depression and RAWhen melancholy sets in, a kind of invisible but thick and heavy fog invades the heart, envelops the body, constricting its very core. All we feel is this constriction, this...reactions3comments
What to Do when You Feel GoodI know. That headline sounds nuts. Who needs to know what to do when she feels good? What can’t you do when you feel good? When you have rheumatoid disease...reactions18comments
Accessible Taxis Enhance FreedomUntil the last year, wheelchair accessible cabs have been few and far between. In most places across the U.S., they are rare. But I have found them increasing in number...reactionscomments
Early Morning Exercise for the Late NighterExercise, as tolerated, and sufficient sleep and rest, are integral parts of rheumatoid arthritis management. Both in combination can elevate mood (depression affects people with RA at a rate far...reactions2comments
Patient Assessment Used as a Clinical Objective (Really?!)I am R-factor negative and, not only that, all my labs associated with inflammation are always stone-cold normal. This is really frustrating when you go in to your rheumatologist’s office...reactions2comments
Remission: Real or Wishful Thinking?The concept of remission was not even on my radar during the first year or so after being diagnosed with RA. My physician and I were far too busy trying to...reactions5comments
Getting Lost"Lose the whole world and find your soul." --Henry David Thoreau I'm reading a book right now by one of my new favorite authors, Rebecca Solnit: A Field Guide to...reactions2comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis and College, a Guide to Academic AccommodationsIf you are a college student with rheumatoid arthritis, the following article is addressed towards meeting your needs in the classroom through academic accommodations under section 504 of the Americans...reactions1comment
Walking SongsSometimes, when I go walking, an odd thing happens. My mind, so often filled with the daily stresses and tensions we all live with in today’s world, relaxes. I walk...reactions6comments
Sauna LoveAbout fifteen years ago my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was raging and my body was rejecting every medicine I tried. I was in a bad spot and pretty desperate to find...reactions12comments
Self-Doubt?Self-doubt is an odd thing. Too much of it can be crushing, and too little of it pathological. Depression and self-doubt go hand in hand, as low moods tend to...reactions1comment
Healthy Diet May Reduce Chances of Early-Onset RA in WomenThere is a lot of discussion in the RA community about diet. Some people report that avoiding certain foods like gluten helps keep the disease under control. Others point to...reactions1comment
