Living

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...

"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...

If 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...

Sometimes, 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...

About 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...

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...

There 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...

Because my immune system has declared mutiny, unlawfully attempting to overthrow my joints, I have declared an insurrection of my own. It is a revolt against stereotypes of the chronically...

I wake up and I’m afraid to move because I know it’s going to hurt. I slowly take a peek at my elbows and knees- just as I thought, they...

I usually see it in their eyes. They feel uncomfortable and don’t know how to behave. Maybe it’s my wheelchair or my crooked finger joints or stiff arm gestures. I...

A few months ago Rheumatoidarthritis.net compiled the results of their RA in America 2016 survey. Surveys like this are so important, especially for those of us living with rheumatoid arthritis...

As I explained in a previous post, about a year ago my sex life was really suffering – partly as the result of having two very young children but also...

"Please keep the politics bs off this page. There are other forums for that." -- My Facebook troll I got "trolled" recently on my RA Facebook page by an angry (and rather...

I’ve been fighting an annoying rosacea flare since November last year. It’s sort of fun (and sardonic) to blame it on the outcome of the presidential election, but I doubt...

He begins the Rousing every day in the early morning gloom. Most days he uses his new-found voice, but other times he opts for a bag, a box, or possibly...

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a professional organization committed to improving the care of patients living with rheumatic diseases. Each year, ACR hosts a meeting attended by rheumatologists...

The ability to connect with people, information, organizations, etc. online can be one of the most important things you consider while dealing with RA. It can make your life so...

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis is often a subtle masquerade of appearances: a smile when one is in pain, the forced buoyancy of energy when one is exhausted, the illusion of...

Though it isn’t often talked about, I think most people living with RA would agree that RA can have a very negative impact on a person’s sex life. Pain and...

I get a flu shot every fall, usually after a routine rheumatologist appointment. The VA medical center where I get my care offers them to all vets, and they keep...