The Importance of Medical Alert Bracelets And RAI first considered getting a medical alert bracelet when I began teaching undergraduate students. While I knew that they would be able to call 911 if I ever had a...reactionscomments
What’s All the Noise About? Joint Sounds and RAWhen battling rheumatoid arthritis, staying in one position for long is not feasible as joints become stiff and uncomfortable. After a few minutes the urge to stretch hits. When doing...reactions5comments
The RA Pregnancy Chronicles: Balancing Acts & Difficult DecisionsThe RA Pregnancy Chronicles is a series of posts that share my experiences being pregnant while living with RA. This post was written during Week 30 of my second pregnancy.Life...reactions4comments
RA and HerpesI don’t believe in coincidence. Karma, yes. Fate, yes. Coincidence, no. This is especially true in medicine. If you are trapped for hours in an airplane full of hacking, sneezing...reactions7comments
First, Second, 20th OpinionsOkay, I admit, I haven't had 20 opinions on my stubborn right ankle, but I'm guessing that I'm getting close to it. I'm in North Carolina right now because I...reactions15comments
RA Fatigue Is Complex, Poorly Understood, and Not TreatedHardly a day goes by on the rheumatoid arthritis Facebook site that a person doesn’t mention their persistent battle with fatigue. It’s one of the most frustrating symptoms of RA...reactions63comments
Can You Have It All With RA?Recently there’s been a lot of talk about whether women can have careers AND families, and be good at both. I think this is also an interesting question when it...reactions5comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Social Security Disability BenefitsWhen I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 25, I was right in the middle of law school and had not yet started my career. However, many people...reactions3comments
Skin Issues Associated with RAAbout the time I first ventured into a rheumatology clinic after being referred by my general practitioner, I had been battling a nasty case of hives for the previous year...reactions13comments
Apparently Only Old People Get SickAfter a long day at work, I got on the bus recently and took a seat at the front of the bus. Several other people got on after me and...reactions6comments
Seronegative RA, the Piano Player, and a Delayed DiagnosisBy the time I finally received the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, it was not an unexpected surprise. I had experienced strange symptoms for years. “My hands just don’t feel right,”...reactions12comments
Changing CourseI was diagnosed with RA in mid-2008. Like many people, my rheumatologist began my treatment plan with methotrexate along with an NSAID and pain relievers. In the six years since...reactions7comments
Summer Travel TipsI have the travel bug. Whenever I have saved enough funds and vacation time, I look for opportunities to travel. Rather than fading with age, the lure of travel beckons...reactionscomments
Why I Won’t Be Walking For RAMay is both arthritis and lupus awareness month. But while I’ll be trying to spread awareness behind the scenes, I won’t be participating in walks for either disease. Why? There...reactions2comments
Coping with Disaster at CollegeDuring high school I worked really hard—physically and academically—towards the goal of going to college. My parents encouraged me every step of the way, fully expecting that although I grappled...reactions3comments
Managing Other People’s Perceptions About RAFrom the youngest age I can remember, I knew I was different because people looked at me differently. The cause was my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I looked sick—often pale, limping...reactions4comments
The RA Pregnancy Chronicles: The Post-Birth RA FlareThe RA Pregnancy Chronicles is a series of posts that share my experiences being pregnant while living with RA. This post was written during Week 32 of my second pregnancy...reactions1comment
Does Not Adhering To Medication Regimens Make You A Bad Patient?For most of us, prescription medications, whether oral, injectable, or intravenous, are key to treating RA. Some of us are lucky enough to find a medication that works, and then...reactions1comment
Do You and Your Doctor Agree on the Severity of Your RA?We’d like to think that medicine is cut and dry and always based upon objective science. We get a blood test, take a drug, and get better. But most diseases...reactions9comments
Disease and DisabilitySince I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 35 years now, I have accumulated a lot of physical damage from this disease. A lot of my joint deformities, contractions and...reactionscomments
