Living

As someone who lives with chronic illness, I have come to expect the unexpected in many ways. Unfortunately, life still throws curveballs our way. This summer, my lower back pain...

It's funny- when you live in pain, you spend a lot of time thinking about (and trying) different ways to think less about your pain. Like, if you could just...

Who would have thought: I'm sick again! And it's at the worst possible time for a graduate student: finals week. This serves as a stark reminder of how much my...

As many of you already know, the month of May is dedicated to Arthritis Awareness Month. This year, in honor of awareness month, we are testing your knowledge of RA!...

With summer just around the corner, many of us are ready to enjoy more activity, BBQs, and days in the sun. It’s been a long, cold winter and you’re excited...

Stay with me here: I think there's a surprisingly intricate relationship between alcohol and RA. Don't get me wrong; I love occasionally indulging in a drink after a difficult day...

When we moved 4 years ago, one of the most difficult challenges was establishing a new relationship with a rheumatologist here. In my previous community, I had a very successful...

You probably wouldn't know this unless you have RA—and maybe even if you do have RA, you haven't thought about this—but having RA is really expensive. You might think that...

I really like to try to treat my rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain through a holistic approach. Over the past 18+ years, I have used a combination of prescribed medications...

Before a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis, many people have an incomplete picture of the disease. We were curious about how their perception of the disease changed after they were diagnosed...

I refuse to be a warrior in the war on RA. Every time I go to an arthritis-related event, they honor warriors. I have arthritis, but I am not a...

This article was inspired by my current rheumatologist. She is my eighth rheumatologist, and I believe 8 is my lucky number. I started seeing her in 2018. At that time...

Many people who receive federal benefits for disability have a challenge with being able to save due to asset restrictions. While you may want to put away some funds for...

Before I was even diagnosed with RA, I was experiencing some joint pain in my wrist; not just a dull ache but a full and complete freezing of my right...

I have decided that it is time for me to consider a little bit of “spring cleaning” for my body. I wanted to find out (for me) how my body...

Every two weeks, I gather the cardboard box from the refrigerator, pull back the lid and read the warning printed on the box of my biologic. "IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: CIMZIA...

I recently shared an article about my emergency spinal surgery last fall and how the required adaptations following that procedure required me to avoid bending or twisting at the hips...

May 1 kicks off Arthritis Awareness Month! Awareness of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important for many reasons. RA is a condition that is often misunderstood. Increased awareness can help dispel...

Well, it finally happened. Despite all precautions taken and warnings observed, I am now unclean! That's right, just shy of 4 years, I have now officially joined the ranks of...

I have been absent for a while. I am sharing my experience in the hopes that it helps each of us recognize symptoms and needs that MUST be addressed. I...