How RA Changed My Expectations of ParenthoodBefore I was a mother, I dreamed about all of the things that I would do with my children. From thoughts of carrying them on my hip through stores, chasing...reactions6comments
Diving into the History of RA: Part 1The cause and history of RA are widely unknown. Researchers believe RA may be due to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors that together affect the body. Studying...reactions26comments
My Experience with COVID-19After over two and half years of the pandemic, I finally caught the virus. I tested positive after attending an in-person event and feeling a slight tickle in my throat...reactions1comment
Invisible Illness: A Name Coined by Someone Who Didn't Have RA“Invisible illness.” There’s been a lot of talk about this increasingly inaccurate phrase lately. Many of our community members tell stories about how their rheumatoid arthritis affects their daily lives...reactions10comments
The Distractions of RA Brain FogAs we continue to deal with direness of our present condition, I've noticed that the brain fog I've written about in the past is not only still here, but seems...reactions32comments
Restarting Humira During Covid-19My fingers on both hands have begun to swell, throb, and ache again, and I can feel them stiffening into a curled, locked position as I type this article. Each...reactions11comments
The Journey of Trusting YourselfToday I realized something that has become a valuable lesson… again. I realized that I’m very good at determining how much I am capable of, what my physical limits are...reactions11comments
Oh Kneecap!When I had my knees replaced as a teenager (almost 30 years ago) due to my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, my surgeon worked hard to ensure I kept my kneecaps. Every...reactions12comments
I Wish Prednisone Didn't Have Positive Effects on My RAAlong with rheumatoid arthritis, I live with another autoimmune condition called Crohn's disease. Luckily, the same systemic biologic I was prescribed for Crohn's also manages my arthritis. In general, I'm...reactions4comments
What the Fatigue?!If I am not writing about napping, I am writing about fatigue. If you’ve read some of my other articles, you will know fatigue is a favorite subject of mine...reactions59comments
Coping with UncertaintyLife certainly holds a lot of surprises (global pandemic, anyone?), but I think it creates even more surprises for people with rheumatoid arthritis. One day you feel OK, the next...reactions9comments
Self-assessment Tools and RAFinding a good rheumatologist can be a challenge. Getting an appointment with a good rheumatologist can sometimes be even harder. Once you have an appointment with a doctor you really...reactions8comments
In America: What's That?The In America survey is now closed. As an autoimmune condition, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is filled with unpredictability. For some, the intensity of RA symptoms like pain or fatigue can...reactionscomments
The 2024 Social Health Awards ProgramEditorial Note: Nominations for 2024 are now closed. We are very excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Social Health Awards program! The Social Health Awards is an awards...reactionscomments
Popular Forum Conversations: June 2022The RheumatoidArthritis.net community forum is an insightful resource filled with thoughtful questions, tips, and perspectives. Each month we are sharing 5 forum discussions we think deserve extra attention. Explore the...reactionscomments
RA, Shoe Envy, and Mini SkirtsThe other day I was walking down the street and saw a woman with great knees. I know, knees, really? But I have a feeling some of you will understand...reactions6comments
RA and Preparing for Event AccommodationsI love going to events. Things like concerts, listening to speakers, book tours, comedy shows, exhibits, conferences, comic con - you name it, and I've likely considered attending it. Logistics...reactions14comments
Feeling Frustrated with RAThis article is really a reprise to a previous article that I wrote about going back to biweekly Humira shots. In some ways, how I’m feeling right now is exactly...reactions9comments
Mask(less) MandatesRight now, I'm wearing my N95 Kimberly-Clark mask (that resembles a giant duckbill a little too closely) as I'm substitute teaching a high school social studies class. I can see...reactions2comments
Using RA as an Excuse - A Superpower or a Curse?I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Most people attribute it to Spider-man, but it actually came from Peter Parker’s uncle. I think about that...reactions5comments