When the Brain Fog Rolls InIt’s not something I like to talk about but, like many people with rheumatoid arthritis, I get brain fog. These are days when I feel like my thinking is impaired...Reactions0reactionsComments32 comments
Feeling Like You're All Alone in the WorldSometimes, and particularly lately, I've been feeling lonely. And while this might seem hyperbolic — I know I'm not lonely because there are, in fact, people who live below me...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
6 Tips for Staying on Top of TreatmentLiving with a long-term health condition like rheumatoid arthritis requires us to stay on top of everything: doctor’s appointments, new symptoms, insurance, and, of course, managing treatment – all while...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Should I Have to Be This Strong?I don’t know where it comes from, but there is a saying, "We’re only given in life what we can handle." I actually don’t believe this. In fact, I think...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
What I Wish My Doctor Told Me About RAI spent years living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before I was correctly diagnosed. I remember asking every provider I saw about the relentless pain I felt in my joints. The...Reactions0reactionsComments36 comments
Is My Pain Related to My (Lack of) Memory?For a long time, I’ve wondered why my best friend remembers my childhood better than I do, why I get lost so easily and have to rely on the person...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Getting Older with RA and Used Napkins“Getting old isn’t for the faint of heart.” My grandfather was rather famous for saying that every time he had an ache or pain (or worse), and the older he...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Ageism in RheumatologyThis year, I was invited at the last moment to participate on a panel at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting. The panel I was invited to join examined...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
How I Handle Moving Stress, Part 2I just moved across the country for school. The full move was a lot, but I managed to keep stress at bay so let’s jump right back in, shall we?...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
RA-United!Last summer, I was happily and unexpectedly RA-united (reunited) with my friend Mara, who also has rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We first met and became friends some years ago when she...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Popular Forum Topics – December 2021The 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Goals and Dreams Can Still Exist with Rheumatoid Arthritis: My Experience with Creating a Vision BoardI have been battling rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 17-plus years now. When I was younger, I was a dreamer and a goal setter. Then in my 20s, my RA was...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
When Is It Time For Knee Replacement Surgery? Part 1"You’re not old enough for surgery," said my first orthopedic doctor 4 years ago, "but you will need total knee replacement at some point in the future." At that time...Reactions0reactionsComments22 comments
Ignoring the RA Ticking Clock in the New YearYes, it’s that time again. New Year. The time when everyone is making resolutions and promises to themselves for what their 2022 is going to be like, usually forgetting that...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
2021 Recap: An RA Rollercoaster2021 was truly a weird year. From the pandemic continuing to having to go back to work in-person to starting graduate school again, the word that best describes this year...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Mental Chaos of RAMost of us understand that the very nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), physically speaking, is chaotic and unpredictable. I have always understood this to be true and one of the most...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
The Benefits and Downsides of StrengthWhen people ask me, "How do you have the strength to live with rheumatoid arthritis and disabilities?", I shrug because I know no other way. I just must do it...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Asking for Help - Do It"Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill." We've all heard the saying. It’s the world’s way of telling us not to make more out of problems than they are...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments
Kidney Removal with RAOn September 30, 2021, I had an item published titled The Maestro. Hey, it was a good piece about getting ready for surgery. I wrote in "The Maestro" that I...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Work, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and AdaptationsHow do you handle work with your rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis? That is a recent question from one of our newer members. How do you choose a job you can do...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments