Waking Up is Hard to DoOpen eyes? Check. Stare at the ceiling for five minutes? Check. Make sure pets are still alive? Triple check. Consider everything I...reactions86comments
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...reactions13comments
In Praise of Physical Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis For the past year, my right ankle has been listing, like a boat that is slowly sinking. And lately, I’ve noticed that...reactions2comments
New Year, New BillsJanuary 1st is usually a date that's welcome and met with hope and enthusiasm, a chance for people to meet goals and...reactions2comments
Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: It's Time to Repeat Hyaluronic Acid InjectionsI remember the occasion very clearly when osteoarthritis made itself known beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2010, I decided to paint my...reactions6comments
Did I Have Enough Surgery?Most people don’t worry about having enough surgeries. But I have reached the point of four decades of accumulative, aggressive joint damage...reactions10comments
Preparing For Surgery - A GuideSurgery. For many of us with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic illnesses, surgery is as much a part of life as fatigue...reactions2comments
Exercising My Arthritic Hands with Sticker ArtA study in Arthritis Care and Research looked at and monitored the hand grip strength of individuals in the early stages of...reactions24comments
New Perspectives on Nutrition for RAA new article in Rheumatology Advisor highlights recent findings on nutrition for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). “Role of Nutrition in Protecting...reactions6comments
Massage, Exercise, Heat Pads, and Electrical Stimulation – Just Another Day at the Physical TherapistIn the recent RA in America poll reported on this website, 41% of respondents indicated that they had partaken in physical therapy...reactionscomments
Rheumatoid Arthritis Wins and a Season of HopeI’m here today, my friends, to offer hope. Somehow the RA gods have seen fit to bless me with a brief symptom...reactions21comments
When Do You Throw in the Treatment Towel?At the start of my RA journey, I was unaware of how many different types of treatments were available to treat the...reactions23comments
Questions That Linger after Half a Century of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: When to Seek HelpI've now lived with the juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis for over 50 years. I wish all that time meant that I...reactions6comments
How to Build Your Own RampI’ve always been a fan of ramps. When I was younger and could walk more, I liked them for being easier for...reactions5comments
Pacing MyselfNovember and December mark the general time of year when I start to overdo things. It’s the end of the year and...reactionscomments
Parenting with Chronic RA FatigueBeing a parent is a tiring job, and often, life with a chronic illness often comes with fatigue. Both together can be...reactionscomments
The Pillow Queen“Do you really need that many pillows?” I don’t know how many times my husband has asked me that. In spite of...reactions29comments
Why Thanksgiving Is My Favorite HolidayThere’s something so special about Thanksgiving. Like many holidays, we have the special foods and hopefully quality time with people that we...reactions4comments
The Mask We Wear with RAI was looking through some old photos the other day of me from childhood. I was posed very proudly in an all-plastic...reactions40comments
Shingles: Good Reason to Boost My Immune SystemPatient Leader Jacqueline Harmon shared her experience with shingles while living with multiple serious health conditions. By now, I assume nearly everyone...reactions7comments
