Articles

I sometimes feel like an armadillo. Sounds very strange, I know.  But I think it is intriguing to look at how we relate to other animals in nature in terms of...

I’m not sure what’s been making my RA worse lately, but my joints are in a lot more pain and my bloodwork has gotten worse. So much to the point...

I haven’t been out much in the last few months. (Understatement of the year, right?!) So, I actually am not used to being around people. Other than living with my...

I can remember, from an early age, loving to color. I would spend hours upon hours choosing the perfect colors for my picture. Absolutely, I would get lost in my...

As many as a third of people with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) are diagnosed with what is called seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. This means that rheumatoid factor is not present in...

Rheumatoid arthritis has become such an integrated part of my life that it is hard to believe it’s been 13.5 years since I was diagnosed. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few...

I am very lucky that I do not have any sleep disorders but I still have trouble falling asleep and staying that way. I haven’t pinpointed the reason. It could...

Yes, I do believe that after 25 years with RA I have developed an ability to sense when someone I am around has RA.  I call it RA-dar. I certainly...

About three years ago, I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s syndrome as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. My hands can get really cold and alternate between turning whitish to purplish. My feet...

In the digital age, there are so many devices, websites, and technologies related to health. From fitness trackers to mobile apps, we use connected health technology to track symptoms, monitor...

I've written quite a few articles on my attempts at spontaneity and changes in habits. I appreciate routine and its benefits for my rheumatoid arthritis. If I take my medications...

Secondary gain is a psychoanalytic term for the advantages someone with pain has because of their chronic pain. The idea is that some people exaggerate their symptoms, consciously or unconsciously...

In September of 2019, Health Union (the parent company of RheumatoidArthritis.net) partnered with the US Pain Foundation for our first ever Chronic Pain in America survey to ask members of...

Prior to being diagnosed with RA, I took no prescription medications. I was able to get up out of bed each day and not have to worry about remembering what...

I clearly remember that once I began to do any type of research or reading online with regard to rheumatoid arthritis, it was not long before I began to get...

Unlocking doors, using keys, and twisting handles can be difficult when you have rheumatoid arthritis pain in your hands. Occupational therapist and our RheumatoidArthritis.net patient advocate Cheryl Crow is here...

In September 2000, my life changed. I was 22 years old and was in what was supposed to be my last semester of college. While I should have been exploring...

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have changed the landscape of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment and improved the quality of life for many people living with the condition. However, only about 30...

What is a rheumatic disease? A rheumatic disease is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack a person’s joints, muscles, bones, and organs. There...

The uninvited house guest. I have for years compared my arthritis to an uninvited houseguest that just won’t leave. I never invited RA to come into my life. Honestly, even...