Chronic Inflammation, Dopamine, & MotivationA friend of mine posted an article on her Facebook page recently that I thought was interesting: "Chronic Inflammation Removes Motivation by Reducing Dopamine in the Brain." A study done by... By Angela Lundberg2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments28 comments
I Hope It's a FlareI’m a pretty outspoken person, but there is a list of things I never expected I’d say. “I hope it’s a flare,” is certainly close to the top of the... By Carla Kienast2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
What Is Chronic Disease Self-Management?This is a breakdown of how researchers and physicians think about self-management. It is both informational and an opportunity to think on areas where you can improve in managing rheumatoid... By Michael Booth1 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
That "Uh-oh" MomentRheumatoid arthritis. It’s a daily struggle, a slow burn, a never-ending battle. Usually. Once you live with the illness long enough, though, you’ll get an “uh-oh” moment. They don’t come... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
RA and ShavingI took many things for granted before my rheumatoid arthritis and one of them is shaving. Before my diagnosis, it was one of those mundane routines I moaned and groaned... By Monica Y. Sengupta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments36 comments
The Pain Scales We NeedThe 10-point pain scale commonly used in medicine can be frustrating for those of us living with painful, chronic conditions. For starters, it is completely subjective. To a person who... By Tamara Haag2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments40 comments
"You Would Feel So Much Better if You Just ______."“You would feel so much better if you just: exercised, lost weight, put on makeup every day, showered every day, did yoga, went out more, quit thinking and talking about... By Mary Sophia Hawks2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments29 comments
Never a Dull MomentIf I were to describe my life with JRA, I would say: it’s never a dull moment. I’ve also described it as a rollercoaster ride or trying to swim to... By Kathryn Elton, OTR4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Is It Stress?I’ve always heard that stress is bad for rheumatoid arthritis, but I’ve never been sure what that meant for me and my condition. Developing juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age two... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Balancing Parenting and Rheumatoid Arthritis“Normal” parenting life - you know, being a parent withoutrheumatoid arthritis - is tough enough regardless of how old your children are. The energy relegated to just worrying about them... By Leanne Donaldson3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Attending College with RAIn this video, I provide some tips for current and future college students who are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)... By Michael Booth1 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Health WorryingI have recently come to the stark realization that having a chronic disease for nearly 20 years has caused me to adopt a level of “health worrying” that I need... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
This Weird ReprieveI started taking Humira in May 2019. I also graduated from Florida State University in May 2019. Since both of these events, I haven’t had that much joint pain. While... By David Advent2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The "My Meds May Not Be Working Anymore" PanicAnyone who suffers from RA is familiar with the way the disease is treated. We go through a trial and error period, sometimes taking years, until we find a medication... By Daniel Malito4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments16 comments
It Never Gets Easier, You Just Get StrongerLike being a parent to young children, the challenges of RA simply change with time, they do not disappear. And like being a parent, you may need to lose your... By Michael Booth3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Leaning into the Little ThingsI’d love to win the lottery, or have a rich uncle I never knew about give me a million dollars, or a benefactor take an interest in me and offer... By Kathryn Elton, OTR3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
The Birks Are Back!Spring is here, Summer is just around the corner, and in many ways this means FREEDOM! Freedom from heavy coats and jackets, freedom from having to scrape snow and ice... By Angela Lundberg4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments29 comments
RA Anxieties: Isolation & MisunderstandingEditor's note: In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Phrases in quotes are the words of our community members... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments21 comments
The Sleep MachineI was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea after having a sleep study test. This condition means that my airway closes while I am sleeping, which causes me to... By Kelly Mack3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments11 comments
A Fascinating AnalogyNot long ago I was having a conversation with a friend who is the mother of two teenagers, and as she shared her challenges in parenting them, she mentioned all... By Nan Hart3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments