A Bout of Three CavitiesRecently, I had a routine dentist appointment that went a little awry. For the past 22 years, I have had a pretty clean track record with my dentist with having...reactions24comments
The Case for Doing Nothing“The trouble with people nowadays is they don't know how to do nothing.” ―Iris Murdoch, A Severed Head, 1961 I recently read an interesting article in the New York Times, "The...reactions18comments
Riding the Waves of the Continuum of Coping!Receiving a rheumatoid arthritis/disease diagnosis tosses you into an ocean full of questions, doubts, fears, and my favorite: coping! Coping with RA/RD mirrors the stages of grief identified by Elizabeth...reactions6comments
Advanced Foot StrengtheningRA can have a huge impact on our feet and our gait. Specifically, some may experience a change in their feet shape or collapsing arches. For this video, Mike provides...reactions2comments
Heating UpIn this video, I describe the benefits of using heat to manage the discomfort of RAjoint pain. I talk about how the different methods and applications of heat can help...reactions3comments
Just When I Thought I Was Out...It looks like, come November, I will be back into the full swing of RA. Again. A new surgery to fix my ankle that may last up to a year...reactions7comments
Let's Party! Lessons on RA from Ina GartenI am not ashamed to admit that I LOVE cooking shows. Ever since I was a little kid, hungrily watching The Galloping Gourmet and Julia Child, I have been watching...reactions16comments
How to Handle HecticI manage my RA best when I utilize routine as my foundational principle. I like to try to stick to an exercise regimen, eat healthy, etc. I successfully manage my...reactions2comments
Be Ready to ArgueI’m very happy that it’s been more than six years since I was in a hospital facility. I had forgotten how I have to be constantly at the ready to...reactions16comments
The Waking Nightmare of RALast night I had a nightmare. In my dream, I felt a strange sensation in my right wrist, and looked down to see a squirming bulge pulsing under the surface...reactions17comments
Moving On from the RA SlowdownRA has slowed me down. I’ve talked about it and know that to be true. But, I’m a perfectionist, someone who micromanages their life to a microscopic level, furiously and...reactions3comments
Life In Fits & StartsHaving a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis does something that even those who suffer from it may not realize – it slows everything down while at the same time speeding...reactions6comments
Turn. Turn. Turn.The seasons come and the seasons go, that’s pretty much as inevitable as reality show slap fights and people clamoring for the new iPhone. Unfortunately, what also comes with that...reactions16comments
Flare ScaresThe role that fear plays as it pertains to our RA is an important concept to keep in mind as we manage this chronic disease. Fear is not just an...reactions7comments
RA and DepressionI’ve had depression since I was 14. It’s something that has colored every aspect of my life and how I perceive the world around me. So has RA, even though...reactions6comments
I Love My Body: A New MantraI can’t claim I’ve always embraced self-love, especially where my body is concerned. I was in first grade when my body first indicated this was going to be a complicated...reactions5comments
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...reactions28comments
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...reactions1comment
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...reactionscomments
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...reactions8comments