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
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...reactions36comments
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...reactions40comments
"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...reactions29comments
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...reactions6comments
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...reactions8comments
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...reactions2comments
Attending College with RAIn this video, I provide some tips for current and future college students who are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...reactionscomments
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...reactions6comments
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...reactions2comments
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...reactions16comments
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...reactions11comments
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...reactions5comments
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...reactions29comments
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...reactions21comments
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...reactions11comments
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...reactions2comments
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 a recipe for complete exhaustion and feelings of...reactionscomments
Parenting While Managing a Chronic IllnessWhether or not you have a child, most individuals would agree that parenting is hard. Although there is no right or wrong way to raise a child, new trends, latest...reactionscomments
Seven Tips for Parents with RANavigating life with a chronic condition can be challenging. Adding children and parenting stress into the mix can make it feel like an impossible task at times. No matter where...reactions2comments