Not a HeroPeriodically during my life with rheumatoid arthritis, people have exclaimed to me: “You’re a hero!” I remember this happening even when I was a young child, limping along with my...reactions3comments
Swollen Lymph Nodes and RAOne must always be careful to not automatically attribute any new medical symptom with RA. There are, however, many comorbid (occurs alongside) conditions with an autoimmune disease like RA. These...reactions4comments
RA and Workplace AccommodationsLiving and working with rheumatoid arthritis can be a real challenge. Luckily, the Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA for short) requires most employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to qualified...reactions6comments
Pain-Relieving HappinessAccording to new research published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, a positive attitude can help rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients with a more positive attitude experienced less pain and fewer...reactions1comment
IKEArrrrgh!I have long loved IKEA. Years before a store came to Atlanta, I used to love leafing through the catalog of perfectly constructed rooms, with their clever touches and modern...reactionscomments
Holding Out Hope?At my last check-up with my rheumatologist, I was feeling pretty frustrated. I’d been in more pain than usual the week prior to my appointment, and as a result the...reactions6comments
Don't Complain to MeDo you every have one of those days when you just don’t want to hear other people’s gripes? You’re in pain and your joints feel like they are on fire...reactionscomments
The Pain of Pain MedicationThis October will mark a year of Vicodin and other hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) being reclassified by the DEA into a stricter category of controlled substances--from a Schedule III drug to...reactions13comments
What to Tell OthersI have a hard time talking about my pain and illness with others. It’s something I’m trying to get better at, especially with close friends. Fundamentally, I struggle with the...reactions17comments
Outside the linesIt seems that so much of our time managing RA centers around the main aspects of the disease itself, i.e. the joint pain, swelling, fatigue, etc. that it may be...reactionscomments
What Does That Say?I’ll admit it: I’ve never had great penmanship. As a young child, I was an overachiever with report cards filled with “E’s” for “excellent.” The one exception was penmanship, for...reactions2comments
Six Assistance Programs RA Patients Need to KnowDisclaimer: Some of the programs mentioned below have been discontinued. We're in the process of updating this information. Managing a chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can be made more...reactions10comments
Invisible Illnesses & Handicapped ParkingEver since the day I was first issued my handicapped parking placard, I have been waiting for someone to give me a hard time about it. I’ve heard horror stories...reactions4comments
Losing Dr. McWonderfulIt was time to make my quarterly appointment with my rheumatologist. I called the Veteran’s Administration Health Care Appointments number and waited, as usual, through several repeats of the recorded...reactions1comment
Summer R&R for RAHello from Brooklyn, New York! I'm back! Okay, maybe you didn't know I was even gone, but I took a two-week trip back home to Minnesota in early July to...reactions3comments
Searching for Peace in a Quiet DayWhen I was in college, I loved staying out until the wee hours of the night going dancing or to concerts, then sleeping until noon and spending the rest of...reactionscomments
Helpful or Hurtful?When does someone's "friendly" advice cross the line and turn unhelpful or even hurtful? Is unsolicited advice really an effort at friendship and support, or is it bossiness and ego/arrogance...reactions4comments
Plagued by InflammationIn recent months, I’ve been struggling with an inflammation of the eyelids called blepharitis. Warning: this is gross! I wake up with yellow crusties on my eyelids and a sticky...reactions11comments
RA Daydreams: Robot ChauffeurLiving with rheumatoid arthritis can feel like a nightmare, which sometimes leads me to daydream about things that would make this journey a little easier. Sitting in my car in...reactionscomments
The Importance of Patient FeedbackOur healthcare system can be extremely complicated for patients to navigate. And, all too often, it seems like patients are a captive audience, with little to no power to influence...reactions2comments