Too Close For Comfort...There are many things to hate about rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. There’s the pain, immobility, and crippling fatigue. There’s the cost, time, discomfort, and side effects of medical treatment. There...reactions15comments
Bills. Bills. Bills....Medical billing. Just saying those two words is enough to make a Delta Force soldier cringe. It’s something all of us who are chronically ill deal with and it’s the...reactions9comments
Endless Decisions and RA...Just like life in general, living with rheumatoid arthritis is a series of endless decisions. From the very big decisions about medication to the daily decisions about how much activity...reactions1comment
Carpal Tunnel and Rheumatoid Arthritis...My career in the salon industry has been an extremely successful one. For the past 16 years, I have built my business and reputation on hard work and a listening...reactions1comment
Goodbye (and Good Riddance!) 2018: Part 1...I know I'm late writing about the new year (resolution: stop procrastinating!), but I still have some strong thoughts about it. Well, especially about 2018 and what nightmare of a...reactions2comments
Out of the Blue...Hindsight is 20/20. As I sat down to write my story here, I realized that though I have a diagnosis date for my RD, I don't really know when it...reactions4comments
Two of the Best Things in Years!...I have been an RA sufferer for over 30 years (only about 15 of those were correctly diagnosed). My flares have caused me to have both hope and a left...reactions2comments
The Art of Doing Nothing...“Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.” —Winnie the Pooh One of my secret goals for this year is to be better at doing nothing. I’m one...reactions2comments
Yes, I CAN Meditate!...It’s funny how powerful our mental blocks can be. I’ve long heard about the powerful benefits of meditation. For instance, the Mayo Clinic states that meditation may help with stress...reactions4comments
What is a Pain Management Specialist? Should I See One?...Pain management specialists are physicians who have special training in treating all kinds of pain. Pain can arise from a number of reasons, including from injury, nerve damage, surgery, or...reactions5comments
Updating Goals for 2019...Reflecting on my goals for the last five years has been really helpful for me to think about the previous year and where I hope to go with my health...reactions4comments
Sick of Sickness!...I had really been looking forward to saying (shouting?) goodbye to 2018. Why? 2018 was a tough year, especially regarding my health. And don't all things in life ultimately stem...reactions1comment
The Miracle of a Well-Timed Good Day...The unpredictable nature of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) is an incredibly frustrating aspect of living with this disease. While I’d rather have intense pain intermittently than relentlessly, it is difficult...reactions6comments
ChronicSandy Diagnosed At 38!...I had so much joint and fever pain when I started seeing a spinal specialist about a herniated disc in my neck. Luckily he cared and suggested I get tested...reactions4comments
The New Year & Checkpointing...The new year. Every time it happens I always feel compelled to write the standard “hopes and resolutions” piece. Problem is I’ve released that album more times than the Beatles...reactions1comment
The Great Sinus Situation of 2018...Oh, my lungs hurt? It’s the methotrexate. My ribs are inflamed? It’s the rheumatoid arthritis. My tongue is sore? That’s just the Sjogren’s. Your head is completely congested? That’s just...reactions9comments
Do chiropractic and RA mix?...I've read conflicting information about whether people with RA should receive chiropractic adjustments. Pre-RA they helped me a lot and I would like to go back to them. Does any...reactions3replies
Has anyone ever experienced heel numbness and pain?...Is this heel numbness normal with RA? Lately I've been getting numbness just on my heels....reactions1reply
The Pain of RA...Lately I’ve seen a lot of people talking about the pain of RA. How it’s unrelenting, unforgiving, and seemingly without end. I get it, I really do. There have been times when I...reactions60comments
