Sudden and severe knee swelling...Hi, I was diagnosed with RA about a year ago (well, first rheumatologist thought maybe sjogrens, then diagnosed undifferentiated connective tissue disease, but second rheumatologist said no it's definitely RA...Reactions0reactionsComments10 repliesSymptoms
Seeking: Modest Health Care Professionals...Modesty is sometimes an undervalued characteristic in people and health care professionals in particular. When I was a child, it was confidence and authority that you sought in a doctor...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
How to. Make my doctor listen to me bout my whole body...Have severe pain every morning my neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees, and feet, feel something else wrong...Reactions0reactionsComments1 replies
MTX & Melanoma?...Was diagnosed last Jan and started MTX (injection), folic acid and prednisone. Started Plaqunil in June and able to get off prednisone in October. I have been able to tolerate...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesTreatment
What Does Pain Actually Look Like?...Here’s a scenario I’d like you to consider: two people are currently experiencing acute and intense pain. The first person is generally in perfect health and almost never experiences pain...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Self-What? Remembering Self-Care...At a recent physical therapy appointment at my pain management clinic, my therapist began to ask me questions related to self-care. "So have you tried the breathing techniques we talked...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My 1 Year RA-nniversary!...I’m 33 y.o. Female and my first year with RA is now “out of the way” The year flew by due to ongoing RA challenges, doctor’s appointments, life... and more...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Your Unexpected RA “Surprises”...We recently posted an article written by one of our community experts centered around her experience with RA, and how she has never had a shortage of surprises. Even after...Reactions0reactionsComments22 comments
New FDA Pregnancy Labeling Standards – Not As Boring As It Sounds!!...This article explains how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires medications to be labeled concerning the safety of use during pregnancy and breastfeeding – and if the first...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Holidays with the Dragon...The Holiday Season: that fine part of the year that starts with autumn’s sweet, sharp nip in the air. Outdoors, it’s beautiful! Clear blue skies, scudding clouds, the occasional thunderstorm...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Turn the Bottle, Not the Cork...Several years ago, when I drank a lot more champagne than I do now, I was given a marvelous tip for opening bottles of sparkling wine. Turning the cork to...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Exercising without being hit by a train?...My RA isn't being well controlled by meds, but don't want to use that as a excuse not to do things. I try to do some kind of exercise several...Reactions0reactionsComments5 repliesExercise
Arava...I was on arava for a couple months and my hair started falling out and my stomach hurt so bad I thought I needed my gallbladder out. They took me...Reactions0reactionsComments6 repliesTreatment
Cracking Up...This is kind of embarrassing and possibly a bit gross to talk about, but recently I've been having a skin issue that I suspect is RA-related. It's also not a...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Still I can't believe I am this sick...I went to my regular MD because I thought I had broken my middle finger. By the time I went back a week later, the same finger the other hand...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Developing a Treatment Plan...I am a planner. For example, my husband will tell you that I love planning trips and visits or dinners. In fact, I have the bad habit of asking him...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Old mindset, new limitations...Against the advice of her parents, Karen Horney decided to attend medical school in 1906, at the University of Freiburg in Germany. At the time she was one of few...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
My RA Journey...I have extremely severe RA. I could write a book on all the things it has done to me...from gangrene in both legs to having my hands fold over and...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
MTX or Job Burnout or Both?...Hi, so glad to have joined the group here and on Facebook. I have been in such a fragile state lately. I'm on 25 mg (1 ML) injections on Tuesday's...Reactions0reactionsComments5 replies
Arthritis and amalgam fillings...A few days back I read in an article that amalgam fillings are being attributed to rheumatoid arthritis. I am thinking of getting a frontal filling (http://www.emergency-dental-365.com/procedures/lost-fillings/ ) which is...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesSymptoms