Mary's Story of RA and two cancers...In February of 2013 I was diagnosed with a severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. It had started as excruciating, immobilizing pain. It was so bad that I ended up in the Emergency...reactions1comment
Don't Complain to Me...Do 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
Humira and purpura or petechiae?...Anyone taking Humira ever been diagnosed with either purpura or petechiae as a reult of use? I have been breaking out with one/two purplish red spots which look like both...reactions2repliesTreatment
The Pain of Pain Medication...This 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
Obvious symptoms.... All normal blood work....First, I would like to thank everyone on this site. It has helped carry me through the last 3 months of insomnia due to pain. It has also helped me...reactions3repliesSymptoms
RA Sucker Punched !!!!!...I'm a 50 year old African American female. I've had Rheumatoid arthritis since 1997. The onset of the disease started when I had my daughter, and I was at home...reactions4comments
Mouth Pain...I have dentures for 5 years. I can't wear them. The dentist says it's not dental related . My mouth hurts so bad, the dentists says it could be RA...reactions2comments
Doctors who are dismissive about Rheumatoid Arthritis...I was diagnosed with RA very late in life. I was always told I had osteoarthritis. My primary Doctor ordered a blood test to see if I had RA and...reactions1comment
What to Tell Others...I 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 lines...It 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
yoga...Has yoga helped your RA? My doctor told me to try it. I just ordered a yoga arthritis dvd I will be doing in the morning. I can't afford a...reactions2repliesExercise
Paid RA Research Opportunity...Hi everyone! I would like to share information about a paid research opportunity for adults who have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. (Feel free to take this down if it’s...reactionsreplies
Six Assistance Programs RA Patients Need to Know...Disclaimer: 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 Parking...Ever 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
Liar, liar pants on fire!...I lie! It's actually kind of comical, because I have never really been a good liar. Even as a child, I was horrible at it, even simple little lies that...reactions3comments
Losing Dr. McWonderful...It 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 RA...Hello 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 Day...When 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
Liz's story...I was diagnosed about 30 + year ago. Methotrexate made me bleed internally, more than once. About the time I was diagnosed, I changed my life style and eating habits...reactions1comment
