Rheumatoid Arthritis and Social Security Disability Benefits...When I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 25, I was right in the middle of law school and had not yet started my career. However, many people...reactions3comments
Skin Issues Associated with RA...About the time I first ventured into a rheumatology clinic after being referred by my general practitioner, I had been battling a nasty case of hives for the previous year...reactions13comments
Apparently Only Old People Get Sick...After a long day at work, I got on the bus recently and took a seat at the front of the bus. Several other people got on after me and...reactions6comments
Seronegative RA, the Piano Player, and a Delayed Diagnosis...By the time I finally received the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, it was not an unexpected surprise. I had experienced strange symptoms for years. “My hands just don’t feel right,”...reactions12comments
Changing Course...I was diagnosed with RA in mid-2008. Like many people, my rheumatologist began my treatment plan with methotrexate along with an NSAID and pain relievers. In the six years since...reactions7comments
Unexpected Connections...I’m grateful that my illness is treatable with medication. And that for those with RA, there is hope to live a long life. I recently met a seventeen-year-old girl who...reactions2comments
Summer Travel Tips...I have the travel bug. Whenever I have saved enough funds and vacation time, I look for opportunities to travel. Rather than fading with age, the lure of travel beckons...reactionscomments
Rob Osberg...Rob was previously an advocate on RheumatoidArthritis.net. A native Virginian and avid history buff, Rob Osberg is an expert in American civil rights. He first became a patient advocate and...
Carla Kienast...Carla was previously an advocate for RheumatoidArthritis.net. Carla Kienast is a free-lance consultant offering a wide range of corporate communications services and the author of the acclaimed [trashy] suspense novel...
Let the sunshine in...Here in the northeast we really treasure our summers because they come and go far too quickly. And this past winter was an especially long and difficult one so that...reactionscomments
Why I Won’t Be Walking For RA...May is both arthritis and lupus awareness month. But while I’ll be trying to spread awareness behind the scenes, I won’t be participating in walks for either disease. Why? There...reactions2comments
Coping with Disaster at College...During high school I worked really hard—physically and academically—towards the goal of going to college. My parents encouraged me every step of the way, fully expecting that although I grappled...reactions3comments
Kids Get Arthritis Too! July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month!...What do you think comes to mind when most people hear the word arthritis? Do you think the average person picture someone like me – a young mother who has...reactions2comments
Managing Other People’s Perceptions About RA...From the youngest age I can remember, I knew I was different because people looked at me differently. The cause was my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I looked sick—often pale, limping...reactions4comments
Heels from Hell...I should know better by now. I wear sneakers or comfortable shoes daily, but of course I had to push the envelope for my cousin’s wedding. Bloated, uncomfortable and angry...reactions5comments
Celebrex...I have been taking celebrex 100 mg now for about 4 months it's been a help to be honest but the last 2 weeks the pain is back and worse...reactions2repliesTreatment
Professional Perspective...Being a newcomer to rheumatologic illness does not mean I am inexperienced. In my professional life, I am a primary care physician, board-certified in internal medicine, and working on becoming...reactions15comments
The RA Pregnancy Chronicles: The Post-Birth RA Flare...The RA Pregnancy Chronicles is a series of posts that share my experiences being pregnant while living with RA. This post was written during Week 32 of my second pregnancy...reactions1comment
I hate RA...I am so tired of this horrible disease. Every time I'm feeling better and think I can handle it, BAM! More PAIN! So frustrating! Still learning and trying to figure...reactions5replies
Does Not Adhering To Medication Regimens Make You A Bad Patient?...For most of us, prescription medications, whether oral, injectable, or intravenous, are key to treating RA. Some of us are lucky enough to find a medication that works, and then...reactions1comment
