Started out as JRA, still going as RA...When I was about a year and a half in 1981, my left knee started to swell and stiffen. Since my family and I lived in a third world country...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Inflammation...The job of your immune system is to fight germs and diseases. When infection, injury, or illness begins to damage the body, your immune system fights back by sending healing...
Fatigue & Weakness...Fatigue is overwhelming tiredness, extreme lack of energy, and weakness over time. When you are fatigued, you feel exhausted and tired. Fatigue can impact your quality of life, making even...
The Emotional Toll of RA...Living with a chronic (long-term) and painful condition such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can take a toll on your emotions. Studies have shown that people with RA are at high...
What To Expect When Expecting RA, Part 2...Well, it's here: part 2 of the hotly (yeah, right) anticipated guide to what to expect when you are expecting RA. In part 1, we covered some of the mental...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Early Signs & Symptoms...Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Autoimmune diseases (or conditions) may occur when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. RA causes...
Looking for the Silver Linings in a New World...Adaptability as an idea is very interesting to me. It constantly amazes me how easily animals adapt to new surroundings (as soon as two days, really). People always say that...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Cascading Consequences...It seems like with my rheumatoid arthritis that one little thing going wrong can cause a cascade of negative consequences. It’s like setting up a trail of dominoes: knock one...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Painful hip for a week, normal x-ray?...Hi. I have been dealing with a painful hip for a week. The rheumatologist manipulated the leg and said it seems to be in the joint and definitely not bursitis...Reactions0reactionsComments11 repliesSymptoms
An Open Letter to My Rheumatoid Arthritis...Rheumatoid Arthritis C/O Rick Phillips 1 T-Cell Boulevard My Body, Indiana Hello RA. How are things going? I hope you are having a lovely time. I mean, someone should be. I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
6 years of crazy...Hi, I have always had pain. Doctors have told me since I was 12 that I had weak bones but could strengthen my frame by building core muscles. Great! I...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension...Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that affects more than joints within the body. It can affect connective tissue and internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, or...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The Aches and Pains of RA...Most of my friends have no clue what we go through on a day to day life and living with RA. I am fine most days, but have had many...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Do you talk to others about your condition?...I know that not everyone feels comfortable talking about their health, but when I get the opportunity I’d like to educate people about my condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is often misunderstood...Reactions0reactionsComments4 repliesFriends & Family
JIA and severe but brief back pain?...Has anyone else here with JIA experienced severe back pain that lasted just 10-12 days then relieves without medications? Could it be due to a new exacerbation of RA or...Reactions0reactionsComments5 repliesSymptoms
Thoughts For People Newly Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Part 1...If you were recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were scared, mad, frustrated, anxious, and overwhelmed - sometimes all in the space of ten minutes...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Practical Ideas to Manage RA and Depression in a Post-COVID19 World...In a post-COVID19 world, it is easier than ever to find yourself sinking into the abyss of depression. Loneliness and isolation are at an all-time high while many of our...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Functional medicine to treat RA?...My mum (85) suffers from RA. For many years we tried a lot but nothing helped so far. Heard about functional medicine some weeks ago, do you have any experience...Reactions0reactionsComments3 repliesTreatment
The Connection Between MGUS, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis...Living with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis calls for constant learning. There is much to know about these complex illnesses, varying treatment options, and ways to improve quality of life. People...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Planning For Your Next In-Person Visit...While some appointments can be done virtually using telemedicine, there are still many visits that need to be done in person. If you need to attend an in-person visit, planning...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
