My life. Changed forever.

It's no secret that RA causes extreme exhaustion and energy is limited. Taking naps during the day has become the norm for so many of us...

Blood Work Broken Down

* I don't know about you but all the tests the doctors do sometimes they make my head spin. I never kept track of my blood work and how ...

Pacing and chronic pain

Pacing is learning to find the right balance between spending time on an activity without pushing yourself so that it significantly worsens ...

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hip Issues by Guest Blogger Elizabeth Carrollton

* Rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most common forms of arthritis, is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks th...

More information on arthritis

For more information on arthritis and related conditions, contact any of the following organizations: National Institute of Arthritis and Mu...

Everyday coping with arthritis and chronic pain:pacing

This is not an illness that is managed easily for me. There is no magic pill, no prescription for complete healing. There are ways to manage...

You Can Feel Better!

Arthritis can damage your joints, internal organs, and skin. There are things you can do to keep the damage from getting worse. They might a...

Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week

A U.S. Bone and Joint Decade Initiative that focusses on arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis and trauma. Find out more what is happening thi...

Unsolicited emails

I get 15 emails a day from this blog all from people selling me drugs for Arthritis and other wonder cures. If they worked they would not ha...

How far we've come

Today marks the first birthday of my support group Squeaky Joints. When the group was started, Peggy (my co-founder) and I never dreamed wha...

Crossroads

We all have them at some point in our lives. When we are forced to choose the best option, the lesser of two evils. A moment when we wish we...

Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Research has shown that eating fruits and vegetables may be linked to a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Fruits and vegetables are high i...

Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Omega-3 fatty acids are the talk of the town as they seem to  have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. They contain EPA and DHA which a...

A little help with filing for SSDI

Filing for SSDI can be very intimidating. When my husband finally convinced me to do so I was terrified. All you hear are people getting den...

Medications

I have found that no matter how good of a day I have, every night I am reminded that I have a chronic illness. Medications. No way to get ar...

What If I Still Hurt? with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sometimes you might still have pain after using your medicine. Here are some things to try: Take a warm shower. Do some gentle stretching ex...

Finally...a diagnosis. Now what?

I think the hardest thing for me to hear from someone with RA is that they were just diagnosed. It's because I know. I know how scared t...

Joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease, mainly affecting joints and A tendon is a band of fibrous tissue that connects the muscle ...

Goodbye!

Goodbye Orencia! I would like to say it was nice knowing you but I can't. You did nothing good for me. This week I have my kidney surger...

A Cute Story

My daughter wrote this story and I thought it was really cute. With the Arthritis Foundation Walk coming up in our area it has been a topic ...

Just some of the great Arthritis resource sites available

American College of Rheumatology John Hopkins Arthritis Centre The Arthritis Society Arthritis Foundation Arthritis.About.Com Arthritis Tod...

You want the good or the bad news?

So much going on! I'm sorry I haven't posted at all. I will break these last few weeks down for you....the good, the bad, and the ug...

How Should I Use Arthritis Medicine?

Before you leave the doctor’s office, make sure you ask about the best way to take the medicine the doctor prescribes. For example, you may ...

Boston visit and my meds

Just wanted to update you guys on where I am at with my new doctor. Yesterday we took the drive to Boston to for my appointment. Can I just ...

a small milestone

My husband and I are coming up on our 11th wedding anniversary. We have seen so many things good and bad in our relationship. I'd say th...

How will the doctor help? re arthritic pain

After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The doctor may give you...

Arthritis and Sjögren's Syndrome

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjögren's Syndrome. Many people do. Many people with RA develop another autoimmune disease such as Sjög...

What Can I Do if I have symptoms of pain in joints?

Go see a doctor. Many people use herbs or medicines that you can buy without a prescription for pain. You should tell your doctor if you do....