Many eons ago, not long after my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, I went to the library to learn all I could about it. Ever since I’d taken Lamaze training so that I could give birth to my daughter ...

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means adjusting... literally everything. Over the years, I’ve found some of the parts of getting dressed that once were easy (clasps, hooks, zippers) have gotten ...

For many people, holiday plans include some kind of travel. In addition to the ordinary stress and chaos of travel, many of us with rheumatoid arthritis also need to figure out how to travel with ...

RheumatoidArthritis.net is a Health Union community. Health Union reaches millions of people through condition-specific online health communities and a Social Health Network of patient leaders across ...

There is no single blood test that without fail proves the existence of RA. In fact, this is one of the areas of research needed in order to help identify and treat patients early in the disease ...

I’ve spent my whole life with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. In my younger years, it was chalked up to growing pains or injuries from being athletic. It wasn’t until I was 30 years old and ...

Joint pain, swelling, tightness, and stiffness are the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Joints in the hands, wrists, feet, and knees are usually affected first. Over time, RA may ...

Before my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) in 2000, I’d been repeatedly misdiagnosed for years. Doctors told me I had strains, sprains, tendonitis, and Reiter’s syndrome ...

RA causes chronic inflammation in the joints, and the hands and wrists are commonly affected. The joints in the wrist may be one of the first symptoms of RA. About 50 percent of people with RA have ...

We are living in an age of ever-increasing medical options. While it is wonderful to have options, the process of finding which medicine regimen works best can be daunting, and even sickening, ...

About 3 years ago, my voice started getting hoarse now and then. I’d be talking to someone, just minding my own beeswax and boom — suddenly, I was croaking. It felt like there was something small or ...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term (chronic) autoimmune disease. Autoimmune means that your immune system begins to attack and damage healthy cells. Damage from RA can continue over time and ...