"By using high-quality research, I have been able to have more productive conversations with my health care team. I now feel empowered to make informed decisions about my health, armed with knowledge from carefully vetted studies."
"Over time I've come to understand my experiences and have developed strategies for navigating the losses that come with chronic illness. It's never perfect, but if I'm going to be 'the sick girl,' I might as well kick ass at it by trying my hardest."
"Starting an exercise routine with RA requires thoughtful planning, self-awareness, and a willingness to adapt."
"Social media can be a powerful tool, but it’s essential to navigate it mindfully and exercise discernment when engaging with both the information and the people you encounter."
"From cooking meals to cleaning to running errands and managing finances, every responsibility falls squarely on my shoulders — shoulders already aching from arthritis."
Managing RA pain goes beyond joint care. Explore these patient-approved tips for identifying triggers and finding relief.
Need to reach your medical team between appointments? Here’s how to make communication smoother, from phone calls to patient portals, so you can stay on top of your care.
"The effort it takes to push through the pain and fatigue often leaves me running on empty. It’s no wonder I can feel burnt out when I am constantly stuck in survival mode."
"Hand exercises have made a significant impact on my life. However, consistency is key — once you stop, the benefits begin to fade."
“Managing a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis often feels like a full-time job. When my plate is too full, I find that I’m more prone to making mistakes.”
“I don’t like feeling envious; I understand its ugly nature. Yet, at times, I cannot help but feel it.”
"For me, prednisone was useful temporarily, but it’s not a long-term fix...taking the medication could allow me to go have fun and lessen my pain for awhile."
"If you have RA, like me, you have likely read a lot about anti-inflammatory diets and various versions from self-proclaimed experts. And, if you’re also like me, you have probably tried countless diet plans, only to feel frustrated and still hungry."
"Finding freedom when living with RA, or any chronic illness, is not about escaping your reality but rather embracing it with courage, resilience, and a sense of empowerment."
By Jae Walker
Discover how one patient overcame severe nerve pain, insurance challenges, and the struggle for effective treatment to reclaim their quality of life.
“It wasn't until I personally faced it and connected with others in my community who live with chronic illnesses or disabilities that I truly understood the extent of ableism and the harm it can cause.”
"Nearly a decade after my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, I continue to be astonished by the persistent changes it brings to my life and my personal growth and spirit — both good and bad."
Developing a beauty routine that works for you and your arthritis may take time and experimentation, but these tips can help.
Meal prepping can offer healthier eating and symptom relief for people with rheumatoid arthritis or another type of inflammatory arthritis. Get tips for planning and prepping meals.
"Between pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction, travel with RA can be difficult. Over the last decade, I have learned a few ways to navigate these challenges."
"Dating can be challenging, and adding a chronic illness can make it feel overwhelming, but it's not impossible."
"Arthritis is a prime example of a dynamic disability...I have good days, bad days, and days that fall somewhere in between."
“I didn’t realize I had such low expectations for a primary care physician until my new doctor showed me what an amazing appointment could actually look like.”
“In the past, I used to go all out with Christmas and other holidays. However, my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has made me adopt a simpler approach. Though, admittedly, it’s not entirely by choice.”
"I had no awareness that occupational therapists could help address the myriad challenges stemming from my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and its associated comorbidities."
"Hosting a support group reminded me how important it is for patients to connect with each other, to support each other, and learn together."
"Finding the right rheumatologist inspired me to become an active member of the chronic disease community and explore integrative treatments."
Navigating the dual role of being chronically ill and a caregiver? These tips can help you better care for them without sidelining your own health needs.
A patient's perspective on the challenges of telehealth, from lost social cues and less socializing to potentially missed symptoms.
"Living with a chronic illness can be incredibly expensive. Add in the rising costs of inflation and life with rheumatoid arthritis becomes even harder."
"Imagine sweltering in the summer heat, battling spontaneous menopausal hot flashes, all while searching for a long-sleeved blouse or sweater to conceal my arms. These sores were not just painful; they were highly conspicuous."
"My cats always provide comfort. They seem to sense when I need a cuddle or even just a comforting meow, making the challenges of RA more bearable."
"Navigating RA challenges during the summer requires adaptability, but I still find joy in the season."
“Out of all the changes brought on by chronic illness, the loneliness and social isolation are the most painful....There are moments when I feel surrounded by an overwhelming darkness, but I remind myself that these moments will pass, and I have the strength to endure them.”
“The day I was told I'd need to rely on medication for the rest of my life, I was filled with fear. Not only was I grappling with my diagnosis, but also with the reality of taking medication every day.”
By Bowei Li
"[My wife] helped me realize — I’m not troubling her; I’m being an advocate for myself for what I need."
"It seems that if you just whisper 'arthritis,' someone inevitably emerges from the woodworks to shower you with unsolicited advice."
Do friends, family, and peers often attribute anything amiss to your rheumatoid arthritis? Remember, while RA may be invisible, you are not. Your experiences and identity go beyond the condition.
Patient advocate Eileen Davidson shares how stress impacts her RA and offers tips for coping with stress and chronic illness.
For those with chronic illness, owning a dog can bring many benefits, including reduced loneliness, stress, and increased activity and support.
To the rescue: Tips for managing barriers and staying motivated to make movement part of your life with rheumatoid arthritis.
Discover the benefits of developing emotional intelligence, from managing chronic pain to improving all areas of your life.
“You don't need to be a Buddhist or a Zen master to practice gratitude regularly; just start. I promise you won't regret it.”
To understand how I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I need to take you back to the start of my journey with chronic pain.
By Jae Walker
“I have this ache inside me for nothingness. I want oblivion. Pain makes me yearn for it. Do not misunderstand me, I do not mean death and I do not mean suicide. I mean quiet darkness. The absence of pain.”
A patient advocate gets real about the challenges of living with an invisible illness.
“I needed to learn to be transparent about how I felt and what was really going on with me. I had to know when to sit down but also find the strength to keep thriving.”
A nurse practitioner and RA warrior shares tried-and-true tips for managing flares and improving quality of life. Learn more.
Tien Sydnor-Campbell uses her book and background in psychotherapy and bodywork to help inspire others with chronic illness to accept their pain and advocate for better care.
In recognition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day, patient advocate Eileen Davidson shares answers to the most common (and bizarre) questions people ask her about living with RA.
Raven Miller, a single mom and creator of Raven Takes RA, shares her journey with rheumatoid arthritis, and how she finally reached a place of balance, optimism, and strength.
Sadly, flares and RA go hand and hand but asking yourself these key questions can help you determine if self-care can help, or if it’s time to strategize with your rheumatologist to feel better.
Try these tips for keeping your immune system strong and staying protected during the "tripledemic."
New study led by the Hospital for Special Surgery drives home the importance of the patient perspective in research, education, diagnosis, and care.
Taking time to think about what keeps you happy and healthy (and what causes pain and fatigue) can help bring you more joy this holiday season. Make a list — and check it twice.
By Jae Walker
For people with chronic illness, imposter syndrome leaves them with the illusion that their symptoms are “in their head.”
Planning and cooking an extravagant menu when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or another chronic illness, can be stressful. To the rescue: A few tips to ease the burden of holiday meals.
When it comes to celebrating this holiday season, setting boundaries is a must for people living with chronic disease.
Mourning the loss of a loved one is especially painful during the holiday season. We talked to CreakyJoints community members and Laurie Ferguson, PhD, for advice on managing the emotional and physical toll of grief.
Ten years of self-injections have made me despise my weekly methotrexate injection — here’s how I’m coping.
"Doing contract work at home allows me to move at my own pace and it gives my joints the time they need to get going...I stay busy but self-care is prioritized over work."
By Shani Erdman
Two new studies explore the unique health journeys, perspectives, and needs of Spanish-speaking patients with RA.
Getting a diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis brought feelings of relief and disbelief for patient and researcher Dr. Shilpa Venkatachalam.
By Shani Erdman
Patient advocate Wigna Cruz shares her experience participating in an advisory board for Spanish-speaking patients with RA — and how it evolved into a flourishing support group.
How rheumatoid arthritis patient Vanessa Kerr overcame the challenges of limited access to care in a rural area.
Patient advocate Stephanie Aleite explores how calculating an event’s value could help people living with chronic illness prioritize how they expend energy and improve their social support and well-being.
“My diagnosis of RA came with significant loss. Several years later, I can proudly say I have gained more than I lost. I am a better person because of the things that RA took away.”
"Finding that balance between too much and too little is a true artform that takes years to learn with rheumatoid arthritis."
Whether in the beginning, middle, or end, the school year can be exhausting for parents with chronic illness. Try these tips to help you save energy and stress.
Looking for a way to remind yourself about daily goals, self-care, and overall good mental well-being? Here's how a game-like app can help.
Rheumatoid arthritis patient and family nurse practitioner Stefanie Remson shares how she’s managed the feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and inadequacy that came with her diagnosis.
By Jae Walker
“No matter how strong I think I might be, or no matter how tough or stoic, the relentless grinding and repetition of this waiting cycle wears on me as a patient. It used to dig into me until I began to bring sensory items with me to help me cope.”
By JP Summers
In honor of World Heart Day, JP Summers, Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, shares her experience with heart failure — and what lessons you can take away too.
Patient advocate Shelley Fritz shares her infusion day diary, including what she does before, during, and after each infusion and what lessons she's learned over the past decade.
“Having RA has given me an opportunity to be kinder to myself, love myself unconditionally, and to help so many more people in the RA community find this place of peace."
By Rachel Ellis
“Managing my RA taught me how to let go of control, blame, and shame,” says Jennifer Gabiola. “It became a holistic spiritual journey not only of physical healing, but of coming back home to me.”
By Jae Walker
For patient advocate Jennifer Walker, the emergency room is not a safe, welcoming space. Here’s why — and how other patients with multiple chronic illnesses can learn from their experience.
Patient advocate Eileen Davidson finds these all-too-common phrases rude, naive, and unsupportive — and you may too.
By Angie Ebba
"Much like my basil, I don’t do well in the heat either. I joke with friends that there are only a few months out of the year that my body really likes — in the winter my bones ache from the cold, and in the summer heat, I wilt as fatigue and deep muscle exhaustion sets in."
By Jae Walker
“COVID-19, the Uvalde school shooting, and now Roe vs. Wade has been overturned…I am bone tired. Tired from the inside out of my bones.”
By JP Summers
Rheumatoid arthritis and migraine patient advocate JP Summers reflects on the lessons learned over the past 10 years as she and her family have had to adjust to the realities of life with chronic illness.
Andy Pendergrass believes in leading by example. And he’s showing sons Cal, 5, and Freddy, 1, that when life throws you a curveball you can still hit it out of the park.
By Jae Walker
“I refuse to smash my emotions down inside myself so I can put on a happy face and make other people feel better. I will not pretend like I have learned a fantastic lesson when my body and my life are falling apart in this moment — I need time to cry and scream into a damn pillow," says patient advocate Jennifer Walker.
Patient advocate Eileen Davidson takes an honest look at her seven-year RA journey and shares the mistakes she made shortly after being diagnosed, along with tips on how to adapt and advocate early on.
Painsomnia. Medication hangovers. Out-of-nowhere symptoms. Eileen Davidson may not have the solutions for these RA frustrations and more — but she hopes sharing them validates what you’re feeling too.
Many people with chronic illness suck at asking others for help. Here’s what you can do to make it easier for them to cope with a disease flare.
Rheumatoid arthritis is serious. If you have it, you need to take it seriously. If you love someone who with RA, you need to understand what they’re living with every day.
Flare fear is a heightened state of anxiety that my disease symptoms will pop out of nowhere, says rheumatoid arthritis patient Eileen Davidson. Here’s how she handles the tricky balance of living her life and being imprisoned by flare fear.
“Having self-love gives me motivation for self-care. Practicing self-care reaffirms my self-love,” says advocate Eileen Davidson, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions.
By Dibs Baer
After noticing a pattern of worse flares than usual, especially right before infusion time, RA patient Dibs Baer wonders whether the biologic medication is wearing off — and, if so, what to switch to next?
“I’ve made some steps to try and better my heath,” says Russ Miller, a 36-year-old rheumatoid arthritis patient. “I want a better quality of life and want to be happy again, because I haven’t been for many years.”
Having needle anxiety is tough when you take medication that requires monthly intravenous infusions. Here’s how rheumatoid arthritis patient Eileen Davidson learned to get through infusion day without as many jitters.
When she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 16, Guadalupe Torres faced linguistic and cultural barriers that impacted the way she viewed the health care system. Now, fueled by her past and the experiences of other Spanish-speaking patients, she is hoping to change the system.
Spanish-language resources from CreakyJoints Español helped Wigna become a more empowered rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient and build out her support system.
These kinds of comparisons may be more harmful to people with arthritis — or any chronic illness — than you might realize.
“Hiking has become a victory — albeit, a small one — over rheumatoid arthritis. I am proving to myself and others that I will not let rheumatoid arthritis win; that with a few adaptations I can still live and enjoy life," says Eileen Davidson, who has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
When rheumatoid arthritis patient and fashion designer Michael Kuluva approached Eileen Davidson to help design a T-shirt to promote arthritis awareness, she embraced her own ‘fierce fight’ to help inspire and support others.
“Before I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I didn’t really think about the way heat could impact my body and mind,” says Eileen Davidson, a rheumatoid arthritis patient. “But RA changed all of that that.
When I was diagnosed with this chronic illness at age 29, I was expecting joint pain. I didn’t expect to feel like I was hit by an 18-wheeler.
Telling anyone they are too young to live with a condition is more inflammatory than it is reassuring or supportive.
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