Blog Articles About chronic pain

How to Become Friends Again with Your Body After Feeling Betrayed by Rheumatoid Arthritis

For a very long time, I felt that having rheumatoid arthritis meant that my body had betrayed me. But in the moment of profound insight, I realized that my body was not an enemy to resent, but a partner to support. In my new article for CreakyJoints Canada, I write about how I became friends with…

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I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis, But Please Don’t Call Me a Patient

I have been involved in chronic illness and advocacy for a long time, but the terms ‘patient,’ ‘patient advocate,; or ‘patient expert’ has never sat well with me. In my new article for CreakyJoints Canada, I talk about why: “I dance every day, but not to music. As someone with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I spend…

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Managing RA Pain in a Post-Opioid World

Pain meds aren’t always available when you need them. In my new olumn for HealthCentral, I share relief strategies can help get you through a rough patch: “LIKE IT OR not (and really, who would?) to have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to know pain—even people in remission may have occasional flares or breakthrough pain. For me…

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A white woman talking to a female doctor. The title of the post "How to Talk to Your Doctor about Sex and RA." Rheumatologists don’t always bring up the topic of how RA affects sex, so you may have toYour DRheumatologists don’t always bring up the topic of how RA affects sex, so you may have to.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Sex and RA

Rheumatologists don’t always bring up the topic of how RA affects sex, so you may have to. WHich can seem daunting. In my new column for HealthCentral, I share tips for starting a conversation with your doctor about how RA affects your sex life: “WHEN YOU HAVE rheumatoid arthritis (RA) it affects all aspects of…

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Jounraling and Chronic Illness: My Favourite Supplies. Pens, markers, and scissions in a brown cup

Journaling With Chronic Illness: My Favourite Supplies

Journaling can be a wonderful way to process your feelings around chronic illness, as well as a creative outlet that doesn’t need you to use a lot of energy or movement. Win-win, right? At its core, journaling is about thoughts, a pen and a notebook — or your phone or computer, if handwriting is difficult….

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How Journaling Can Help You Live Better with Chronic Illness and Pain

Did you know journaling can be an important tool to add to your bag of chronic illness and pain coping tools? It’s been shown to help people cope with pain, PTSD, depression, and even have a beneficial effect on your immune system. This is the first in a series on journaling and chronic illness and…

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When a flare gets you down, you have to get back up. Lene Andersen reminds you that you already know how to keep going.

Made with RA: Having RA Means You Are Resilient

When a flare gets you down, you have to get back up. In my new column for HealthCentral, I remind you that you already know how to keep going (and share tips and how-to in case you need a refresher): “RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) can stop you in your tracks, taking over every single part of your…

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A little self-love goes a long way in seeing your accomplishments for what they are: enough.

Give Yourself Credit for Everything You Do With RA

A little self-love goes a long way in seeing your accomplishments for what they are: enough. How to get there? I share tips in my latest column for HealthCentral: “WHEN LOOKING BACK at your day, your week, and maybe even your year, does a list of all the things you couldn’t or didn’t do roll in…

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Platitudes do more harm than good when you have RA. A mic drop take down of 5 platitudes and suggestions for what you can say instead.re supportive-sounding alternatives.

5 Platitudes That Don’t Help Me Live Better With RA

When people don’t know what to say about your rheumatoid arthritis, they often rely on old adages or platitudes. The problem is, none of these actually help you feel supported and they are hardly ever useful. In this column for HealthCentral, I pick apart five platitudes that don’t help and suggest alternatives: “EVEN THE MOST introverted…

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Lene Andersen breaks down how to keep yourself from ending up with an RA flare because you overdid it … again.

How to Actually Pace Yourself With RA

On the couch, flaring because you overdid it AGAIN? Yup, been there. In this column for HealthCentral, I break down how to keep yourself from overdoing it over and over again: ““Pace yourself.” This is the magic solution to all my woes of trying to live my life while managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). At least, it’s…

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Lene Andersen interviews Daniel P. Malito for Chronic Journeys. Image shows a split screen - Lene is on the left and Dan is on the right, Both are smiling.

February 2021 Chronic Journeys with My Guest Daniel P. Malito

On the latest episode of Chronic Journeys, I talk to Daniel P. Malito about growing up with juvenile arthritis, stretch marks and opioids! Get Dan’s book So Young: A Life Lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small…

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DEK: “Tips for how to create a chronic illness and disability emergency preparedness kit.”

Emergency Preparedness with a Chronic Illness or Disability

Updated April 20, 2024 Big and scary emergencies are thankfully rare occurrences, but when they happen, those of us who live with chronic illness and disability may have challenges that others don’t experience. Part of your emergency plan will be the same as your healthy and able-bodied neighbours, but you will also need to make…

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