Why Does It Take So Long To Get A Diagnosis Of RA?
One of the biggest struggles to effectively treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the delay in diagnosis. In the very recent past, just 20 years ago, the time from the appearance of first symptoms to diagnosis range from a few months to more than 10 years. Thankfully, that has improved more, although the average is still…
At-Home RA Test Could Be a Quicker Path to Treatment
One of the biggest challenges in having rheumatoid arthritis is simply getting diagnosed. In my new article for HealthCentral, I look at the pros and cons of a new at-home diagnostic test for RA: “Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience difficulties in getting a diagnosis. The lag between first appearance of symptoms and the…
What You Need to Know About Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis
Up to 30% of people with RA don’t have a positive blood test. This has an impact on speed of diagnosis and effective treatment. My new article for HealthCentral looks at what you need to know about having seronegative RA, and includes some fantastic quotes from people who’ve experienced this: “Getting a diagnosis of rheumatoid…
How to Cope with a New Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of a chronic illness is never easy, but there are things that can help you adjust. I wrote this article for Mango Health while the blog was dormant: “You have a chronic illness. You’ve just received the news from a doctor, likely a specialist. The name of the condition is ringing through…