My RA Made Me Do It: 10 Really Great Things About Having RA
Photo description: a girl dances with a rainbow-coloured umbrella on a black and white backgriound. Credit: Dan Park Living with rheumatoid arthritis is a dance on roses — there are plenty of thorns. In my new Made with RA column, I flip it. Can I find 10 reasons to be grateful for RA in my…
The Incredible Pain-Killing Powers of Orgasm
No one talks about how RA affects your sex life. So I will (and have in the past, as well). In my latest article for HealthCentral, I look at the magical painkilling powers of orgasm: “When you’re managing the crushing fatigue and painful joints that come with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sex is often one of…
The Healing Touch: How My Mother Took Away My Pain When Nothing Else Could
“That pain you had… For a mother to see a child with that kind of pain, is so terrible.” — My mom, Birthe Andersen I have had juvenile arthritis since I was four years old, which means this condition and I recently celebrated (?) 50 years together. For most of that time, there were no…
When Strong Gets in the Way
This post is written for the Facebook Live conversation between myself and Kirsten Schultz on how to stop being so damn strong. You can see Kirsten’s post here. I am very good at lying to myself. So good, in fact, that most of the time, I have no idea that I’m pulling the wool over…
“I’m Not Lazy:” Talking About Arthritis Fatigue
One of the biggest frustrations of living with arthritis — especially autoimmune arthritis — is the fatigue. It’s not just tired, it is a crushing exhaustion that does not get relief from rest. It’s a constant challenge to understand it, find ways cope with it, as well as dealing with the perceptions and the stigma…
10 Things to Try if Wearing a Bra Hurts Because of Rheumatoid Arthritis
I’ve been known to say that RA affects all areas of your life and do I ever mean all areas. Even something as simple as your underwear. Bras can be especially challenging. If you think about it, putting on a bra involves skill of a contortionist and when you have a chronic illness that affects…
What We Need From Others When We’re in Pain
Image description: rear view of two women sitting on a bench by a harbour. One woman is resting her head on the other’s shoulder. Pain is invisible. Which makes it hard to explain, and difficult for others to understand. I talked to the chronic pain community on Twitter and Facebook and they shared what they…
Your Life with RA Is On Sale!
It’s January, a month famous — infamous? — for being full of resolutions and decisions to take charge of your life. My Amazon Bestseller Your Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Tools for Managing Treatment, Side Effects and Pain is your perfect partner in the quest to become empowered and put yourself in the driver’s seat with…
6 Tips for Setting (and Working Towards) Goals Despite the Unpredictability of Chronic Illness
“That’s why you should never make plans,” she said. “You never know what might happen.” I used to be in that place. It’s a place where you are afraid of planning anything, because of the unpredictability of chronic illness. If you never know how you’ll feel tomorrow, even in an hour from now, forcing you…
How Acupuncture Can Help Your RA
Treating RA and its symptoms involves a toolbox with a wide variety of regimens and approaches. In one of my new articles for HealthCentral, I took a look at acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: “Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rely on a number of treatments and techniques to deal with the symptoms and pain. Many…
#ChronicChristmas Gift Guide Day 12: Everyone Needs a Toolbox
Image description: an illustration of a path through the forest. Next to the path sits a dog with a wounded pawl lifted. On the path is a penguin with a toolbox. Image has the number 12 placed in a tree and the hashtag #ChronicChristmas This is my daily Advent calendar of gift ideas for…
#ChronicChristmas Gift Guide Day 9: The Gift Only You Can Give
Description: An hourglass on a beach, right by the surf. Image has the number 9 is a circle and the hashtag #ChronicChristmas This is my daily Advent calendar of gift ideas for people with chronic illness, running from December 1-25. Some entries will contain affiliate links. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending some time…
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