‘Art enables me to face my body and my life with courage.’ Chronic 24/7 pain, fatigue, swelling, and a host of other symptoms are all part of my journey with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis,…
chronic illness
Raise awareness about chronic illnesses by understanding their impact, symptoms, and the importance of support and education.
Medical Marijuana for Arthritis: Does Legal Status Affect Whether Patients Use It — or Talk to Their Doctor About It?
No matter who you talk to in the chronic pain, arthritis, and musculoskeletal disease community — patients, clinicians, researchers, public health experts — medical marijuana is controversial. Is it safe? Is it effective for treating…
These Are the Methotrexate Side Effects That Make Arthritis Patients Stop Taking It
Methotrexate (MTX) is considered a “first-line” therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis (PsA). But despite the well-known benefits of helping to reduce symptoms and prevent disease progression, methotrexate…
The Arthritis Symptoms That Matter to Patients May Not Always Be the Ones They Discuss with Their Doctor
One of the main reasons people with arthritis visit the rheumatologist frequently — every three months is common among patients with inflammatory arthritis — is for doctors and patients to assess how arthritis patients are…
Fibromyalgia vs. Lupus: What’s the Difference?
Fibromyalgia and lupus are both chronic diseases with no cure, can both cause some similar symptoms, and can both take a long time to get the right diagnosis. But fibromyalgia — often called fibro —…
Fibromyalgia Symptoms: 10 Clues You Might Be Ignoring
If you’ve had a nagging sore throat, your doctor may take a swab to check for strep. If you’re suffering from a high fever and bad cough, your doctor may order a chest X-ray to…
Is There a Difference Between Having Ankylosing Spondylitis with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis with Back Pain? A New Study Says Yes
Having AS with psoriasis may have some things in common with psoriatic arthritis, but research shows these are two distinct conditions. About 25% of people who have an autoimmune condition develop at least one more;…
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Can It Cause Knee Pain?
When you’re dealing with knee pain that won’t go away, you might blame it on overuse or age-related wear and tear. But in some cases, knee pain can come from a form of inflammatory arthritis…
Arthritis in Your Toes: Signs of Toe Arthritis, and What to Do About It
When you think of arthritis, you might think of creaky knees, stiff hips, or painful, swollen fingers. Yes, arthritis commonly attacks joints in the hands, knees, and hips. But it can happen anywhere you have…
What Is Enthesitis? The Painful Arthritis Symptom You Should Know About
If you have ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis, you may be familiar with the pain of enthesitis, an inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone — even if you aren’t aware it has…