As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner with years of hands-on experience, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless patients who struggle with the complexities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of the most common questions I get from my patients, especially those dealing with the more debilitating symptoms, is: “Can rheumatoid arthritis cause chronic fatigue syndrome…
If there’s one question I get asked more than any other in clinic, it’s this: “What are the best natural anti-inflammatory herbs for arthritis?” And honestly, I get it. Living with arthritis—whether it’s rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, or one of the many inflammatory types—can be a daily battle. Between the stiffness, the joint pain that flares up…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that often affects the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. It’s a condition that I, as a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, encounter regularly in my practice, and one of the most common questions patients ask is, “Does rheumatoid arthritis get worse with age?” While this question doesn’t…
If you’ve ever watched a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) try to unscrew a stubborn jar lid or button a shirt on a flare day, you’ll know what I mean when I say: living with RA isn’t just about managing pain—it’s about navigating a hundred little challenges that most people take for granted. Over the…
Planning a party when you or someone you love has GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) can feel like trying to DJ a dance party with noise-canceling headphones on—tricky, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming. As a Medical Assistant in a Gastroenterology Clinic, I’ve had tons of patients ask me what they can actually eat at social gatherings without…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen first-hand the struggles that individuals with RA go through. It’s more than just an inflammatory condition; it impacts daily life in profound ways. But, did…
Can rheumatoid arthritis cause numbness in feet? That’s actually one of the more common (and confusing) questions I get asked in my clinic. You’d think joint pain and swelling would be the main issue with RA—and they are—but when a patient starts describing tingling toes or a “pins and needles” sensation in their feet, it…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis can feel like you’re constantly trying to outsmart your own immune system. It’s not just about managing pain—it’s about anticipating flare-ups before they knock you off your feet. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve walked side by side with hundreds of patients navigating this rollercoaster, and I’ve learned that the best…
As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve sat across from countless patients who’ve asked me the same thing in different ways: “What are early warning signs of rheumatoid arthritis?” It’s a question I wish more people asked sooner, because with RA, timing really matters. Rheumatoid arthritis is sneaky—it doesn’t always come on with fireworks. Sometimes it…