If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis, you’re no stranger to the relentless ache that can settle into your joints and make even the simplest tasks feel like a marathon. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve spent countless hours listening to patients share their daily struggles and, more importantly, celebrating their small victories. Whether you’re newly…
Is RA considered a disability? That’s a question I’ve been asked more times than I can count in my years as a rheumatology nurse practitioner. And honestly, I get why it comes up so often. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doesn’t always “look” like a disability to those on the outside—but the fatigue, the stiffness, the unpredictable…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis isn’t just about managing flares or remembering your meds—it’s about finding your rhythm. That’s why I created a rheumatoid arthritis daily checklist for my patients. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen how daily habits—both big and small—can shape how someone feels. And let’s be honest, it’s not always easy. But…
When people hear “rheumatoid arthritis,” they often picture joint pain, swelling, and maybe some stiffness in the mornings. But let me tell you, after years of working closely with patients as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand that the hidden symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are where things get tricky. These symptoms can fly under…
Let’s be real—joint pain is a frustrating beast. I’ve had countless patients walk into my exam room convinced they have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) just because their knees or fingers ache after a long day. And I get it—when your joints hurt, it’s easy to assume the worst. But here’s the thing: not all joint pain…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means constantly searching for ways to ease inflammation and manage symptoms — and trust me, as a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how much diet plays a vital role in this journey. When people ask me about the best RA diets 2025, I always tell them it’s not just…
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions—uncertainty, frustration, maybe even fear. I get it. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve walked beside many patients during these early stages. One question I hear more often than you’d think is, “How to reverse early RA?” While there’s…
If you’ve ever cared for someone with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lived with it yourself, you know how exhausting it can be. But what often gets overlooked in the day-to-day struggle is the deep, relentless fatigue that accompanies RA. This isn’t your average tiredness — it’s a chronic, bone-weary kind of fatigue that affects nearly…
As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I get this question more often than you’d think: does RA affect blood vessels? Short answer? Yes, and in more ways than people realize. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn’t just about achy joints—it’s a full-body inflammatory condition, and that inflammation can take a toll on your blood vessels, too. I’ve seen…