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…
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…
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…
Let’s talk about something I see a lot in my clinic as a rheumatology nurse practitioner—rheumatoid arthritis and its effect on joint lubrication. Trust me, it’s a topic that doesn’t get enough attention, yet it plays such a key role in how RA progresses and how people feel day to day. Joint lubrication might sound…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis, you already know it’s more than just joint pain — it’s a daily challenge that can test your patience, energy, and overall well-being. From my years working as a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how the right self-care strategies can make a real difference in managing symptoms and…
If you’ve ever tried to juggle a full workday while battling joint stiffness, brain fog, and relentless exhaustion, you already know this: rheumatoid arthritis and strategies for managing work fatigue are topics we seriously don’t talk about enough. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen far too many patients struggle in silence—pushing through meetings with…
As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had countless conversations with patients about what really makes rheumatoid arthritis flare—and what actually helps calm it down. Let’s be real: managing rheumatoid arthritis and balancing inflammation triggers is a bit like walking a tightrope. You try to stay steady, but the smallest gust (say, a stressful week or…
If you’ve ever watched someone struggle to open a jar or rise from a chair with a grimace, you may have seen the quiet grip of rheumatoid arthritis and its effect on joint flexibility in action. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen this disease not just as a list of symptoms on a chart,…
Rheumatoid arthritis and the impact on foot health is something I talk about with my patients almost every day. And let me tell you, foot pain isn’t just a footnote (pun intended) when it comes to RA—it’s often center stage. If you’ve ever dealt with swollen toes, burning arches, or that awful morning stiffness that…