If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years working as a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, it’s that understanding rheumatoid arthritis and how to avoid common triggers can be life-changing for patients. And I don’t say that lightly. RA isn’t just about aching joints or stiffness in the morning—it’s about fatigue that sneaks up on you…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is challenging, not only because of the joint pain and inflammation it causes but also due to the many changes it demands in daily life, including how we approach nutrition. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve worked with countless patients who often ask me about the best dietary changes they…
If you’ve ever wondered why gut issues seem to flare up around the same time as your rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, you’re not imagining things. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen this pattern over and over again in my patients—and honestly, in myself during high-stress periods when the immune system is already on edge….
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be a daily challenge. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how this condition impacts my patients, and I’ve learned a lot about the subtle yet profound ways it affects their lives. While there are numerous treatment options available—everything from disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to biologics—there’s one therapy…
When I first started diving deeper into autoimmune conditions as a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I kept bumping into one oddly persistent theme: the gut. Yep, that complex ecosystem living inside all of us, quietly doing its thing—digesting food, balancing bacteria, regulating immunity—seemed to have a major role in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. So I started…
As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how debilitating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be for patients. One of the most challenging aspects of RA is the pain. Whether it’s constant aching, joint stiffness, or those sudden flares that can knock you off your feet, rheumatoid arthritis pain relief is something everyone living with the…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis—or caring for someone who is—you’ve probably noticed that the *feet* often get the short end of the stick when it comes to attention. But trust me, as someone who’s spent years as a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand just how rheumatoid arthritis affects the feet. It’s not just…
If you’ve ever wondered how rheumatoid arthritis and stress management techniques are connected, you’re not alone. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen first-hand how stress can sneak in like an uninvited guest and stir up all kinds of trouble in people already battling chronic conditions like RA. It’s something that rarely gets the spotlight…
Ever sat with a patient who’s been managing their rheumatoid arthritis for years, only to hear them say, “I feel like my brain’s in a fog lately”? As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve heard this more times than I can count. And yes—there’s something real going on. Rheumatoid arthritis and cognitive function changes aren’t just…