Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means navigating a complex landscape of symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle adjustments. One topic that comes up a lot in my practice as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner is the connection between RA and gluten-free diets. Patients often ask if cutting out gluten can ease their joint pain or reduce inflammation. From…
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…
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…
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 wondered how to reduce joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis, you’re not alone. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating and exhausting this condition can be. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn’t just about achy joints—it’s an autoimmune disease that can seriously impact your quality of life. But here’s the good news:…
Managing rheumatoid arthritis and the benefits of journaling pain isn’t something you typically hear about in the same breath—but trust me, they should be. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how chronic joint pain and emotional tolls are tightly linked. Over the years, I’ve encouraged many of my patients to keep a pain…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn’t just about joint pain — it’s about reclaiming your quality of life. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve walked alongside so many patients navigating this chronic illness. I’ve seen the exhaustion in their eyes, the stiffness in their steps, and the frustration of flares that seem to come out…
Can rheumatoid arthritis cause shortness of breath? If you’ve ever worked in rheumatology—or lived with RA yourself—you’ve probably heard this question more than once. As a nurse practitioner in the field, I’ve had countless patients bring this up, usually after a flare-up or a bout of unexplained fatigue. It’s not something we always associate with…
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…