If you’ve ever found yourself asking, can RA cause depression?, you’re not alone — and as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve heard this question more times than I can count. Rheumatoid Arthritis isn’t just about joint pain and stiffness. It’s not just physical — it’s emotional, it’s mental, and it can quietly take a toll…
Let’s talk about something I see a lot in my clinic — rheumatoid arthritis and iron deficiency. If you’re living with RA, and you’re feeling unusually tired (like more than your usual flare-up fatigue), you might be surprised to learn your iron levels could be to blame. It’s a topic I often dive into with…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’re probably all too familiar with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. But what many people—and even some healthcare professionals—don’t realize is that RA and brain inflammation can go hand in hand. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how this disease extends far beyond the joints. In…
Living with rheumatoid arthritis and skin dryness can feel like a double whammy. I see this often in my clinic. Patients come in focused on their joint pain, but as we dig deeper, they’ll often say, “Oh, and my skin’s been super dry lately too—could it be related?” Absolutely. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve…
If you’ve ever found yourself wide awake at 3 a.m. because of throbbing joints, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not imagining things. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had so many patients sit across from me, bleary-eyed and frustrated, asking, “Why is the pain always worse at night?” It’s a real issue, and it’s not…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you already know how unpredictable and frustrating this autoimmune condition can be. From morning stiffness to flare-ups that seem to come out of nowhere, managing RA often feels like a full-time job. Over the years working as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen countless patients explore various lifestyle…
If you think rheumatoid arthritis in young adults sounds like a contradiction, you’re definitely not alone. I’ve had more than a few patients look at me in disbelief when I bring up RA as a possible diagnosis—especially those in their 20s and 30s. Most folks picture their grandparents when they hear the word “arthritis”, not…
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 ever dealt with joint pain in your fingers, you know how tricky it can be to figure out what’s going on. Is it rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or something else entirely? When it comes to RA vs osteoarthritis in fingers, the distinction matters—not just for treatment, but for understanding how your day-to-day life might…