If you’ve been living with rheumatoid arthritis, you know that the symptoms can be unpredictable. You may feel good one day and have a flare-up the next. It’s not possible to eliminate RA symptoms, but several treatment options are available that can help you manage them. The first line of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis… Continue reading 6 Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Category: Patient Experiences
What is Spoon Theory?
Living with a chronic illness can be debilitating. Some days, you may wake up with enough energy to climb Mount Everest. But on other days, you can barely roll out of bed and every action takes every ounce of energy you have. Because chronic illness can be so unpredictable, it can be difficult to explain… Continue reading What is Spoon Theory?
Member Story: Living with Major Depressive Disorder
Meet TrixieSwizzle, PatientsLikeMe member since 2017. TrixieSwizzle has been managing her Major Depressive Disorder for as long as she can remember. She has also been living with HIV since 2002. She believes strongly in the power of sharing your story as a form of therapy and is an open book about her condition. “I have… Continue reading Member Story: Living with Major Depressive Disorder
4 Types of Multiple Sclerosis (Plus Two You Didn’t Know About)
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune condition that impacts the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It affects nearly one million people in the United States and more than 2.3 million people worldwide. MS is a progressive disease, meaning it can get worse over time without treatment. However, treatment can’t always slow the progression of the disease. There are four types of multiple sclerosis: clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS, primary progressive MS, and secondary… Continue reading 4 Types of Multiple Sclerosis (Plus Two You Didn’t Know About)
5 Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting 1.3 million adults in the United States. It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body instead of protecting them. A healthy immune system protects against germs and sends fighter cells to attack them. But with autoimmune diseases, the immune system treats normal cells like foreign cells and releases autoantibodies that attack healthy cells. Autoantibodies are… Continue reading 5 Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis: What’s the Difference?
There are over 100 different types of arthritis. While many forms of arthritis are similar, different types are more painful than others and can impact daily activities. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common types. These two specific types of arthritis share some symptoms, but they have different causes and treatments. What… Continue reading Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis: What’s the Difference?
7 Ways to Deal with Emotional Exhaustion
No matter what you’ve faced this year, 2021 has been full of challenges and change. With one stressor after another, including the continuation of COVID-19 on top of pressures from a job, raising a family, or managing a chronic illness, you may be wondering what else you will have to face. As adversities continue to… Continue reading 7 Ways to Deal with Emotional Exhaustion
Medications for Multiple Sclerosis
Although there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, there are several medications that can help improve the quality of life for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Medications can help ease symptoms, keep the disease from progressing, and reduce the frequency of a relapse. Medications for multiple sclerosis include pills, injections, or infusions. Finding the right… Continue reading Medications for Multiple Sclerosis
10 Effective Ways To Get Through Tough Times
Hard times, however they manifest in your life, are an inevitable part of being human. Life is like a roller coaster. There are a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Sometimes you’re on a flat track, moving along at an even pace, and other times you feel like things have come to a… Continue reading 10 Effective Ways To Get Through Tough Times
Holiday Recipes for People with Chronic Illness
When you have a chronic illness, traditional holiday meals can affect how you feel. If you have kidney disease, you may need to watch your protein and salt intake. For other conditions like heart disease or diabetes, you may need to limit refined sugars. Still, other conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease may require… Continue reading Holiday Recipes for People with Chronic Illness