The holiday season is here, and it is the time for giving gifts, and letting loved ones around us know how much they mean to us. So, if someone special in your life is affected by arthritis or chronic pain, what are some good gift ideas to give them? Here are some tips and suggestions: … Continue reading »
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Are You the Face of Arthritis? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
What does arthritis “look like?” Check out this new initiative from the Arthritis Foundation, “Faces of Arthritis.” Go blue for World Arthritis Day by purchasing this shirt to show that arthritis has MANY looks, and then share your photo and your story to show the world what “arthritis looks like!” I’ll be posting more … Continue reading »
Managing Stress While Living with Chronic Pain or Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
As many as 90% of doctor visits, and thus coinciding conditions, have stress as a causative or effective component. Stress is a part of life for everyone, and how stress is handled varies from person to person. Unfortunately, for people living with a disability, chronic illness, or any other medical problem, life tends to come with a … Continue reading »
Kids, Teens, and Young Adults Get Arthritis, Too! Celebrate JA Awareness in July – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Kids and young adults get arthritis, too. And July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. According to the Arthritis Foundation, JA refers to any form of arthritis or arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age. Approximately 294,000 children under the age of 18 are affected by pediatric … Continue reading »
The Inconvenient Truths About Life with Arthritis and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
I’ll admit it. I, like many of you, have, at times, grown weary of hearing, “You need to exercise. You need to eat well. You need to think positive thoughts. Sleep is important. You can’t give up,” and so on. But, I recently had a lot of health crises that led me to have a … Continue reading »
2012 Arthritis Advocacy Summit: Not Attending? Be a Part of the Virtual Summit!
If you were unable to attend the 2012 Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit, going on now April 16th-18th, you can still let your voice be heard by joining in the Virtual Summit! Join the AF during the Advocacy Summit by telling your Members of Congress that MORE needs to be done for people living with arthritis! … Continue reading »
Social Media for Support: E-Patients Using the Internet to Cope with Arthritis & Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Support groups are a great way to cope with illness or disability. In today’s world, online support groups and social networks are a great way to belong to a health community where you can interact with others who “get” what you are going through. Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and even Pinterest offer patients the chance to … Continue reading »
Self-Defense with Arthritis or Disability – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Everyone is vulnerable to unexpected attacks or assault. Random acts of violence are committed all the time in our world, unfortunately, and so are home invasions and physical altercations. If we’re lucky, we’ll avoid these kinds of situations. However, it helps to be prepared in case of emergency. Are you a woman? Are you … Continue reading »
Music Therapy for Chronic Pain – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
With the Grammy awards upon us and Whitney Houston’s recent passing, it seems appropriate to discuss the physiological effects of music on our bodies. Can music positively affect our perception of pain? Sure, we all love to sing our favorite song in the shower, rock out in the car or as we work out, or … Continue reading »
Advocate for Arthritis! Learn About the 2012 Advocacy Summit & E-Advocate Opportunities – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Ignoring arthritis is unacceptable. Right? Right! So, it’s time to let Congress know where you stand on arthritis and arthritis-related health issues. So take a stand, raise your voice, make a difference, and let the United States know that arthritis is unacceptable! The annual Advocacy Summit brings together advocates, young and old, from across the … Continue reading »
