Keeping an Eye on Arthritis: Links Between Arthritis and Eye Health – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Did you know that having arthritis can affect your eyes, too? Sure, arthritis inflammation attacks your joints, and most people also associate arthritis pain with the bones, muscle, and tissue, as well. However, inflammation can also attack the eyes — a little-known fact about arthritis. Let’s explore some ways in which certain eye problems can … Continue reading →

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The Best Arthritis News of 2011 – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Barbara Walters named her Top 10 Most Fascinating People, TIME Magazine named its Person of the Year, and People Magazine recently put out their Best of 2011 issue. So, as 2011 wraps up, I want to touch upon some of the best and/or most important arthritis and health moments/breakthroughs of 2011! New NSAID: Vimovo, a … Continue reading →

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What Came First: Arthritis or Inactivity? ~ by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

Of course, being inactive cannot cause autoimmune forms of arthritis or rheumatic diseases. However, it can exacerbate symptoms and can also contribute to the onset of osteoarthritis, also known as OA, as many studies have shown. OA is the “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis, often caused by old sports injuries or just aging in general. Exercise … Continue reading →

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The Difficulty of Explaining RA Pain: Can it Be Done? ~ by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 4 Comments

Lately, I’ve been coming across some blog posts that try to describe a rheumatoid arthritis flare. It is a great notion – but is it even possible to do? I’ve tried taking photos of bad flares, and, in that case, pictures are NOT worth a thousand words, because there’s just no way to “show” that … Continue reading →

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Outward Appearances: Looking Good with Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

I am not ugly. But, sometimes being sick makes me feel like I am. Believe it or not, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions can certainly age you; all the while “stealing your pretty.” I used to get mad about it, and now I just learn to adapt. There are so many ways to still … Continue reading →

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Potential Good News for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Last weekend was the annual American College of Rheumatology Conference, and though I was not in attendance, I learned that some intriguing information was revealed. Much news, information, and research was shared, but there were a few key elements that could mean good things for those with rheumatoid arthritis. Though the information has been “out … Continue reading →

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Arthritis and Chronic Illness: Stripping Away Labels and Stigma – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 3 Comments

When I was in graduate school, I took one psychology course that was oriented towards special education. One important thing that I took away from it was that we should always use, “people-first” language. At the time, I only thought of it in the realm of dealing with children with special needs, but, now, I … Continue reading →

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Parenthood, Arthritis, and Chronic Pain – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Parenting is a difficult task for anyone, but particularly of those with chronic illness or a disability. How can you care for your children when there are days that you can barely care for yourself? I don’t have kids of my own but I posed the question to the arthritis community on Facebook and Twitter, … Continue reading →

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Health & Hollywood: Stars Get Sick, Too! A Look at Celebrities with Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 8 Comments

Sure, their “people” usually try to either: a.) hide the fact that their celebrity client is sick or b.) exploit the fact that their celebrity client is sick….but the truth is, stars are human, and even the most beautiful, rich, and famous people in the world get sick, too. I was saddened to hear about … Continue reading →

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The Time to Advocate is Now! Arthritis Advocacy and Our Health – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

I’ve shared ways to advocate in the past, but there’s no time like the present to get involved if you haven’t already. You may or not be aware of this but Congress has appointed a “Super Committee” to find ways to reduce government spending. This is an important task, yet we as patients and advocates … Continue reading →