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 →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

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 →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Fibromyalgia / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

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 →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Fibromyalgia / Juvenile Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

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 →

Uncategorized

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 →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Uncategorized

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 →

Uncategorized

World Arthritis Day 2011 – Do Blue & Move to Improve! (…And some words from Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Phil, too!) – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Today, October 12th, 2011, is World Arthritis Day. This year’s theme is “Move to Improve” — and that’s exactly what we want YOU to do! We would like you to move around the world for arthritis awareness. By October 31st, the Arthritis Foundation by choosing your weapon against arthritis pain. The goal is covering the distance … Continue reading →

Uncategorized / Wellness

Steve Jobs: Fortitude Exemplified – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

I didn’t think I would be as affected by the death of a stranger as I was about the passing of Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. However, I was very saddened at the news of his dying. I learned to type and wrote my first book on a Macintosh computer in 1992. Now, in 2011, I … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

Defined by an Illness? Milking Your Sickness? That’s Not My Cup of Tea! by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 6 Comments

[Disclaimer: this post isn’t meant to offend anyone and is all personal opinion relating to MYSELF, my unique individual situation, and how I live my life. It isn’t casting judgment on people who have a different point of view, rather, it is just explaining my perspective and offering some food for thought……] In a world … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized

“Ashley Goes to Washington!” – Advocating for Arthritis: You Can Do It Too! – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

Recently, I took part in the American College of Rheumatology ACR Advocates conference in Washington, D.C. In the past, I’d done a lot of Arthritis Foundation e-advocacy events online, but this time when I was asked to speak to Congress and advocate for arthritis, I simply couldn’t pass it up. So, with my mom as … Continue reading →