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Spanish Speakers – Check out ReumatoIDEAS from the Arthritis Foundation, Mid Atlantic Region – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Hola, buenos amigos! If you speak Spanish and have arthritis or know someone who does, ReumatoIDEAS is for you! Some of your favorite “Wellness with a Side of Life, Please” blog posts are translated into Spanish and shared on this new blog, so that we can reach even more readers who live with arthritis or … Continue reading

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A Balancing Act: Talking About Arthritis and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

I have found that it is sometimes difficult to describe my conditions, honestly, and with full-disclosure, without people “feeling bad” for me. I also hate to play the “victim” role, and I certainly try not to, but when I really delve into the complexities of the conditions I have lived with, it kind of sounds … Continue reading

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Fibromyalgia / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

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

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

Practice Good Posture to Reduce Arthritis Pain and Promote Joint Health – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

“Sit up straight!” “Put your shoulders back!” Your elders likely critiqued your posture when you were a youngster, but turned out, posture is important even for those of us who aren’t walking the runway or attending a fancy tea party. If you have any form of chronic pain or arthritis, using good posture is essential … Continue reading

Arthritis / Awareness / Fibromyalgia / Juvenile Arthritis / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

The Importance of Range-of-Motion Exercises for Arthritis – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Sometimes, when arthritis is flaring, it is difficult for many of us to workout the way we’d like to. However, doing simple range-of-motion exercises is crucial for joint health. These types of stretches and exercises can be as gentle or as intense as you’d like them to be, and they are very important for keeping … Continue reading

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

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