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Are You “Enough?” – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

I’m not liberal enough for Democrats or conservative enough for Republicans. I’m not Christian enough for Christians, but I’m Christian enough to have atheists and agnostics mock me.  I’m smart enough to have been accepted into Mensa and to possess a near-genius-level IQ, but I’m not smart enough that people meet me and immediately notice my … Continue reading

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Fatigue vs. Being Tired: What’s the Difference? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

To put it simply: being tired is NOT the same thing as having fatigue. The type of fatigue that comes along with chronic illness and autoimmune diseases is unlike any other kind of exhaustion that most healthy people will experience in their lives. As an “e-patient” and an online advocate for people with rheumatic and … Continue reading

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The 2013 Juvenile Arthritis Conference – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

    #‎KidsGetArthritisToo‬ – It’s Juvenile Arthritis Conference time! There is currently a live Instagram feed on the JA conference page on arthritis.org up now. Any photo uploaded to Instagram with the hash tag #kidsgetarthritistoo will be shown on this feed. Sessions on Friday and Saturday will be live streamed onwww.arthritis.org/jaconf. The sessions that will be … Continue reading

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What Story Does Your Face Tell? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Arthritis Month has come to an end, but just because June is here, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep on spreading arthritis awareness. During the month of May,  I saw and heard a lot from the Arthritis Foundation’s “Faces of Arthritis” campaign — a wonderful, and sometimes eye-opening, initiative. I thought long and hard about the Face of Arthritis, and … Continue reading

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Back Pain and Spine Health Solutions – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Nearly everyone experiences some form of back pain or another at some point throughout their lifetime.  Of course, as with many conditions and ailments, the degree of severity varies greatly. However, there are things that you can do to strengthen your spine and support your back, which could alleviate pain, stiffness, and tension. Here are … Continue reading

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

Autoimmune Illness and Circulation: How Do Conditions Like Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Our Cardiovascular System? – By Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Most people think of aches and pains when they hear about arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and similar ailments. The truth is, these conditions are complex, and there are still so many unknowns that surround each of them. Yes, pain and inflammation are often a huge part of various forms of arthritis and other chronic autoimmune illnesses, … Continue reading

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Education and JA: Get the Facts on 504 Plans and Juvenile Arthritis – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Every child has unique and specific needs when it comes to their education — but children with conditions such as juvenile arthritis may have an even more difficult time at school. Whether it is carrying loaded backpacks or heavy books, having trouble participating in gym class, missing school altogether, or sitting for extended periods of … Continue reading