Cupping, Gua Sha, and Acupuncture: Can They Help with Arthritis and Chronic Pain?

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Most of you know that I am a big fan of integrative medicine: a mix of natural or alternative methodologies and traditional pharmaceutical treatments. In fact, one of the first “real” published articles I wrote was in a local magazine (called South Fayette & Neighbors, now known as IN South Fayette,) in 2006, and it … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Autoimmune / Awareness / chronic illness / pain / rheum awareness / sponsored / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

Is it Juvenile Arthritis … or Farber Disease?

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

It’s Arthritis Awareness Month (yay!) … so I want to bring awareness to a very rare disease that often mimics Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. This illness is called Farber Disease (a.k.a. Farber’s Disease, Farber’s lipogranulomatosis, ceramidase deficiency, Fibrocytic dysmucopolysaccharidosis, and Lipogranulomatosis.) Currently there are only 80 diagnosed, confirmed cases of Farber Disease worldwide! However, there may be … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Ashley's Health Diary / Autoimmune / Awareness / Body Image / chronic illness / Disability / Entertainment / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / pain / Personal Stories / Pop Culture / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / selfies / social media / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

Feeling Adult-ish After My Total Knee Replacement

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

There was a song that was popular when I was in high school called “What’s My Age Again?” by Blink 182. I’ve always related to that question: what IS my age? It’s mostly because of my rheumatoid arthritis. First off, there’s always been an issue with my actual diagnosis: yes, it WAS “juvenile” rheumatoid arthritis, … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Body Image / Disability / invisible illness / pain / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

X-Rays Don’t Lie

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

I thought I’d share these as a follow-up to my “My Joints are 90 Years Old” post. I am having a total knee replacement of the right knee in a few weeks. I also need a right thumb joint replacement. My left wrist and right foot are beyond surgical repair. I’ve been told that my … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / Awareness / Body Image / chronic illness / Disability / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / pain / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / Uncategorized / Wellness

My Joints Are 90 Years Old, But That’s OK

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

✨✨ Long post, but I promise it has a point. Please read to the end! (And please excuse typos.) ✨✨ In the past year, I have been told by orthopedic surgeons that my right knee looks like an 80-year-old’s. I was told that my right foot and ankle look like a 90-year-old. And yesterday, that my … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis blog / Autoimmune / chronic illness / Disability / invisible illness / pain / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized

Doing What We Can

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Something I’ve struggled with during my decades of illness is what I WANT to do, versus what I CAN do. I’m learning to accept that I can only do what I can. Some days, like last weekend, it is hiking up over 500 steps on the side of a mountain. Some days, like yesterday, it … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Arthritis Foundation / Ashley's Health Diary / Autoimmune / Awareness / Body Image / chronic illness / Disability / Entertainment / giveaway / invisible illness / Lupus / pain / Personal Stories / Pop Culture / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / social media / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized

#Longread: LEMONADE: Who Would I Be Without My Lemons?

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • 10 Comments

“Oh, stars in her eyes, She fights and she sweats those sleepless nights, But she don’t mind, she loves the grind, She grinds from Monday to Friday, Works from Friday to Sunday…” – ‘6-Inch,’ Beyoncé, Lemonade. Beyonce and Lemonade The above quote is from a song off of Beyoncé’s album, Lemonade. You see, the Grammy Awards are tonight. Grammys … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / chronic illness / Entertainment / instagram / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / Lupus / pain / Personal Stories / Pop Culture / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / selfies / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

When RA Tries to Get in the Way (But I Won’t Let It)

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

I set off for this summer to be my “summer of hobbies.” My summer even has its own Instagram hashtag, #AshSummerOfHobbies2016! But, I didn’t anticipate RA to get in the way. (This is something I discussed in a recent Arthritis Ashley Facebook Live Chat.) I’m very proud of myself for pushing through, though. RA and … Continue reading →

Arthritis Ashley / invisible illness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

The Problem with Negativity: And Why Being Positive Doesn’t Hurt

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

Let’s be honest: no one can be positive all the time. To do so simply wouldn’t be human. I highly doubt that there is one person on this earth who has never been unhappy or felt pessimistic, who is always happy and positive at all times, and without fail. If so, I would like to … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Autoimmune / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / Uncategorized

The Great JA vs. RA Debacle

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

This is a Facebook-rant-turned-blog post. I am definitely looking for some feedback/insight on this one, because when it comes to The Great JA vs. RA Debacle, I don’t know what is considered to be the standard, or what is the “proper” and acceptable approach. Even whilst doing research, I seem to encounter different answers on … Continue reading →