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 / 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 →

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 →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Autoimmune / Awareness / pain / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / SLE / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

#Longread: The Emotions of Thinking and Talking About Illness

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

I’ve written and posted before about hiding our pain to spare the feelings of others, and many similar topics of conversation. I have also written about the emotions of guilt, resentment, and burden that can accompany a lifelong illness or disability. I decided to revisit the topic and reframe it in a couple of new ways. The first … Continue reading →

Arthritis Ashley / Autoimmune / Awareness / chronic illness / Entertainment / invisible illness / Personal Stories / Pop Culture / social media

Breaking: Sick Girl is Sick of Absolutes and Assumptions

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

We live in a society where people think that if you’re for one thing, you’re against another. It’s also a world in which people think that by discussing your own journey, you are somehow dismissing theirs. We are divided on many issues, we still think in cliches, and we still see in stereotypes. But we act … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / Arthritis Foundation / Autoimmune / Awareness / chronic illness / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / pain / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

#HAWMC – Day 10: An RA Q&A

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

Questions and answers about life with rheumatoid arthritis and invisible illness. Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / arthritis awareness / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Journey to Wellness / Personal Stories / rheum awareness / Uncategorized / Wellness

Finding Faith During Times of Chaos

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • 4 Comments

I’ve learned something: Illness turns many people away from God. Suffering makes many question their faith. However, these times of chaos and seemingly “ungodly” pain causes others to go the opposite direction, running towards God and embracing their faith with arms wide open. Of course, there are those of you who are agnostics and atheists, … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Journey to Wellness / Personal Stories / Wellness

Rant Time: Don’t “Quantify” the Sick Girl

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

You know how it’s rude to say things like, “you throw okay … for a girl.” Or, “you run pretty fast … for being so big.” It’s also somewhat insulting to say things like, “wow! You’ve accomplished so much … despite being sick.” No, I haven’t accomplished a lot “for being a sick girl.” I’ve … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Journey to Wellness / Wellness

How Much Do Our Emotions and Life Decisions Contribute to Our Disease Symptoms?

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

I read a really interesting piece recently about some symptoms of chronic illnesses being, not caused by, but, exacerbated by, one’s life being out-of-balance or on the wrong path i.e. wrong career, wrong spouse or romantic partner, no spiritual compass, minimal friends or social prospects, little community involvement, too much focus on the self or … Continue reading →

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

Managing Time with Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

Sometimes, it’s hard to find time for things you want and need to do, while living with chronic illness. I get it. It’s difficult, and it’s even harder to explain to others. It’s been described in terms of spoons, and in many other ways, ranging from the creative to the absurd. That said, time management … Continue reading →