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

Managing Stress While Living with Chronic Pain or Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

As many as 90% of doctor visits, and thus coinciding conditions, have stress as a causative or effective component. Stress is a part of life for everyone, and how stress is handled varies from person to person. Unfortunately, for people living with a disability, chronic illness, or any other medical problem, life tends to come with a … Continue reading

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Can Bacteria or Fungus Cause Rheumatic Conditions? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

For decades, naturopathic doctors and practitioners of holistic and alternative medicine have claimed that bacteria and fungus are to blame for our nation’s epidemic of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Candida and small bowel bacterial overgrowth have especially garnered attention in the natural medicine communities. However, in recent years, traditional western medicine and esteemed medical doctors and scientists … Continue reading

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Chronic Pain and Sleep – The Vicious Cycle – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

  Sleep problems are common in people with arthritis and chronic pain. Additionally, people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases may need more sleep than the average adult. Some RA patients need as much as 10 hours of sleep per night, whereas a “healthy” adult typically needs 7-8 hours … Continue reading

Arthritis / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

Chiropractic Care for Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Keeping in the them of our inaugural Digital Rheum post, we will be discussing how chiropractic care can potentially benefit people with some types of arthritis and rheumatic disease. If your rheumatologist agrees that you may benefit from seeing a chiropractor, here are some things to keep in mind! Know the differences between types of … Continue reading

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Treatment Options of Rheumatic Disease: My Current Plan – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

People ask me all the time what I take for my rheumatoid arthritis. The truth is, I think I’ve pretty much tried everything, and, I’ve reacted differently to everything. The reason I don’t share the specifics of my exact treatment plans anymore, is because there is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment, and everyone’s body is different. Plus, … Continue reading

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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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Seaside Yoga, Beach Biking, and Serene Inspiration – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

“Arthritis Ashley goes to the beach…without her Arthritis!” could have been the caption for my recent picture-perfect trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Approximately one year after marrying on the shores of a different island (Sanibel,) my husband and I took a nice vacation to Hilton Head, where I felt better than I have … 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