It’s always amazing to see how far science and medicine have come. I thought it would be interesting for us arthritis patients to learn more about ancient methods of pain relief and old-fashioned arthritis treatments! Here are some interesting “old-school” methods of managing pain: Cupping Therapy: Cupping is an ancient form of Traditional Chinese … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Spoonie
The Law of Attraction and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
I’m a big fan of the infamous book and documentary film, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. However, there were some parts of it that I just could not wrap my head around. How could a group of thousands of people, for example, “attract” such horrific events such as 9/11 or the Newtown shootings? How … Continue reading
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
What’s the 2014 Arthritis Forecast? – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
2013 was a great year with many arthritis-related accomplishments and medical advances. But, 2014 stands to prosper just as well. Instead of looking back with a usual “best of” or “top 10” list in regards to the year that has passed, let us welcome in 2014 by looking forward, and seeing what the future could … Continue reading
Lupus for Christmas – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
I got Lupus for Christmas. And Sjögrens Syndrome, too. They were wrapped up in a nice little package to go with my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Celiac Disease, and tied up with an imaginary bow. I didn’t get coal in my stocking, but I got the motherlode of autoimmune illness, delivered not by Santa, but by my … Continue reading
Redefining Success with Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
This will probably be one of the more honest blog posts that I’ve written to date. The other day, I felt sorry for myself. I didn’t feel well and I wanted to simply scream. I thought about things that I have given up or missed out on because of my illnesses and health problems, and … Continue reading
A Modge-Podge of Arthritis News and Tidbits! – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
Today has brought a lot of news and “tidbits” about arthritis and other forms of rheumatic disease. Some of it is brand-new, other news is older … but still worth sharing. Here are some recent stories to be made aware of, as of today … A CBS article reveals that running doesn’t always lead to, … Continue reading
What I Wish People Knew About My Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
There are many things that those of us who live with chronic illness have to contend with, and one of those things is the thoughts and opinions of others. While we should pay no mind to what others think of us, I, for one, would be lying if I said I didn’t worry about what … Continue reading
Getting the Support you Need Online – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
There are many ways to use the Internet to find information about different types of arthritis. However, another added benefit to surfing the web is that you can find all kinds of helpful support groups and communities of people just like yourself who are dealing with arthritis, chronic pain, and/or rheumatic diseases. Facebook has a … Continue reading
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