Professional patient Archives | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Systemic Disease with Joint Symptoms

January 26, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 11 Comments Professional patient, Rheumatoid arthritis complications

Recognizing a systemic disease with joint symptoms Do you ever wrestle with the disease aspect of rheumatoid disease (RD) – a systemic disease with joint symptoms? From what I’ve seen doctors, patients, care givers, and the public all struggle to grasp the systemic nature of the disease. We don’t want to see ourselves as sick, and...Continue reading 11 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Disease Thriller: Mystery of the Injured Thumb

October 31, 2015October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 24 Comments Professional patient, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

“Mysterious” experiences like these can be common with rheumatoid disease and I hope you’ll share some of yours in the comments. Now, on to my rheumatoid arthritis thumb... Several months ago I reached out with my right hand to grasp the handle of a rolling suitcase, and my thumb did not grip. I was met with...Continue reading 24 Comments » Read more

Doctor: Posterior Tibial Tendonitis Is “Extremely Common with Rheumatoid”

October 22, 2014October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 36 Comments Professional patient, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program for a brief discussion of posterior tibial tendonitis in “Rheumatoid Arthritis” (RA) / Rheumatoid Disease (RD). There is a long list of topics I want to cover, but sometimes the RD itself pushes other things farther down the page. This week, I continued to have problems putting weight on...Continue reading 36 Comments » Read more

Livedo reticularis diagnosis – she knelt next to me with a medical textbook

May 9, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 25 Comments Professional patient, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, Talking to doctors

See PART 1 to learn more on Livedo reticularis in rheumatoid disease Last week was one of those professional patient weeks, with three doctor’s appointments and a lab visit. “Professional patient” is not something I happily say. It started out in 2009 as a tongue in cheek way to make the most of an annoying phenomenon –...Continue reading 25 Comments » Read more

If the Gloves Come Off, We Might See the Irony of Rheumatoid Disease

December 14, 2012May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 98 Comments Invisible Illness, Professional patient

What if the gloves never come off and no one ever knows. Then you end up with a serious disease that everyone thinks is no big deal; it’s just arthritis. But who wants to take them off? I sure don’t. Professional patient days Today was one of those professional patient days – when you have to spend time...Continue reading 98 Comments » Read more

2 steps forward, 1 step back is not a dance move – It’s just life

October 16, 2012May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 2 Comments Professional patient, Profiles in courage with RA

I’m happy to share NINE new onset stories with you! People write to me all the time about how helpful it is to find these when searching for a diagnosis or trying to understand a new diagnosis. They paint a much more accurate picture than the textbooks have so far. Andrea’s Rheumatoid Arthritis story Amanda N.’s Rheumatoid...Continue reading 2 Comments » Read more

Five Things I’ve Learned about Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Neck

August 21, 2012May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 49 Comments Preventive Care with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Professional patient, Rheumatoid Arthritis spine

I promised to write about what’s going on with my neck. It’s hard to sort out what would help others to know, so I made a list of five things I’ve learned. Sometimes, it’s about sharing our journey too. Here are 5 things I’ve learned about Rheumatoid Arthritis in the neck 1) Do not ignore Rheumatoid Arthritis...Continue reading 49 Comments » Read more