Kelly O'Neill, Author at Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior | Page 5 of 118

Rheumatoid Arthritis Problems, Anyone?

October 27, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 12 Comments Encouragement for living with RA, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Two kinds of rheumatoid arthritis problems There are two kinds of rheumatoid arthritis problems. There are the ones caused directly by the disease—like fatigue, pain, or weakness. And then there are the problems that are caused by those—like not being able to play tennis or break dance anymore—or being chronically late. (Anyone else dealing with RA...Continue reading 12 Comments » Read more

Opioids and Chronic Pain

May 30, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 28 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

This is the second in a series on opioids & chronic pain. If you know someone with a painful chronic illness, please share this article. Opioids chronic pain debate: cause of epidemic or proper pain relief? In 2003, Nursing Times argued the evidence for treating “chronic non-malignant pain” with opioids (Chronic pain and opioids: dispelling myths and...Continue reading 28 Comments » Read more

Worst Things Doctors Say

April 25, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 52 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, Talking to doctors

Telling my secrets on the worst things doctors say What’s the craziest thing a doctor ever told you? I have rarely discussed some of the worst things doctors say to me because I want RAW to be a positive place. But today, I’ll pull back the curtain and share a few of the worst things doctors...Continue reading 52 Comments » Read more

Trigger Finger in Rheumatoid Arthritis

April 4, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 24 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, Talking to doctors

Trigger finger in rheumatoid arthritis / rheumatoid disease Trigger finger in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common visible effect of the disease. Fingers, to varying degrees, become stuck in a bent position, as in pulling a trigger. The joints are not actually fused when this occurs. But the tendons get caught in a tendon sheath (or...Continue reading 24 Comments » Read more

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain?

March 27, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 24 Comments Causes of RA, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

Why ask what causes rheumatoid arthritis pain? Today we answer a letter from a reader that raises key questions about living with rheumatoid disease (RD). Why is it so painful? Why doesn’t treatment take away pain? Why isn’t the pain dealt with? In part, the answer is found in another question: What causes rheumatoid arthritis pain? Until...Continue reading 24 Comments » Read more

Lessons in 8 Quotes from Doctor Strange

March 20, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 4 Comments Courage & living with RA, Inspiration for living with RA, Movie review

Quotes from Doctor Strange, fitting for RD Recently I took my son Roo to see the 2016 Walt Disney movie Doctor Strange. Based on the Marvel Comics superhero, Doctor Stephen Strange is an uber-arrogant neurosurgeon who is psychologically crushed by losing the use of his hands in a horrific car accident. His journey to physical and...Continue reading 4 Comments » Read more

Opioid Restrictions Versus Patient Needs

March 14, 2017October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 21 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA, Pain Tolerance / RA Stoicism, Rheumatoid arthritis pain

The thinking behind recent opioid restrictions There are two sides to arguments behind recent efforts at opioid restrictions in the U.S. However one side has been dominant in the last couple of years. State and federal governments have enacted opioid restrictions in an attempt to reduce misuse of prescription medications. Options for patients with severe pain...Continue reading 21 Comments » Read more