RA Public Service Announcement Video

March 22, 2019 Kelly Young 1

A video RA Public Service Announcement explains that rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease, with arthritis as just one symptom. #rheum

Treating RA

Testing the imaware™ RA Test Kit

March 12, 2019 Kelly Young 0

Video of RA Warrior Kelly O’Neill doing an imaware™ RA test kit, giving tips and advice to make the process easier. Kelly reads the report of her results.

Communication and Inspiration

Possible Rheumatoid Arthritis

March 6, 2019 Kelly Young 3

Identifying possible rheumatoid arthritis is one step in a new quest to stop rheumatoid disease from becoming full-blown. Part 2 of RA Runs in Families.

RA Research, Resources, and Rheumatology

RA Runs in Families

February 28, 2019 Kelly Young 14

Evidence that RA runs in families and discussion of family risk of rheumatoid disease and imaware™ at-home RA test to screen for RA.

Treating RA

RA Surgery — 10 Questions Answered

February 18, 2019 Kelly Young 15

Discussion of RA surgery and questions related to surgery in people with rheumatoid disease, including continuation of medications.

RA Research, Resources, and Rheumatology

Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Hazy

January 31, 2019 Kelly Young 14

Discussion of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and the criteria for diagnosis of rheumatoid disease. Study shows seronegative disease is as severe.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Ultrasound News

August 7, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 20 Comments musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis

RAW has 6 posts on musculoskeletal ultrasound over the past 4 years. There have been a flurry of publications on the topic since the last one, Ultrasound for Seeing Invisible Inflammation in Rheumatoid Patients, in December. There’s a lot to talk about, so today will be the first of a series. If you haven’t, this...Continue reading 20 Comments » Read more

Swollen Knees Are Smoother: The Glad Game in Rheumatoid Disease

August 5, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 20 Comments Humor with RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

Swollen knees and a smile (UPDATED 2016) A silver lining to swollen knees I made a strange discovery a couple weeks ago in the bathtub. Not Roo’s plastic goldfish. Round knees. (Swollen knees). Shaving my legs (I hope the guys won’t mind this story too much…) I was amazed how easily the razor glided around my knees. Inspecting...Continue reading 20 Comments » Read more

Sternoclavicular Joint Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Fascinating Discovery of a “Neglected Joint”

July 31, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 16 Comments Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

About a month ago, I was fascinated by a new report on 103 “patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis” in Mexico, “Sternoclavicular Joint Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical and Ultrasound Findings of a Neglected Joint.” A sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a joint at the top of the sternum that allows movement of the clavicle. We each have...Continue reading 16 Comments » Read more

What Is Crepitus in Rheumatoid Arthritis / Disease?

July 29, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 56 Comments History of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms

Crepitus is a sound-word – like crash or splash Crepitus is one of those words I don’t think I used before being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (like discrepancy). Crepitus is a general term for noise in the body like the grating, popping, or cracking sounds produced by joints or supporting tissues or the crunching sound in...Continue reading 56 Comments » Read more

14-3-3eta Marker in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Low CRP

June 26, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 29 Comments Blood test for RA/ Rheumatoid Disease, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis test

(Click image to enlarge.) The quest for Rheumatoid Arthritis tests Almost four years ago I wrote my first post on Rheumatoid Arthritis tests. This is the 29th. Obviously, tests are a key topic in RA diagnosis and disease assessment. Many still ask about “the RA test” which doesn’t actually exist. Several tests are used to inform about...Continue reading 29 Comments » Read more

Smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis: 6 Things You Need to Know

June 24, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 30 Comments Causes of RA, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Smoking & Rheumatoid Arthritis

Six take-aways in a short list below! But, first some surprising evidence. Even light smoking contributes to Rheumatoid Arthritis risk A recent Swedish study of 34,101 women reported “even light cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk of RA in women and that smoking cessation may reduce, though not remove, this risk.”[1] Although they found the risk...Continue reading 30 Comments » Read more

Pace Yourself: Guilt-free Pay-to-Play

June 20, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 41 Comments Cost of activity - usage principle, Encouragement for living with RA, Living with chronic illness like RA, Tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

It’s Roo’s birthday! Already! My goals include making a simple M&M cake with no complicated writing although I used to spend hours with a frosting bag even for Valentine’s cookies. Roo’s doing great with school subjects and Cub Scouts and playmates. He’s funny and smart, with a mind of his own. Other parents may know what...Continue reading 41 Comments » Read more

Relax: Survival Mode and Our Intrinsic Value

June 11, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 55 Comments Encouragement for living with RA, Patience & living with RA

The past few weeks have been full of chaos and minor crises. Not enough to stress me out, but enough to keep my days overfull with no strength left at the end to write – only sleep. I read last month of a study of mothers of more than three children1, that they are less...Continue reading 55 Comments » Read more

Happy Birthday RAW! The Day I Could No Longer Stay Silent

May 17, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 35 Comments Comprehensive RA Care, Cricoarytenoid arthritis, e-patient

This week the British Medical Journal published my article which they titled: Doctors’ understanding of rheumatoid disease does not align with patients’ experiences. But first, today is a very special day. Today begins year five of RAW Four years ago today, RA Warrior was born. I’d been studying, writing, and talking to patients for a few months....Continue reading 35 Comments » Read more

Planning Pregnancy with Rheumatoid Arthritis / Disease

May 15, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 39 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA, Parenting with RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis and pregnancy

How Rheumatoid Disease affects pregnancy planning Pregnancy planning is a common challenge for people diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Concerns include infertility, disease activity, pain control, and possible disability, which can interfere with caring for a child. Valuable resources include clinical studies and other publications, and the practical stories of other patients. While there is no clear...Continue reading 39 Comments » Read more

Efficacy of Xeljanz, Biologics, & DMARDs in Rheumatoid Disease

May 13, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 44 Comments Biologics for RA, Methotrexate, Rheumatoid arthritis treatment, XELJANZ-tofacitinib-JAK

Why should I feel like I failed? I’m not alone We probably agree it’s unfair to say, “patients fail treatments” instead of the reverse, but there is still disappointment. I was optimistic that my Rheumatoid disease would respond to Xeljanz, the new oral DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug) from Pfizer. Unfortunately, my joint stiffness and inflammation,...Continue reading 44 Comments » Read more

Ciprofloxacin / Fluoroquinolone Tendon Dangers with Rheumatoid Arthritis

May 10, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 37 Comments Preventive Care with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Side effects for RA medicine

My brief story about ciprofloxacin and Rheumatoid Arthritis I got a kidney infection shortly after starting Enbrel. It was Good Friday 2009. My kidney hurt and fever spiked to 104.5, after 3 days of UTI. Before then, I’d only had a minor UTI with pregnancy. This is when my GP got the nickname “Good GP” because...Continue reading 37 Comments » Read more

Welcome to RA Warrior!

Thanks for visiting this unique site full of information and encouragement to fight Rheumatoid Disease. You'll find hope, humor, and a helpful online community. I'm Kelly & I'll be glad to show you around if you'll click right here.

Never miss a post!

Subscribe to feed

gifts

Living With RA

Treating RA

The Real Rheumatoid Disease

Communication And Inspiration

Research, Resources, And Rheumatology

Welcome to RA Warrior!

Let's Pin Together!