Information and opinions on health from Melissa at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/914740/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/914740/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/914740/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/144731/of Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:53:04 -0400 Melissa I've been feeling pretty lousy with this rainy weather (it is afterall Fall so I'm not sure why I'm surprised.) I ended up at my rhumies office and came home with a nice cortisone injection in my shoulder for a frozen shoulder.   While I was there I did my usual labwork routine. I knew that something was off because I went from fine shoulder to not being able to move it in a couple of weeks...that's impressive even for me.   Doc... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/144731/of http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/143548/sc Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:49:15 -0400 Melissa I just did a quick search and found a lot of posts about being scared about trying new meds for RA but that isn't quite what I'm talking about...   I have RA but I also have some other issues with my back and neck. Last year I had two back fusion surgeries (yes, I had a screw loose), and a second ankle fusion (on the same foot...don't ask...)   5 months after the ankle fusion my foot surgeon called it a non union and I will have a... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/143548/sc http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/142705/bi Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:39:35 -0400 Melissa This has been an odd week of self discovery. I keep realizing that RA and my emotions about it have layers.   Um, yeah...my RA is like a head of romaine. Just about the time I feel like there couldn't possibly be anymore layers to deal with emotionally, wham...there is another one.   This week I made an appointment to get a stairlift and I just printed out paperwork to take to my rheumy to get a handicap placard. Most of you are... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/142705/bi http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/142586/th Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:12 -0400 Melissa I've often heard people mention that people in wheelchairs are ignored, or that people don't make eye contact with them. In fact, because I've read this so many times I try and make a conscious effort to look someone in a wheelchair in the eye while I try to help them to the best of my ability in whatever way I can. This has been an interesting year for me. I have found myself wearing a corset, a couple of bone stimulators and a cam walker (a... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/914740/142586/th