Why You Need a Will

Most Americans don’t have a will. They will work to build a life and home for themselves and take care of their friends and family along the way. Unfortunately at the end of their lives, without a will, their property is up to state law instead of being distributed to their friends, family, or charity organizations of their choosing. Shouldn’t it be up to you to decide where your property goes? The first goal in estate planning is to make sure that your “wealth” or “stuff” is passed down to the people and organizations when and how you’d prefer The ...more

Senate Health Bills Fall Short for Arthritis Community

The Senate is expected to open debate today on two bills that repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Tell your senator to vote no and work to write a health bill that serves patients! Not getting health insurance because you have a pre-existing condition. Thousands upon thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs every year with no end in sight. Fear of reaching your maximum lifetime benefit because you take expensive drugs or had multiple surgeries and hospital stays. This is what life looked like for many people before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed into law in 2010. While the ACA is ...more

At FDA Urging, Drug Maker Pulls Opana ER Off Market

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Endo Pharmaceuticals has removed from the market its long-acting opioid pain medication, Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride extended release), which some patients with arthritis take to manage chronic pain. The FDA says this is the first time it has asked for an opioid medication to be pulled “due to the public health consequences of abuse.” The immediate-release version of the drug, Opana, is not affected by this action. The FDA asked the company in early June to voluntarily remove Opana ER from the market – and threatened to withdraw its approval if the ...more

Choosing the Freshest Fruit to Fight Inflammation

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help you fight the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Fruit is low in fat, sodium and calories. It can help you maintain a healthy weight – thereby reducing the pressure on your joints -- and it’s rich in nutrients that help fight inflammation. Plus, it tastes great. Here are tips for finding the freshest fruit and storage tips to increase shelf life. Apples: The fruit is fully ripe when it’s picked. Look for firm, smooth skin without soft spots. Apples will remain fresh for up to six weeks if you store them in a ...more

Researchers on the Path to a Cure - Spotlight on Dr. C. Michael Stein

Every day, scientists work toward the advancement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)treatment. And Dr. C. Michael Stein has made an exciting new discovery that could help these advancements along and predict how specific treatments will work. Dr. Stein is looking at small molecules that have the potential to cause big problems.  His 5-year Arthritis Foundation-funded project, “Extracellular small RNAs in rheumatoid arthritis,” is looking at how small molecules of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood may be markers for different diseases. “Our bodies make RNA as a genetic messenger that tells cells which proteins to make,” Dr. Stein explained. “Very small pieces of ...more

Houston Kicks Off the 33rd Annual National Juvenile Arthritis Conference

Over the weekend, nearly 1,000 kids, teens, young adults and their families made their way to Houston, Texas, to take part in the first of two National Juvenile Arthritis Conferences in 2017. For the second year in a row, the Arthritis Foundation is hosting two JA Conference locations to serve more kids, families and young adults across the country, while also welcoming “home” our returning veteran families. “Every kid and family who deals with this disease every day shows so much strength and conviction,” said Katy Carter, the 2017 JA Conference Chair. “We’re warriors through thick and thin, celebrating our victories, ...more

Racing for a Cure: Drivers Burn Rubber for Mini Grand Prix Crown

Turning into the straightaway you quickly push the pedal to the floor. The engine roars to life as you accelerate down the track. Up ahead is your next challenge – a hairpin turn that requires carefully calculated breaking and precise steering, otherwise you might spin out and lose your position. Your tires are just inches away from the car next to you. With a little luck and skill, you might outmaneuver the other driver and come out ahead without wrecking. Tom Boehland can’t get enough of this. He grew up a race fan and for years has known legendary IndyCar driver ...more

A New Study Finds Pharmaceutical Chondroitin Helps Knee OA Pain and Function

Chondroitin sulfate improves osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain and functional limitations in walking and daily activities as effectively as the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib (Celebrex), according to a new study published recently in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. But U.S. readers should know, there’s a catch: the researchers tested a version of chondroitin sulfate that is not available in this country. Chondroitin is a naturally occurring component of cartilage, which helps cushion joints. The product is manufactured from animal sources and sold as an over-the-counter, oral dietary supplement in the United States. The highly purified, high-potency pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate used in the study ...more

Brothers to Swim Across Lake Erie in Honor of their Mother and to Support the Arthritis Community

Competitive swimming is a difficult sport. Athletes spend hours every day going back and forth in a pool with their heads mostly under water honing their skills and techniques hoping to shave tenths of a second off their times. For brothers Tom and Greg Van Volkenburg, this is what they did throughout their formative years – and they did it very well. Both were exceptional athletes on their high school swimming teams and later on their college teams; Tom at the University of Notre Dame and Greg at Lafayette College. Now adults and living in different parts of the country, Tom and ...more

The 2017 National Juvenile Arthritis Conference in “Space City” Houston Blasts Off Today!

Today, kids, teens, young adults and their families from across the country are landing in Houston, Texas, for the first of two national Juvenile Arthritis (JA) Conferences the Arthritis Foundation is hosting this year. The JA Conference is a unique opportunity to connect families, kids, teens and young adults affected by JA and other rheumatic diseases who spend the weekend networking, learning, sharing tips and forming bonds that can last a lifetime. Almost 1,000 people are attending the first of two JA Conference events – held at the beautiful Hilton Americas Houston, a property that sits next to Discovery Green park, George R. Brown ...more