Delaware Governor Signs Step Therapy Bill Into Law

It was a historic day for Delaware residents as Gov. John Carney signed the state’s step therapy legislation into law. Sometimes referred to as “fail first,” step therapy is a process insurance companies use to require patients to try and fail on their preferred drugs before getting the medication originally prescribed by their doctor. This can happen in the middle of a plan year, even if a patient is currently stable on the medication. Arthritis Foundation Advocates came to the Statehouse to help pass this legislation. Carol Reilly, chair of the Foundation’s state advocacy committee, testified at both the House and Senate ...more

Reality TV Let Meg Maley Open Up About Living With Psoriatic Arthritis

Meg Maley isn’t one to let an opportunity slip by or negativity dim her joy. If you have any doubt about her optimism, just check the tattoo on her foot: “Always Yes.” That attitude – and maybe her infectious smile – landed her a spot on the CBS reality TV show Big Brother in 2015, which changed the course of her life. But despite her buoyant outlook, “Always Yes” isn’t always easy. Meg, 29, has psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which causes persistent joint pain, bouts of fatigue and vision problems that make it impossible to drive some days. “It’s hard for people to ...more

Our Global Message to Strengthen Patient Voices Is Heard at EULAR

Patient voices are critical to finding a cure for OA and other forms of arthritis. That’s the message Arthritis Foundation Osteoarthritis (OA) Programs Director Angie Botto-van Bemden, PhD, is sharing at the 2019 annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in Madrid, June 12-15. More than 16,000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend. Her message is more important than ever because many organizations and regulators are already shifting to approval of research programs and medicines only if patients have been included in the design of trials and the development of new treatments to help determine benefit versus risk ratios. “People ...more

New “Lesson Plans” Designed to Improve Patient Outcomes

The Arthritis Foundation has just launched new “lesson plans” to help improve patient outcomes. The initiative was based on patient and provider surveys and focus groups, which showed that patients want information and support to improve their physical health, emotional health and experience of care. Live Yes! Connect Groups are a growing network of local peer-led support groups, available in more than 100 locations. As a result of this initiative, volunteer leaders can now choose from over 40 new lesson plans targeted to improve outcomes in those three areas: physical health, emotional health and experience of care. Topics include non-pharmacological therapies, medical treatments, ...more

You Said It: Handling Parenting with Arthritis

Arthritis Today readers share how they have handled parenting when they have arthritis.   You have to tell yourself to keep going. Memories only come once in a lifetime. —LINDA’S RA STOMPER  My 29-year-old daughter has grown up with JIA and continues to battle it, so she can understand my pain from psoriatic arthritis. I try to educate my 10-year-old granddaughter. She is sensitive and accommodating when she knows I am having a tough day. I am a blessed Grammie! —GRAMMIE’S DOUBLE WHAMMY   We learn to get creative in the energy we expend, taking the time to enjoy and focusing on things that matter and letting the rest go. —SARAH CLOUD  I raised two girls into beautiful, caring young women with my amazing husband. When ...more

Do It Yourself: A Simple & Satisfying Way to Make Your Mark

  Our DIY fundraising initiative helps you do it your way with ease. To raise money for arthritis research and resources, the Arthritis Foundation hosts signature events throughout the year, like Walk to Cure Arthritis, Jingle Bell Run, galas and other fundraisers. Now you’re empowered to fundraise and raise awareness however you want to in the way that works best for you. Read on to see how Dru did it! Unstoppable Against Arthritis is our DIY (do-it-yourself) fundraising program with an online platform and resources that will help you take charge of your own independent fundraiser. Whether you’re observing a special occasion, honoring a ...more

Improve Your Daily Health With These Digital Tools

When something goes wrong with your car, you can check the owner’s manual to find out what it might be. But when something seems wrong in your body, you have no owner’s manual to turn to. That’s why internist and pain specialist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, decided to create one.  His creation, a smartphone app called Cures A-Z, can help identify common causes of certain symptoms and what to do for them. It is one of a growing number of digital tools designed to promote wellness and complement the care you receive from your doctor.  Various tools help you rate and describe your pain, track your symptoms and gauge arthritis severity, or store medical test results. Sharing them with your doctor may help her better assess your ...more

Stronger Than Arthritis

“Anyone can live with a little soreness.”  For as long as Laniese Penner can remember, friends, classmates and complete strangers have been encouraging her to “buck up” and “push through” what they think is just a little stiffness and soreness. Little do they know what this talented high school senior experiences as a teenager living with arthritis. Laniese participated in competitive gymnastics as a child. For several years, she complained about ankle and wrist pain. Her mom thought it was from landing poorly and the stress of tumbling. But pain was taking over Laniese’s body, and she didn’t understand why. Eventually, Laniese ...more

Tips to Take the Pain Out of Fastening Seat Belts

Whether you’re strapping yourself in or securing a child in a car seat, arthritis can make one of your car’s most important safety features a pain. Elin Schold Davis, an occupational therapist (OT) and project coordinator for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Older Driver Initiative, offers these tips to make fastening and unfastening seat belts a cinch. Give it a test run. Seat belt buckles come in different sizes, shapes and positions that can affect ease of buckling. If you have trouble with your buckle, practice with it before you hit the road. Similarly, if you get a new child’s car ...more

Get Ready for Your Day With Less Pain and Hassle

You want to look and feel your best, but painful, stiff joints often get in the way. “When you have arthritis, holding a makeup brush or razor can be difficult,” says Jeanne Harper, an occupational and certified hand therapist in Portas, California. These tips and devices can make looking good easier and less painful.   BRUSHING AND FLOSSING: An electric toothbrush does some of the work for you, Harper says, and its large handle may be easier to grip than a standard toothbrush. Or you can build up a handle with foam tape. For flossing, opt for a pick or floss holder that’s easier to handle.   SHAVING: “For some, the vibration of an electric razor is uncomfortable,” ...more