Arthritis Health Center

Features Related to Arthritis

51. When Men Get Rheumatoid Arthritis
    

    For a few years, Andrew Ellis tried to tough out the pain, which started in his thumb. A boxer and football player in college, Ellis, 58, was used to aches and pains. He’d even broken his thumb once, so he told himself the new pain was from the old break. Then his other thumb began to hurt. Soon, he

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52. Young Adults Living With RA
    

    Last winter, after spending a few afternoons shoveling snow, Heather Miceli, 27, woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get out of bed. “My joints had swelled up so much that I couldn’t move without crying,” she says. Two months later, the college professor at Johnson and Wales University i

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53. WebMD Expert Discussion: Managing Lupus and Work: Is Disability an Option?
    

    How can you keep a job when lupus lands you in the hospital a few times a year? When you literally can't get out of bed many mornings? What if you're self-employed and have to meet tight deadlines? These are some of the questions about work issues voiced by people in the WebMD Lupus Community. And,

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54. Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    

    Are irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia connected? It's a question many people with these chronic conditions are asking. The answer could shed light on what causes these conditions. But that answer is proving hard to get. Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes painful muscles. The pain

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55. Treating RA: Is It Time for a Biologic?
    

    Since they were first introduced in 1998, biologic response modifiers -- or biologics -- have made a huge difference in the lives of people with rheumatoid arthritis. These powerful drugs don't just treat the symptoms of RA. Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis can target the underlying cause, relievi

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56. Lupus, Sex, and Relationships
    

    The chronic pain and fatigue associated with lupus can affect more than your health; many patients find that their condition interferes with their sexual relationships, as well. Reasons for that include lupus flare-ups, pain, fatigue, side effects from medication, and self-image issues. And that's o

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57. RA, Smoking, and Alcohol
    

    You already know that smoking is bad for you and that it's unhealthy to drink too much alcohol. But do you know how tobacco and alcohol relate to rheumatoid arthritis -- your odds of developing RA, or, if you already have RA, your odds of making it worse? Here's what the research shows. Smoking may

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58. Biologics for RA: Understanding Risks and Benefits
    

    Medications called biologic response modifiers have given new hope to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the doctors who treat them. Until the late ’90s, people with RA looked at a future of pain, lost function, and eventual disability. Biologics have changed that outlook. Many people now liv

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59. Treating RA: Choosing The Right Biologic for You
    

    In the late ’90s, biologic response modifiers changed expectations for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. People with RA-related pain, inflammation, and possible disability had a new and better way to control the condition. Since the first biologics’ success, new ones have continued to enter the ma

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60. Lupus, Skin Care, and Makeup
    

    Amanda Greene, 43, stashes a tube of sunscreen in her purse and car so that she can reapply it throughout the day -- as frequently as some women touch up their makeup. Using sun protection is second nature for Greene, who was diagnosed with lupus (SLE) at 15 and is photosensitive. "I use it from hea

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