Arthritis

Could you recommend any books or resources about the emotional side of autoimmune diseases / chronic pain. Why stress or emotions make symptoms worse, and how to heal or work through that? #AnkylosingSpondylitis #ChronicPain #Arthritis #Pain #psichology #MentalHealth

Hi, my name is Bryan Bloom. I'm here because I would like to submit a story for Rare Disease Day, February 28, 2026. Our granddaughter, Emmie, battled Systemic Juvinelle Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) for eight years. Her younger sister, Ellie, was a perfect 10 for 10 bone marrow match and saved Emmie's life. The story highlights rare disease awareness, family resilience, and hope - perfect for your audience.

#MightyTogether

Hi, I'm Amy Leiker.

I never set out to invent anything. I just wanted to make life hurt a little less for the people I love.

My son was diagnosed with arthritis at only 9 years old, and his dad lives with multiple chronic illnesses, autoimmune disease, and daily pain. I’ve watched the two of them navigate the kinds of challenges most people never think twice about — bending, reaching, lifting, even getting through routines that shouldn’t require courage. When you live around chronic pain, you learn quickly that it’s not the big tasks that break you down. It’s the small ones.

The moment that changed everything for me came from my aunt’s neighbor, a wheelchair user, who told her he could no longer care for his cat because he couldn’t reach the floor-level litter box. He loved that cat. But the setup was inaccessible, and he didn’t want to keep asking for help. His story stayed with me — because I knew too many people who lived in that same quiet struggle.

That’s when I created LoftyLoo Elevated Litter Box. Not as a company, not as a business plan — but as an accessibility solution no one else was building. For me, LoftyLoo isn’t a product. It’s a mission to protect dignity and independence, to support people living with chronic pain or mobility limitations, and to make sure no one has to choose between their safety and the pet who makes their world feel whole.

I believe accessibility starts at home, in the overlooked details that shape our everyday lives. And I’m committed to making those details kinder, safer, and more possible for the people who need it most.

So happy I found this group! Elevate your day! LoftyLoo Love.

#ChronicFatigue #ChronicPain #Arthritis #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Caregiving

Hi, my name is Cheryl and I'm here, because I would like to learn about my disorders, illnesses. 🤓Also I'm interested to see/hear/read how others live with them and maybe pick-up advice, recommandations, tips and tricks. 🙂

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #Fibromyalgia #PTSD #EatingDisorder #OCD #Grief #AnkylosingSpondylitis #IrritableBowelSyndromeIBS #Arthritis #SpinalStenosis #Scoliosis #PanicAttack #PanicDisorder

I went to a new Dermotologist yesterday, after waiting five months to get the visit! I thought the skin reaction on my head was due to scalp psoriasis, but because I’m not a doctor I was unsure. It turns out I have another auto immune disorder! A rare type of skin disease (scaring alopecia) known as Lichen planopilaris.
I started crying in the Dermatologist office! Damn stressful. I have several different autoimmune diseases now! Many of them are skin related. I pictured myself bald as a cue ball and I couldn’t help but cry..
The Dermotologist said I’d had it for a while because of the front hairline loss. It’s at the rate of about a 1/4 inch a year! I swear I just noticed the odd patchy redness on my scalp, and scales at the hair follicles back in May.
I thought it was perhaps stress related.? We moved to a new community in 2023, and we were doing so much construction daily on our home.
I also thought of the stress my daughter has created within me, by estranging us three years ago. (She has stage four cancer, so I have no idea.Her cancer is definitely part of her estrangement of me and her dad.)
According to the internet:
“While stress isn't the sole cause of lichen planopilaris (LPP), it is considered a potential trigger which can exasperate the condition..”
It helps me to be able to write about this. I’m trying to clarify my feelings and emotions regarding having yet another autoimmune disease.
I told my husband I felt like my body was eating me from the inside out!

I’ve got drug resistant Epilepsy and I had brain surgery five years ago (I still continue to have seizures as it was in two areas). Anyway, a few days ago I started to experience pain in my face and right hand. For the past year I have had swollen feet (I’ve gone up a shoe size) and it really hurts to walk on them so much!! I was told by the pharmacist to put ibuprofen gel for the pain which has helped a bit and to call my consultant tomorrow morning to speak to a doctor sooner (as one of my anti-convulsants may causing the swelling). Get my bloods done quicker.
I just feel so uncomfortable it hurts and when I spoke to my Gp a few days ago she said she would run a few blood tests to look into why my feet were so swollen.
There is Epilepsy and Arthritis in a few of my generations (my mum and nan both had these conditions)
I’m just really worried!
#Epilepsy
#Arthritis
#MentalHealth

This morning, I awoke to a lengthy todo list. There were so many items, and I became overwhelmed. One advantage of being 71 is that I’ve learned various coping strategies over time. So I decided to face one item at a time, because one item is doable but 10 stress me out. It is now 3:00. I have forced myself to focus only on one job at a time even though my mind wants to race to 7 more tasks. So what did I accomplish? Laundry, wiping counters and stove, shredding 9 pounds of carrots, packaging and freezing them, making my bed with clean sheets, finishing payroll. Now I can think about having a relaxing evening and heating up soup for supper. What still remains of my list can wait until tomorrow.