Arthritis Life

Christy Williams is a certified health coach, wife, mother of two and endurance athlete/triathlete. She has been living with an autoimmune disease called Sero-negative spondylarthopathy (blood negative inflammatory arthritis) since the age of 24. She is now 48 and has been in remission for 15 years due to a combination of Remicade (a biologic disease modifier) and an active healthy lifestyle. 

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. She is passionate about helping others with rheumatoid arthritis thrive despite arthritis. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Episode links:

• Christy’s Instagram: @coachchristy10 
• Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• The Happiness Trap book by Russ Harris
• Cheryl on Instagram
• Cheryl’s website: Arthritis Life
• Cheryl’s Tiktok: @ArthritisLife 
• Arthritis Life Facebook Page
• Cheryl’s Twitter: @realcc 
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage everyday life with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show Breakdown: 

• 01:00 – Christy shares her diagnosis at 24 after the birth of her first child, and her transition into adulthood. 
• 03:20 – Christy’s tenacious drive to stay active, her journey completing an ironman challenge. 
• 5:35: How Christy has managed her inflammatory arthritis over the years: it’s a marathon not a sprint! How she went from being in a wheelchair to completing triathalons after figuring out the right medication and lifestyle interventions such as exercise.
• 8:00 - Christy explains how fatigue still affects her quality of life, and how she copes with it by pacing herself.
• 13:05– Christy shares why and how she became a health coach for people with autoimmune disease, after she achieved remission. 
• 20:30 – How having an autoimmune disease sparked Christy and Cheryl to confront their mortality.
• 23:10 – Christy’s definition of “remission,” and additional reflections on the fact that no two paths towards remission are the same.
• 30:10 – Cheryl and Christy share different debates and challenges within the chronic illness community, including medication shaming, or shaming of people who celebrate natural methods.
• 34:40 - Cheryl reflects on how she’s tried to strike a balance between celebrating how well Western medications have worked for her and also respecting others’ choices if they differ, and how patients within the chronic illness community can unite in our common goals and consider the intent of our messages when we communicate our journeys.
• 36:00 - How Christy & Cheryl cope with unsolicited advice.
• 38:00 - How Cheryl’s therapy helped her cope with uncertainty and gray areas during treatment for RA.
• 41:25 – How Christy has managed her attitude and mindset during the ups and downs of life with inflammatory arthritis.
• 43:38– Cheryl shares how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy transformed her relationship to uncertainty as a chronic illness patient, and how anxiety makes you want black and white answers and certainty.  
• 50:00 – Common misconceptions and myths around arthritis and remission.
• 54:27 – Christy’s advice for anyone battling chronic illness and her best coping mechanisms dealing with uncertainty  
• 57:00 - Christy’s pre-diagnosis challenges with people not believing her.
• 1:03:00 - The importance of sharing our stories, even if we get criticized or misunderstood! 

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• 0:48: Episode intro
• 2:50: One -  We want you to learn what the disease is and isn’t.
• 9:55: Two - The fatigue can be just as bad as the pain.
• 15:48: Three - It doesn’t just affect the body - it also affects the mind and emotions.
• 20:20**: Four** - It affects EACH person differently.
• 22:50: Five - Daily symptoms are often unpredictable.
• 25:45**: Six -** We want credit for how hard we’re fighting, even when we seem “normal.”
• 27:54: Seven - Sometimes we need problem solving, other times we need empathy.
• 34:30: Eight - Managing the disease itself is a job that takes time and energy.
• 35:55: Bonus point: Take care of YOUR needs as the caregiver/friend
• 37:10: Concluding thoughts

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! 

• Free webinar: How to Use Social Media and Online Information as an RA patient Without Wanting to Tear your Hair Out
• Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Arthritis Life Instagram
• Arthritis Life website
• @ArthritisLife on Tiktok
• Arthritis Life Facebook Page
• Cheryl’s free Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• Cheryl’s Twitter: @realcc

@Sophialwebb_  , @mhaggerty_ , @mariavgi , @warriorsmovemountains , @worldofOT , @shelly_steele , _brittanbee_ , @theinvisiblemewarriorspbc , @znev.alia , @aimeefb, @mrs_Alix_Naber, @Lailaschneider, @kat.panning, @Annafitandbeautiful, @danicreegs, @floopilicious, @wsmommie, @house_of_spoons, @Bto22, @diana_rosas023,  @chaichat023, @kheartsphotos, @pdxfashionista, @stephanielabonte, @shelly_steele + numerous anonymous contributors!

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In December 2020, Arthritis Life hosted an “Arthritis Storytelling Hour” where thirteen patients shared vivid tales from their lives.

Listen and learn about how difficult the diagnosis process is for some, how people with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis learned to advocate for themselves, how to navigate work life with your condition, what it’s like to be a “spoonie mom,” the importance of mindset, acceptance and self-care, and more! 

Video details:

Topic: basics of life with RA, diagnosis stories, how diagnosis led to career

• 1:28 - Chloe Umpleby JIA (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis) journey
• 6:21 - Kia Peters: diagnosis of RA (rheumatoid arthritis) during graduate school
• 11:00 - Sammantha Dorazio: diagnosis led to career as Nurse Practitioner
• 14:20-Paulina Burzynsk: how RA helped her take better care of your body 

Topic: Advocacy / learning to speak up

• 24:30 -  Jed Finley example of how he learned how to advocate for himself in the context of medical appointments for his ankylosing spondylitis 
• 30:00 -  Mimi Cross - how she learned that if something makes you uncomfortable you need to speak up even if that feels awkward

RA’s effect on work

• 36:13 - Sarah Dillingham - how she became comfortable talking about RA at work
• 42:30 - Effie Koliopoulos - how RA led her to her passion for writing 

RA’s and family

• 46:20 - Ushma Sampat - how RA affects family relationships and life partnership / marriage
• 54:50 - Jes Hosjan  How AS affects her experience as a mom and how she learned to advocate as a “spoonie mom!”

Humor and Mindset

• 1:03:02 - Cristina Montoya - Humorous take on life with RA
• 1:10:17 - Krista - Her experience chasing a past life to be the same “pre diagnosis” and how she learned to embrace the present
• 1:17:44 - Cheryl Crow - My journey to acceptance of discomfort and uncertainty in life, how ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) and my two therapists helped me!

Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Links to speaker pages and websites:

• Chloe Umplby - instagram @xchloeumplebyx/ and @spoonfulofchronic/
  • Chloe’s Instagram, Chronically Happy Instagram, Spoonful of Chronic shop
• Kia Peters Instagram https://www.instagram.com/livewellwithkia/
  • Instagram @LiveWellWithKia
• Sammantha Dorazio https://www.instagram.com/samdorazio8/
  • Sammantha’s Instagram
• Paulina  Burzynsk https://www.instagram.com/with.paulina/
  • Paulina’s Instagram &  Chronically Happy Instagram
  • Paulina’s Website
• Jed Finley Jed’s twitter https://twitter.com/JediMaster941 and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jedimaster941/
  • Jed’s Twitter, Jed’s Instagram
  • Jed’s blog
  • Jed’s writing for Ankylosing Spondylitis.net 
  • Jed’s Podcast
• Mimi Cross - https://www.instagram.com/inflammationvacation/
  • Mimi’s Instagram, Inflammation Vacation Instagram
  • Inflammation Vacation website
• Sarah Dillingham - Grace and Able page  , Women with Rheumatoid Disease Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenwithRD
  • Grace & Able: Sarah’s company making comfortable and visually appealing wrist braces 
  • Women with Rheumatoid Disease - Sarah’s Facebook group & page
• Effie Koliopoulos - Effie’s blog: https://risingabovera.com/ Effie’s Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/risingabovera/
  • Effie’s Blog
  • Effie’s Instagram
  • Effie’s Twitter
  • Effie’s Rising Above RA RAra Shop Designs (Merch): 
  • Effie’s Youtube Channel: RA and Myself
• Ushma Sampat - Ushma’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/worldofot/
  • Ushma’s Instagram 
• Jes Hosjan - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/house_of_spoons/
  • Instagram: House of Spoons
  • Jes’s articles on Axial Spondylitis.net 
  • Jes’s Youtube Channel 
• Cristina Montoya - on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/arthritisdietitian/
  • Cristina’s Instagram
  • Cristina’s blog 
• Krista Rowan - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kickra18/, TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@kickra18
  • Krista’s Instagram: @kickra18 
  • Tiktok: @kickra18 
  • Website: alivetoliving.com
• Cheryl Crow: instagram https://www.instagram.com/arthritis_life_cheryl/, website https://arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com/, tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritislife, free facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/arthritislifepodcastandsupport
  • Cheryl on Instagram
  • Cheryl’s website: Arthritis Life
  • Cheryl’s Tiktok: @ArthritisLife 
  • Arthritis Life Facebook Page
  • Cheryl’s free Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
  • Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
  • Cheryl’s Twitter: @realcc 

This video is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl Crow created to empower people with tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical lives with rheumatoid arthritis.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Photo credit for Lene’s photo: David Govoni. 

Speaker bios:

Lene (pronounced Lena) is an award-winning writer and rheumatoid arthritis advocate living in Toronto, Canada. Born and raised in Denmark, Lene has had autoimmune arthritis since childhood and has used a power wheelchair since her teens. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work and writes books about living well with RA and other types of chronic illness. Lene shares her home with a cat and too many books.  

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Links to things discussed in this episode:

• Lene’s website: The Seated View https://theseatedview.com/
• Lene’s Twitter @TheSeateView
• Lene’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LeneAndersenwriter/
• Lene’s Instagram  @TheSeatedView
• Cheryl on Instagram
• Cheryl’s website: Arthritis Life
• Cheryl’s Tiktok: @ArthritisLife 
• Arthritis Life Facebook Page
• Cheryls Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Here's the show breakdown:

·       01:50 – Lene shares her diagnosis story with Juvenile and Rheumatoid Arthritis

·       02:32 – Lene shares some tips for managing the holidays with a chronic illness. 

·       05:00 – How Lene learned to embrace “imperfect moments” that create the family legends to make the holidays special.

·       11:45 – Lene’s reflections about navigating the holiday season this year during COVID-19. 

·       20:55 – Lene shares her journey of creating her first book while battling major hurdles living with her Juvenile and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

·       26:45 – Anyone battling chronic illness with big aspirations just take it one step at a time – remember: thinking and planning counts as moving in the right direction. 

·       31:40 – Lene gives insight about using her power wheelchair at age sixteen empowered her to live life to the fullest.

·       36:25 – Lene discusses human right principles by understanding employment and accommodations for people with chronic illness.

·       42:40 – Lene’s advice for newly diagnosed patients. 

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Jen dives deep into how and why she co-founded Savvy-Co-op, whose mission is to empower patients to co-create new solutions alongside health innovators. This includes a discussion of her PhD studies in human factors. 

Jen walks us through what it’s like for a patient to get their voice heard and provide feedback to healthcare companies and health innovators through Savvy, all while being monetarily compensated for their time. She also explains why it’s crucial for health innovators to seek diverse patient voices. 

Cheryl and Jen  discuss the importance of quality of life (QOL) measures as part of patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

The episode ends with a summary of Jen’s life experiences as a young person with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and her advice for newly diagnosed patients today.

Speaker bios:

Jen Horonjeff was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis as an infant and now has a laundry list of other conditions and surprises (like a brain tumor). She is passionate about elevating and valuing the patient voice, and went on to become a health outcomes researcher, human factors engineer, FDA Consumer Representative, and, most importantly, a patient advocate. Jen earned a PhD in Environmental Medicine from NYU, and studies patient-centered outcomes at Columbia University Medical Center. 

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Episode links:

• Savvy Coop Twitter and Instagram: @savvy_coop
• Savvy Website: Savvy.coop
• Jen’s personal Twitter & Instagram: @jhoronjeff
• Jen’s LinkedIn  
• Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.

Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Here's the show breakdown:

• 1:00 - Jen’s experience getting a phD in Human Factors, accessibility, and patient centered outcomes while balancing her Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). 
• 4:50 - How Jen formed Savvy Co-op: a patient owned, public benefit co-op that connects health innovators with patients to provide feedback, where patients are co-owners of the company and are often compensated for their time and expertise.
• 8:00 - Why is it important for health organizations to not only get patient feedback, but also seek diverse patient voices.
• 10:50 - Jen walks us through what it’s like for a patient to get their voice heard and provide feedback to healthcare companies and health innovators through Savvy, all while being monetarily compensated for their time. 
• 15:20 - Why it’s important to follow up with the patient after they complete their “gig,” and let the patient know how their voice had an impact.
• 17:00 - What does “patients are the expert in their care” mean, and what does  “patient centered care” mean?
• 18:15 - An example of the patient voice changing health systems: patient feedback about the importance of fatigue led to it being incorporated as a “clinical trial outcome set,” or something that’s measured. 
•  21:50: Jen’s experience serving on the FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee, and explanation of why quality of life (QOL) measures are so important. 
• 25:15 - Chery’s quick plug for occupational therapy in helping patients achieve the best quality of life possible.
• 26:15 - Are the current quality of life measures still relevant today, and are they sensitive enough to measure what’s truly important to patients?
• 31:15 - Issues with patient reported outcomes are not specific to rheumatology, they are common across health conditions; Jen’s example: cystic fibrosis. 
• 32:30 - Cheryl discusses the difference between basic “activities of daily living” (like dressing oneself) and “instrumental activities of daily living” (more time-consuming and cognitively challenging tasks like caring for children, preparing meals, managing finances). 
• 33:30 - Jen’s personal journey with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): from gold shots in the 1980s and being told to avoid movement and exercise, to a dance major in college. 
• 37:25 - Jen’s advice to parents of children with JIA 
• 38:25 - Why Jen feels her disease DOES define her. 
• 41:10 - Jen’s message for newly diagnosed patients: take time to reflect and grieve, acknowledge that this will suck sometimes, then try to step back and see that there are still probably ways to get to where you want to go. 
• 43:00 - where you can follow Jen and Savvy (+ Jen’s cat as a bonus!).

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Stefanie is the Rheumatoid Arthritis Coach. She’s a mother, teacher, volunteer, Family Nurse Practitioner, and also has rheumatoid arthritis. She was diagnosed about six years ago after the birth of her  first child. As a medical professional with over ten years of experience at that time, she was completely lost and felt like her world was shattered. The day she was diagnosed she cried for 10 minutes in the car, and then decided: “I’m not only going to take control of MY disease, but I want to help others to do the same!”

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by learning effective tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Links:

• Stefanie’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Coach Website
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook Page: Rheumatoid Arthritis Coach
• Stefanie’s Instagram: @RheumatoidArthritisCoach
• Cheryl’s Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Here's the show breakdown:

• 1:00 - Introduction to Stephanie
• 2:05 - How Stephanie’s background in medicine helped her figure out her Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis. 
• 4:18- How Stephanie took control of her diagnosis and created the 1st arthritis support group in Las Vegas, Nevada through the Arthritis Foundation. 
• 7:13 - Stephanie’s experience working in critical care (ICU - Intensive Care Unit) as a nurse at the time of her diagnosis and afterwards
• 9:20 - Stephanie’s choice to leave the ICU setting due to her RA diagnosis
• 10:17 - Stephanie’s advice to people with RA who are conflicted about whether to switch careers: don’t be afraid to change paths due to your condition, particularly if it helps you manage your stress better.
• 13:25 - Cheryl & Stefanie discuss the importance of patient education.
• 14:35 - Cheryl & Stefanie discuss how having RA changed how they practice as health providers: learning to listen better and be more present.
• 18:50 - Stephanie’s most important tool to manage her RA on a daily basis: the ability to adapt (it’s a super power)!
• 20:25 - Examples of how Stefanie adapts her daily routines to match her condition and abilities: pants with buttons versus pants without buttons, bar soap versus pump soap, types of cans, and more examples.
• 24:30 - Cheryl’s examples of how occupational therapists help patients with arthritis adapt their daily routines to what works best for each individual. 
• 28:09 - Stefanie’s family history of autoimmune diseases.
• 29:30 - Stephanie’s first big RA flare after her first child was born and her experience with pregnancy and postpartum with her second child was born.
• 30:35 - Stefanie’s difficulties with breastfeeding after her first pregnancy, versus her second pregnancy where she knew she couldn’t breastfeed due to medications.
• 31:47 - Cheryl’s experience with chronic mastitis infections while breastfeeding and her views on infant feeding: fed is best! 
• 34:15 - How Stefanie manages the demands of parenting with young kids: honest communication with your family, and some adaptations like a ramp for her children to get into their own bed.
• 40:00 - Stefanie’s journey to creating her RA Coaching program
• 42:30 - More details about Stephanie’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Coach program: diet, symptoms, and medications, individualized medical chart reviews for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. 
• 46:50 - Stefanie’s reflections on the importance of individualized care. 

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Jason Webb is a 42 year old father of 3 daughters who has lived with inflammatory arthritis for 38 years. He’s also an artist, chef-educator (27 years), stock trading coach, and mentor to other single fathers. 

Jason is a creative with a flair for wit and humor. He understands that  what works for him might not work for you, but he's there to help you through, so don’t be shy to reach out. He is currently working on a culinary education program and children's book series.

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

• Links to things discussed in the podcast episode:
  • Jason’s website: Chefscookies.ca
  • Jason’s Instagram:
    • Instagram.com/thejazzyjay
    • Instagram.com/jazzycharts 
    • Instagram.com/chefs_cookies  
    • Instagram.com/jazzyjayfood
  • Jason’s Facebook accounts:
    • www.facebook.com/TheJazzyJay
    • FB @jazzycharts
    • Fb: @chefscookies
  • Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
  • Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
  • This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Here's the show breakdown:

• 1:09- Jason’s diagnosis story (also known as a journey or saga): from juvenile idiopathic arthritis to ankylosing spondylitis.
• 6:00 - How Jason copes with gray areas and identify his flare triggers.
• 8:40 - How Jason manages his physical health at this time.
• 11:18 - What helps Jason manage Ankylosing Spondylitis: staying “safe, smart, strong, sweet and silly,” plus adaptive aids, massage, knowing his flare cycles, knowing diet and food triggers and more.
• 16:30  – Coping mechanisms for chronic illness and chronic pain 
• 19:25 -  Cheryl once again brings up Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT
• 21:30 - How Jason’s challenging upbringing taught him how to be adaptable.
• 23:45 - How Jason learned the importance of self-education.
• 26:00 - Jason’s reflections on the positives and challenges of parenting with a chronic illness.
• 29:30 - Jason’s past experiences as a chef & how he experienced cycles of stress, physical challenge and financial challenges as a single father.
• 32:30 - Jason’s experience mentoring other single dads on Facebook
• 32:30 - Jason reads his letter to single dads and others who are struggling.
• 37:00 - Jason’s advice for newly diagnosed patients: educate yourself about the disease, listen to your body
• 39:00 - Jason reflects on the connection between his emotional state and physical symptoms, how stress has caused flare-ups for him.
• 42:00 - Jason & Cheryl’s parenting and stress-management advice

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In January 2000, Krista was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis; a debilitating autoimmune disease affecting her joints, tissues, skin and organs.  Having experienced chronic pain, disability, stress, depression, isolation and hopelessness for years, she relates deeply to the fear and impact to all facets of life when health is deteriorated.

In 2015, Krista began addressing root cause drivers of her inflammation and disease, which not only dramatically improved her quality of life, but led her to become a speaker and certified coach. Today, Krista is on a reMISSION to inspire and empower others to improve their own health and quality of life.

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Links to things discussed in the podcast episode:

• Krista’s Instagram: @kickra18 
• Tiktok: @kickra18 
• Krista's Website: alivetoliving.com
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• Cheryl’s Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an online education and support program Cheryl created to guide people with RA step by step through how to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.

Episode Breakdown:

• 01:00 - Krista’s introduction and diagnosis story at age 29
• 05:15 - Krista’s initial fears about what  life with RA would be like
• 7:00 - How Krista’s diagnosis affected her relationship with her fiance, wedding planning, family planning and all aspects of life
• 9:20 - Living in “fear, shame, anger and doom” for the first fifteen years of her journey, without revealing her diagnosis at work or publicly
• 10:52 - Isolating herself from fear of being perceived as weak 
• 13:45 - Krista’s experience on prednisone, feeling “not broken”
• 14:50 – Pregnancy challenges due to RA flare
• 17:19 - Krista’s wedding - home made Keds
• 19:14 - Krista hits “rock bottom” after 15 years and leaves her 20 year corporate career and decides not to apply for disability.
•  21:05 - Krista encounters Teri Wahl’s diet and lifestyle journey with MS and the “Wahl’s Protocol”
• 22:10 – Krista learns about “root cause medicine,” finds hope and goes back to school to become a “holistic nutritionist.” 
• 26:25 - Krista learns to pay attention to her inflammation triggers (stress, foods, fragrances, sleep)
• 29:33 - Krist and Cheryl reflect on the importance of hope and mindset
• 31:23 - The importance of avoiding the “positive thinking” trap and how it’s good to validate your feelings. 
• 32:35 - Learning to  mentally reframe what was actually happening in her life and address perceptions to stop her stress response.
• 35:20 - How Cheryl & Krista both learned to curb the urge to be people-pleasers.
• 36:00 – Krista and Cheryl discuss learning to set boundaries, say no & protect energy.  
• 40:27– Krista joins TikTok in June 2020, makes “I can’t shuffle but I can Shakira” viral video showing belly dance style moves
• 44:02 - Krista is surprised by the positive responses to her dance videos
• 47:50 - Inspiring people to move however you can, “love yourself moving” 
• 51:20 - Krista starts showing some of her physical limitations in her videos, and realizes that she doesn’t have to hide her RA anymore. 
• 56:00 - Krista reflects on going from very private to public about her diagnosis
• 58:20 - How Krista responds to unsolicited advice from people who don’t have a chronic illness
• 1:00:10 – Krista’s words of wisdom for newly diagnosed patients.
• 1:03:07 - Krista’s final thoughts: being 50 and being in the best place she’s been in 21 years, learning how to live in the moment even if it’s uncomfortable.

Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Speaker bios:

Corinne McLees is passionate about helping individuals maximize the function of their upper extremities, as she believes the hands are imperative to doing the things we love most. She graduated from VCU's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2016 and immediately began working in VCU Heath's hand therapy clinic. Corinne and her OT husband launched My Virtual OT - a 100% virtual occupational therapy practice - in order to safely serve clients amidst COVID-19. She has two small children and one on the way, and she and her husband have greatly enjoyed launching this business together.

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. She helps others with rheumatoid arthritis determine how to live a full life *despite* arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare she say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

• Links to things discussed in this episode:
  • What is Occupational Therapy?
  • Homonculus - sensory and motor
  • My Virtual OT website  
  • My Virtual OT Youtube Channel  
  • Corinne’s Virtual OT Instagram
  • Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
  • Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
  • This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, an intensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.

Episode breakdown:

01:00 – Corinne’s explanation of what Occupational Therapy is

05:00 – Educating clients about hand therapy

07:00 – The brain interprets our hands as disproportionately important given their size; discussion of the homonculus 

10:00 – How pain affects daily activities

12:42 – Principles of joint protect while living with chronic hand pain

13:00 – How posture alignment awareness protects joints

19:25 – Overuse of exercises, fatigue, and flares 

25:05 – How to better understand human behavior to support behavior change

30:15- Corinne explains what happens during a virtual occupational therapy visit for patients with RA

33:00 – The importance of distinguishing between different tyes of pain

41:10 – How support groups can help keep you accountable 

45:15-  Additional OT treatments: heat and cold, splinting and joint protection

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In this episode, Paulina shares her personal journey of how she discovered the benefits of yoga after her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. She explains how it can help people manage stress and feel a better sense of peace about themselves and their lives. 

Paulina also busts some of the top myths about yoga in this episode.

Paulina Burzynska has been a 𝑅ℎ𝑒𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 since the age of 18. She has lived with RA for five years, and as a teacher she is dedicated to providing safe, mindful classes for everyone helping them experience the benefits of yoga. 

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare I say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Links Discussed in this episode:

• Paulina’s Instagram &  Chronically Happy Instagram
• Yoga school Paulina went to: Zazyoga 
• Flexibility versus hypermobility article
• Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• This episode is brought to you by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a comprehensive online education and support program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode breakdown:

01:00 - How Paulina was introduced to Yoga while living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

05:00 – You don’t necessarily have to modify your yoga routine

07:00 – How yoga can work with your body’s central nervous system

12:24 – Practicing yoga involves breath work to help with stress and getting your mind and body into a healing state

15:00 – The mental aspect of yoga brings mindfulness

17:56 – Cheryl shares her experience taking Pauline yoga class

22:00- Yoga is not about the intensity but about the healing aspect 

26:16 – How people with RA can modify yoga to help work around painful areas

32:00 – Listen to your intuition about your body

35:00 – Top myths around yoga - “I’m Not flexible enough to do yoga”  

39:00 – You don’t need special equipment to practice yoga  

42:00 – Your muscle fibers through physical activity will get weaker or stronger

45:00 – Certain techniques in yoga can help how your body reacts to stressful situations

48:30 – Insecurities that might prevent people from from trying yoga

52:00 – How yoga can support you

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