Arthritis Treatment Decision Tip Sheet

In a previous post, I gave you some tips on making arthritis treatment decisions.  Here is a pdf version of the decision tips.  Feel free to print it out and take it with you to your rheumatologist appointments.  It also includes a “notes” section for any notes you may have while discussing treatment options with your rheumatologist.

Arthritis Treatment Decision Tip Sheet (pdf)

If you missed the original post, read it now: http://www.arthriticjoints.com/2009/06/26/do-you-struggle-with-arthritis-treatment-decisions/.

It’s Official! Last-Minute Shopping is Here!

Some years ago, before the age of computers, I was in so much pain from my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, I had to get a cortisone injection in my ankle to go Christmas shopping.  Unfortunately, the injection didn’t work and I was left with going Christmas shopping in extreme pain.  That is definitely not a time that I want to re-live.

The wonderful thing we have today is technology.  Hooray!  We can shop for gifts from the comfort of our own home at any time of the day!  I love it!

So, for those of you with arthritis that have been putting off buying Christmas presents due to flare-ups, pain, stiffness, or just plain procrastination, never fear…online last minute-options are here.

Purchase gifts online and choose overnight shipping

According to USPS, the last day to ship via overnight Express Mail shipping is December 23rd by 5pm.  Your package will arrive on Christmas Eve.  Now, this option is still a bit risky considering your merchant has to ship it by the deadline.

Purchase online and pick-up at local store

Some stores (such as Best Buy) offer the option of purchasing your items online and picking them up at their local brick-and-mortar location.  Your order is ready to go when you pick it up.  No shoving your way through the crowds and aisles to find that must have product.  It’s great!  

A word of caution though: make sure you check the policy of the pick-up service first.  Some stores prepare your order within 24 hours; however, others can take 2-3 days.  Make sure you know before you purchase.

According to BestBuy.com, you can order online up until Christmas Eve at 3pm for in-store pick up.  You may even be lucky enough to live close to a Best Buy with reserved parking spaces for order pick-ups!  What a bonus!

Purchase gift cards that can be sent via e-mail

Some online stores (such as Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com) offer the option of sending gift cards via e-mail.  No shipping necessary!  You can even select the date you want the recipient to receive the e-mail.  HomeDepot even allows the recipient to print the gift card e-mail out and use it in the brick-and-mortar store or it can be used online.

If you’re not sure what type of store to get a gift card at for that special someone, then go to GiftCertificates.com.  They offer the e-SuperCertificate.  The recipient receives it via e-mail and can redeem it for a gift card of their choice.  For instance, I receive a $25 e-SuperCertificate.  I can redeem it for a $25 Macy’s gift card.  It’s that easy.

Purchase Visa gift cards from your local participating bank

Some banks offer a Visa gift card.  Just go to your local bank to purchase.  This is an easy way to get your gift and have the recipient choose where to spend it.  It’s a win-win!

What are you waiting for?  Get comfortable, get your fingers limber and finish that shopping!

Merry Christmas to all!

Black Friday Deals Start Mon, Nov 23rd!

Buying Christmas presents does not have to drain you physically.  Instead, save your arthritic body from the pain, limping, swelling and stiffness, by shopping for gifts online.  It is so much easier to click your way through the deals than fighting the crowds, especially on Black Friday!

If you are an avid Black Friday shopper, then get ready to shop now!  No waiting for Black Friday to arrive.  Amazon starts their Black Friday deals on Monday, November 23rd.  Each day brings new deals!

Some of Monday’s deals include a KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer for 40% off and a LG 37LH55 37-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV for 54% off!

Check out Amazon’s Deal Calendar for a glimpse of this week’s specials.  You won’t want to miss out!

Since quantities may be limited, get to the sale quick!  Have fun shopping!

New Talk Show for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis!

Today is the start of a new online talk show called New Way RA.  The New Way RA program is a well-rounded and informative show for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  It not only focuses on medical treatment and diagnosis, but also includes relevant information on nutrition, fitness, workplace and career issues, relationship issues, etc. 

New Way RA is hosted by Deborah Norville, anchor of Inside Edition, who has a personal connection with rheumatoid arthritis.  Throughout the program, Deborah Norville interviews experts on various topics. 

Here’s an introduction clip of the new show:

The experts in the first program include:

• W. Hayes Wilson, M.D., Chief, Division of Rheumatology at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia
• Laurie Ferguson, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Education at the advocacy organization CreakyJoints
• Ellie Krieger, M.S., R.D., Food Network host of Healthy Appetite, registered dietitian and author
• Rosalind Joffe, a nationally recognized chronic illness career coach
• Ellen Shmueli, a certified fitness instructor

The first New Way RA show discusses 1) the importance of taking charge of your health and two-way communication with a doctor, 2) the effect of RA on relationships with advice on how to take charge, build a support network and live with intention, 3) simple meal considerations and recipes that demonstrate how small changes in the kitchen can positively affect overall health, 4) how work or career can be possible despite a diagnosis of RA, and 5) demonstration of several RA-friendly exercises.

In between the different segments, you will see perspectives from real people with rheumatoid arthritis.  People just like you.

I like New Way RA because it focuses on various aspects of our lives with rheumatoid arthritis instead of just providing medical information.  Check it out and see for yourself!

To view the show with all of the helpful tips and recipes, you will need to register at NewWayRA.com first.  Then you will have access to all of the features. 

The program is sponsored by Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.  Kudos for bringing attention to this chronic disease and providing information to help manage it!

Let’s hear your feedback about the new show.  Did you identify with it?  Did you learn something new?  Would you like to see more episodes?  What did you like best?  Leave us a comment to share your thoughts.

Save Your Cane With This Inexpensive Cane Accessory!

I recently went to an event that necessitated a great deal of walking.  Knowing that I would need assistance, I decided to rely on my cane for help.  Because I have been fortunate enough to not need the cane on a regular basis, I neglected to remember that it does not have a strap.

Through the course of the event, I dropped the cane several times while attempting to carry items, reshuffle items, take pictures, etc.  In the middle of that chaos, I also unknowingly left the cane propped up somewhere and didn’t even realize it.  Luckily, I was able to find it.

The end result…I was so worried about keeping up with the cane and not dropping it, that it took the focus off of the event.  I now have several chips in the cane, as well.

The sad thing is that this could have been easily prevented with an inexpensive accessory…a cane strap.  Cane straps fit securely on the neck of your cane and allow you to put the strap around your wrist when you need to use your hand for something else.  Using the cane strap prevents the cane from falling down and also prevents you from misplacing it.

Cane straps are usually anywhere from $2 to $6 each depending on the type you select.  You can find them on eBay, Amazon, in medical supply stores or cane suppliers. 

If you have not purchased a cane yet, then when you are in the market for one, save yourself some trouble and purchase the cane strap at the same time.

Here are some cane straps currently on eBay:

Do You Struggle with Arthritis Treatment Decisions?

Going to the rheumatologist can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are given multiple options for the treatment of your arthritis.  How can you decide what is best?  It is not like the days when aspirin was the standard of care.

Your rheumatologist will, of course, give you his/her professional opinion on which treatments you should pursue. However, it is ultimately up to you to decide if the treatment is best for you and your body.

Here are some tips to help you decide:

1. Make sure you understand your treatment options
2. What are the positive and negative aspects of those treatments? (Do your research)
3. How long before the treatments are expected to work?
4. Will your health insurance cover the treatment?  If not, can you afford the treatment?
5. Are you willing to commit to the treatment?
6. Will the treatment conflict with any other health problems?
7. Are these my only options?

The good news is that you do not need to make a decision immediately.  Making a decision without all of the facts does not do you or anyone else any good.

Ask for a couple of days to think about it.  Go home and take some time to go through the steps.  Do your research. Then, make the decision that is right for you.

One more tip: When deciding between multiple treatment options, you may want to write/type these steps in a more visually-appealing format such as a grid or spreadsheet.  This will help you to compare your options.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Have You Been Ridiculed for Using Handicapped Parking?

Lets face it…There are many people that use handicap parking spaces who have no medical necessity to use them.  This has made many normal, physically-abled people angry.  Some are so angry that they lash out at people who do not appear to be handicapped or disabled.  Has this happened to you even though you have a legitimate (legal) need to use handicap parking?

It is sad to say that this does happen.  While I’m thankful that some abled individuals are being somewhat protective of the handicap spaces, I am disturbed by those that assume you are perfectly fine and healthy if you do not exhibit physical limitations.  It makes you wonder if their verbal accusations will manifest into a physical nature.

Additionally, young individuals with disabling arthritis are often ridiculed when parking in handicap spaces.  Frequent accusations are that you are using your grandparent’s handicap placard.  Having arthritis at a young age is difficult to say the least.  Who needs someone yelling at them, leaving threatening notes or damaging their vehicle over a parking space?

So, if this has happened to you, I’m sorry.  I have been on the receiving end of this and it makes you lose faith in people and makes you feel worse about your situation.  I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  Now, you know you cannot educate everyone about why you are using the space, nor should you have to.  But, you can have some fun with it and put a sticker or magnet on your vehicle that makes you feel better.

I came across two bumper stickers that I wish I would have had years ago when I was in this situation.  The first one is “No, I’m NOT too young to park here!“  The other is “No, It’s NOT my Grandma’s placard…it’s MINE!”

I personally do not like a yelling tone, but I think it gets the point across.  Don’t you? 

Maybe the stickers will help.  If not, just know that there are other people out there going through the same thing and we’re here to support you. 

If only we had a superhero that could swoop down and take care of those individuals that ridicule us for something that we have a right to do.  Hmm, maybe RA Guy will make an appearance during one of his adventures and save you!

If you have been the target of ridicule and accusations for using handicap parking, share it with us.  How did you handle it?

Arthritic Hands Don’t Need To Fumble With Neckties Anymore!

According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 17 million men have some form of arthritis.  If those men have arthritis in their hands or finger joints, then tying a necktie can be an enormous task.  Asking someone else to put his tie on may be difficult because some of his independence will be lost. 

Instead of fumbling with the necktie or losing some independence, try using a Zipper Tie instead.  Zipper ties have pre-tied knots and allow you to put your tie on in seconds.  Just put the tie on over your head and slide the knot up to the desired location.  That’s it!

Zipper ties are available in various styles.  Whether you are going to church, a special event or work, you are bound to find a zipper tie to suit the occasion.

Zipper ties are also available in boy sizes for boys that have juvenile arthritis.

 

Have a tip on managing life’s daily challenges?  Share it with us.

Are Medical Bills Drowning You in Debt?

When you have arthritis, medical expenses can be costly.  Paying for rheumatology visits and procedures, lab work, prescriptions, surgery, physical therapy, etc., can be an enormous task and that is just for your arthritis.  We know that if you have arthritis, you are at risk for other conditions and being more susceptible to becoming sick if you are taking an immunosuppresant drug.  So what do you when you are drowning in debt from your medical bills and finding it difficult or next to impossible to pay them off?

eHow has some great suggestions you should go through first.  Some of their suggestions are that you should detail review your bills, hire an expert if necessary to analyze your medical bills, and even ask the medical provider(s) to reduce your balance.  For more details and suggestions, see eHow’s “How to get help paying medical bills debt“.

If you find that some of your expenses should have been covered under your health insurance policy, but your health insurance provider refuses to cover it, there is something you can do.  Contact your health insurance provider first.  If contacting your health insurance provider via telephone gets you nowhere, then write a letter to them indicating why you believe the charges should be covered under your benefits coverage.  If the situation still remains unresolved, then contact your state insurance board.  Document all of your efforts in writing to the state insurance board including why you believe the health insurance provider should be honoring your benefits coverage (i.e. your benefits coverage indicates…).  Note in your letter that you are copying the letter to the insurance company and make sure you send a copy to the insurance company.  You should hear back from both organizations fairly quickly. 

If you were incorrect in what you thought your benefits were, then you will still be responsible for the bill.  If you were correct and the insurance provider should have covered some of your medical expenses, then you should receive an adjusted bill from them after the state insurance board is involved. 

If you decide to contact a debt service to help you manage the overwhelming bills, then please beware.  Not all debt assistance companies are reputable.  Make sure you check them out with the Better Business Bureau and RipOffReport before doing business with them.

After you have a plan of how you are going to resolve your medical debt, then you should write to your Congressional representatives.  Be brutally honest with them and let them know how you struggle to pay for your medical expenses.  Let them know that you have arthritis and how the disease affects you financially.  Our Congressional representatives are our advocates.  They can only help you if they know what you are going through.  The more people that contact them, the more they will be willing to listen to and act on health insurance reform, change income tax regulations as it relates to medical expense deductions, and vote for more arthritis research funding.

Mounting medical bills can be very stressful.  Take a look at all of your options to reduce your bills, then decide on which options are best for you.  Just remember, that whatever you decide to do, you must keep your providers in the loop as to what you are doing before collectors come knocking!

Good luck!

Can I Take Self-Injectable Meds or Syringes on an Airplane?

Summer is upon us and with that brings summer travel and vacations.  If you take injectable medications to treat your arthritis, can you bring those with you when you fly to your destination?

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), “All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened.”

TSA also indicates that medications do not need to be labeled.  However, in order to prevent any hold ups, I would recommend labeling your medications or keep them in their original containers that contain prescription labels.

Medications and supplies are usually screened via x-ray.  However, TSA allows you to request visual screening instead.  If you prefer the visual screening option, TSA offers these guidelines:

• You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.
• If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.
• Request the visual inspection and hand your medication pouch/bag to the Security Officer.
• In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection process.
• Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the  sterile area.

Now that you know the rules for flying with your meds, go have a great vacation!  But don’t forget to keep your injectables at the proper temperature during travel!

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