Arthritis LIFE

Arthritis LIFE Learn to THRIVE with arthritis through courses, support groups, podcasts & more! Led by Cheryl Crow

I was blown away by the Maid Lewis exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Art Gallery of Nova Scotia . Despite living...
09/01/2026

I was blown away by the Maid Lewis exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Art Gallery of Nova Scotia .

Despite living with chronic pain from undiagnosed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (many of the educational materials about her say “juvenile rheumatoid arthritis” but that term is currently outdated as the condition was renamed to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in the mid 2010s), Maud created beautiful, whimsical art. She even painted over her entire one room house, which is now on display at the museum!

I was drawn to her colorful art even before I learned her story. Yet when I delved deeper I learned that, like so many living with disabilities, she likely also suffered from financial abuse from her husband.

She appears to have had no access to medical care for her condition and even if she did , there were no effective disease modifying medications at the time in the early to mid 1900s.

As the last slide says, if she were born today, it’s very possible Maud Lewis’s JIA would have gone into remission and she would have had less deformities and pain and a better quality of life. So it’s very bittersweet but a good reminder not to take modern medications for granted.

Additionally, I am aware of the potential negative effects of “inspiration porn” and think it’s important to look at her life story in it’s full complexity rather than simply elevating her as someone who only had value due to being able to “rise above” her pain. If you delve into her story more you’ll see she had some demons as well.

Still, her story and art genuinely inspire me, as a woman living with rheumatoid arthritis, to sprinkle joy into any way I can, and it reinvigorated my interest in painting. (As an occupational therapist I also recommend checking out her alternate grasp for her perspective paintbrush, very ingenious!).

Do you also find joy or in creating or appreciating art? love to hear your thoughts ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

08/31/2026

❓How does weight affect arthritis pain and inflammation, and what actually helps?

🎙️In this episode of Rheumer Has It, Cheryl Crow and Eileen Davidson talk with rheumatologist and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Derin Karacabeyli about the science of weight, adipose tissue, and arthritis.

👇To learn more, comment WEIGHT below for a link to the episode!

*Content note/ trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of body weight, obesity, BMI, and weight-loss medications (including GLP-1 drugs). We approach this topic from a stigma-free, evidence-based perspective, as well as lived experience, but we know conversations about weight can be sensitive or activating, especially for those with a history of weight stigma, eating disorders, or body image challenges. Listener discretion encouraged.

08/25/2026

⭐ If you’re newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and perspective from Dr. Julius Birnbaum, a physician uniquely trained in both rheumatology and neurology.

✅ The takeaway is empowering and hopeful: we’re living in a “golden era” of RA care, with more effective treatments and real reason to believe a full, meaningful life is possible alongside this diagnosis.

Comment GOLDEN below for a link to the episode! 👇

🌟Paid research alert!🌟Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder are looking for some of my followers to partic...
08/24/2026

🌟Paid research alert!🌟

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder are looking for some of my followers to participate in a study about the influence of social media influencers in the realm of health promotion.

The study includes an online survey and a follow up focus group, and you will be compensated for your time.

✅ Interested? Comment “research” and I’ll send you the link where you can learn more about the study and participate.

You can also access it in my bio!

As many of you know, being a micro influencer in the arthritis space is a role I take seriously and I am excited that researchers are looking into the potential impact of health promotion on social media.

08/21/2026

😅 When you’re fatigued, but still want to join the party… Anyone else get that feeling on some Fridays?

🎙In this heartwarming episode, Cheryl sits down with Peighton (age 12), Mackenzie (age 11), and Atalie (age 7) to hear w...
08/13/2026

🎙In this heartwarming episode, Cheryl sits down with Peighton (age 12), Mackenzie (age 11), and Atalie (age 7) to hear what it's really like growing up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, sometimes called “JA”).

✅ They share their diagnosis journeys, the challenges of treatments and school, and the everyday ways they cope while continuing to be resilient kids.

😊 Along the way, they talk about the comfort of pets, the importance of finding friends who truly understand, why kids with invisible illnesses deserve to be believed, and the hope they've found through the Arthritis Foundation community.

💜 Whether you're raising a child with JIA, living with arthritis yourself, or simply want to better understand what these young patients experience, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one has to face arthritis alone.

Comment JIA below for a link to the episode! 👇

🌞 I’m taking a break from social media until August 19th. My goal is to enjoy an eastern Canadian vacation with my famil...
08/01/2026

🌞 I’m taking a break from social media until August 19th. My goal is to enjoy an eastern Canadian vacation with my family and to force my brain to slow down a bit and be more present.

Like many of you, I’ve struggled to find a balance between a healthy amount of social media usage and “too much.”

As someone living with multiple chronic illnesses, and who greatly values social connection and support, social media is a lifeline and a valid form of deep connection.

As someone also living with anxiety who struggles to find a happy medium between too much social media use and a “just right” amount, I know I need a break. I have become too dependent on my phone and need to remember how to function without checking social media constantly 🫠

I won’t be able to resist posting some stories of our adventures in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (living out my Anne of Green Gables dreams!) but I’m going to do my best to take a break for the majority of the next couple weeks.

I look forward to reconnecting when I return, and happy August to everyone!

(I know this isn’t an airport and I don’t need to announce my departure but I thought I’d explain why I might not respond as quickly as I normally try to, to comments and DMs).

07/30/2026

💚 Every year I leave this weekend with my heart completely full.

Juvenile Arthritis Family Camp is so much more than camp. It’s a place where kids, parents, and siblings discover they’re not alone.

Thank you to everyone who makes this incredible weekend possible. 💚

Learn more about the Arthritis Foundation’s family camp, “Kat Fish Camp” in Washington State at Arthritis.org Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Foundation Great West Region

07/29/2026

😅Planning what you’re going to say to the doctor versus what you actually say sometimes...the struggle is real!

✏️This is why I always write things down before appointments!

😲I also have a free face sheet you can use to organize your information! Comment FACE SHEET below for a link!

❓What strategies do you use to make sure you don’t forget to bring anything important up at a doctor’s appointment?

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