YOUR NETWORK OF SUPPORT
Sometimes it’s hard for loved ones to understand your RA joint pain. Even if you may be making progress, your RA may still take a toll on you. So reach out to family and friends.
EXPLAIN WHAT IT’S LIKE.
Be specific. Do your hands feel like you’re wearing mittens? Do your RA symptoms make it feel like you’re moving through wet cement? People may understand more easily when you paint a visual picture.
ASK FOR COMPANY.
Invite a friend or your spouse to come to your doctors’ appointments to better understand what you’re going through.
BE PREPARED WITH A PLAN B.
When it comes to doing things you love with the family, have a backup. Not up for going to the movies? Watch a video at home instead.
NUMBERS TALK.
Come up with an easy way of communicating your RA joint pain. Try a numeric scale, from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst ever). You could say, “Today, I’m a 7 and can’t fix dinner. Can you?”