Arthritis LIFE

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

02/16/2026

🎙On Episode 187 of the Arthritis Life Podcast, Emily Jacobs, a former Division 1 water polo player, ER nurse, and mom of three, who was diagnosed with RA at just 22, shares her diagnosis journey.

Emily opens up about:
💪 Transitioning from athlete to nurse to RA patient
🌙 Managing RA while working 12 hour night shifts
👶 Navigating pregnancy and postpartum flares
🌿 How cannabis has become part of her care plan
🧡 Why mental health support and community (like Rheum to THRIVE) have been game-changers

💜Listen to this episode now on your favorite podcast player, watch the video on YouTube, or go to the Arthritis Life Website for a full transcript, https://www.arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com.

💚A little love letter to this incredible arthritis community.🫶 I see your bravery. I see your grit. I see the invisible ...
02/12/2026

💚A little love letter to this incredible arthritis community.

🫶 I see your bravery. I see your grit. I see the invisible load you carry every day.

🌟 We are stronger together.

DisabilityAdvocacy

☺If you’re newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and perspective fro...
02/12/2026

☺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.

✅He explains how RA is diagnosed through patterns rather than a single test, as doctors listen closely to symptoms, examine joints, and use labs to support the bigger picture, including your lived experience.

🌟Dr. Birnbaum also addresses common early fears, including confusion about autoimmune disease and anxiety around immunosuppressive medications, reframing treatment as dialing down an overactive immune response rather than taking away your immune system.

📖Throughout the episode, he encourages self-advocacy, realistic hope, and partnership with your care team, and shares insights from his book “Living well with autoimmune diseases” A Rheumatologist's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health.

💜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.

🎙Listen to Episode 204 now on your favorite podcast player, watch the full video on YouTube, or go to the Arthritis Life website at https://www.arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com, for a full transcript.

02/09/2026

🎙On Episode 186 of The Arthritis Podcast, Cheryl sits down with 28-year-old personal trainer Zac Spinosa to discuss his powerful journey with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and macrophage activation syndrome.

✅Cheryl and Zac also discuss role of exercise in managing arthritis and strength training to enhance both health and quality of life.

💪This episode will leave you feeling energized and inspired to get moving!

👇Comment MOVE below, and I'll send you the episode.

02/08/2026

Things I love:
💙 People coming together to cheer for something
💚 Any excuse to make themed snacks
💙 Watching humans do incredible athletic feats

Things I don’t love:
🚫 Sports that don’t insist on concussion prevention in youth and adults
🚫 Professional sports orgs not admitting the medical condition CTE and its relation to head trauma in sports

With all that in mind, today I’m going to enjoy rooting for the and also be crossing fingers no one gets hurt during the game!

Anyone else watching, or are you more into the Puppy Bowl or Olympics? Let me know in the comments!

🏈 💙💚

02/04/2026

Here are three quick tips I use to reduce hand pain while caring for my dog:

✅ Hands free leash
✅ Harness closures that aren’t super hard to squeeze on and off
✅ Put food into a easier to open container than the standard dog food bag

Do you have any pet care tips? Drop them in the comments!

02/03/2026

✅ Rheum to THRIVE is not like other support group programs!

It includes:
💜 Educational modules you can go through at your own pace
💜 LIVE support group meetings where you’ll connect with a small, intimate cohort 💜 Facilitation by an OT who’s been living with RA for over 20 years
💜 An inclusive safe space for you to ask questions where you’ll feel seen and supported

‼️New cohorts start soon! Comment RHEUM for more information!

02/02/2026

Social media can build community… or burn you out 😅

In Episode 184, Cheryl and Gittel dive into what good social media use actually looks like and how to be mindful when it comes to using it. It’s a must-listen convo! ✨

Comment MINDFUL below for a link to the episode!

02/02/2026

Social media can build community… or burn you out 😅

In Episode 184, Cheryl and Gittel dive into what good social media use actually looks like and how to be mindful when it comes to using it. It’s a must-listen convo! ✨

Comment MINDFUL to listen to the full episode so you can start using social media mindfully now! 👇

If you’ve never been to the Arthritis Foundation Pathways Conference and you’re wondering, “Is it really worth it?” … my...
01/31/2026

If you’ve never been to the Arthritis Foundation Pathways Conference and you’re wondering, “Is it really worth it?” … my answer is a wholehearted yes.

At last year’s Pathways Conference, I learned how to advocate more confidently, stayed up-to-date on meaningful scientific advances, and (maybe most importantly) built genuine connections with people who understand life with arthritis.

I was deeply inspired by the fellow volunteers I connected with, and I left the event with new arthritis friends and a renewed sense of hope for the future of arthritis treatment and care.

Pathways 2026 is happening March 26–27 in my beloved hometown of Seattle, and I’d love to see more of this community in the room.

Curious? Please let me know if you’re on the fence, I’d love to answer your questions!

Learn more and sign up through the Arthritis Foundation website:

Arthritis.org/about-us/pathways

🎙In this compelling episode of the Arthritis Life Podcast, host Cheryl Crow welcomes Tori Martinez, a multi-talented art...
01/29/2026

🎙In this compelling episode of the Arthritis Life Podcast, host Cheryl Crow welcomes Tori Martinez, a multi-talented artist from rural Colorado who shares her journey navigating life with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic illnesses.

🎢Tori recounts her diagnosis story and the emotional rollercoaster that followed, including her initial relief at a fibromyalgia diagnosis and the subsequent grief when it evolved into rheumatoid arthritis.

🌟She emphasizes the importance of redefining healing and self-identity, especially in the context of cultural expectations.

✅Tori also highlights the vital role of creative expression, through painting and poetry, in coping with chronic illness and reclaiming parts of her life.

🎨Listeners will be inspired by her powerful poems, descriptions of her artistic adaptations, and advice for living a meaningful, purpose-driven life despite chronic health challenges.

💜This episode is particularly resonant for those recently diagnosed with RA and looking for ways to find healing and joy in their new reality.

👂🏻Listen to Episode 202 now on your favorite podcast player, watch the full video on YouTube, or go to The Arthritis Life Website, https://www.arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com, for a full transcript.

01/28/2026

😲Here's a really handy arthritis friendly tool designed by occupational therapist, EquipMeOt!

🙌This bendable hair scrubber and lotion applicator is great because:

✅It's arthritis friendly for stiff shoulders or fingers
✅Bendable
✅Dishwasher safe

What other helpful products do you like to use? Let me know in the comments!

Comment WOW below for a link to this product!

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