Arthritis Life

Five Things I Wish I had Known when I was Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Episode Summary

Cheryl Crow shares the five things she wishes she had known when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 21.

Episode Notes

Cheryl explains how rheumatoid arthritis affects more than just joints - it affects people’s whole bodies, and whole lives!

She also explores how she learned to tolerate gray areas rather than seeking black and white answers, and how mindfulness and acceptance helped her with the mental side of life with chronic illness.

This episode also includes a discussion about medical gaslighting, and how Cheryl learned to give herself permission to grieve her diagnosis.

It concludes with a discussion about how managing one’s rheumatoid arthritis is like a full time job. 

Episode breakdown:

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.

Episode Sponsor

Rheum to THRIVE, an empowerment program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Learn more here

Speaker Bio:

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 discussed in this episode: