Arthritis LIFE

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

🔥 Team Heat or 🧊 Team Ice? The arthritis community has OPINIONS about this one! 😂As an occupational therapist who also l...
10/14/2026

🔥 Team Heat or 🧊 Team Ice? The arthritis community has OPINIONS about this one! 😂

As an occupational therapist who also lives with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis AND Raynaud’s, I’ve learned that the answer is…it depends!

My general rule of thumb:
🔥 Stiff, achy joints? I usually reach for heat.
🧊 Hot, swollen, tender joints? Cold may help (if it’s safe for you!).

But there’s no one-size-fits-all answer! Both heat and cold can provide temporary symptom relief, and your individual preferences and medical conditions matter.

In this collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation, I’m sharing the science behind heat and cold therapy, some of my favorite comfort tools, and important safety considerations, including why people with Raynaud’s need to be especially careful with cold.

💚 Are you Team Heat, Team Ice, or Team Both? Tell me in the comments!

10/12/2026

What does it really mean to thrive with arthritis? 💜

✅ In Episode 211 of The Arthritis Life Podcast, we’re reminded that it’s not about conquering every symptom, fighting your body, or waiting until life is “back to normal” to find happiness.

🫡It’s about embracing acceptance, learning to care for yourself, building resilience, and realizing you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

✨ Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up.

💜And sometimes, thriving means finding your people, sharing the journey, and facing whatever comes together.

Because we may not be able to prevent every challenge, but we don’t have to face them alone. 💛

Comment ACCEPTANCE below for a link to this episode!

10/09/2026

💜My favorite thing in the world is supporting and empowering newly diagnosed patients, and anyone who’s struggling to manage real life with rheumatic disease!

🫡That’s why I created the Rheum To THRIVE Program!

😊The next cohort starts on October 19th! Go to https://arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com/rheum-to-thrive/ for more information!

10/02/2026

My favorite part of my Rheum to THRIVE support group meetings is when people share their WINS, particularly when it comes to self advocacy!

Here are just a few examples from students or alumni:

✅ Switching doctors to one who really listens and is a better overall fit (this has happened with at least 3 students!)

✅ Communicating boundaries and precautions to friends and family members

✅ Using assistive devices and wearables without shame (rather than being afraid of being seen as “weak”)

You can join the next group which starts October 19th or start the self paced course!

I typically make some changes in between each cohort of Rheum to THRIVE based on participant feedback, and the waitlist is the first to know all the details including the program start date and schedule!

❤️Have any questions? Drop them in the comments or send me a DM!

rheumatoidsupport psoriaticarthritis ankylosingspondylitis chronicillnesssupport

❓Still wondering, “But what exactly is Rheum to THRIVE?” 👀We get it. Starting something new, especially when it involves...
09/30/2026

❓Still wondering, “But what exactly is Rheum to THRIVE?” 👀

We get it. Starting something new, especially when it involves sharing your chronic illness journey with other people, can come with a LOT of questions.

💬 Who is it for?
💬 What happens during the sessions?
💬 Do I have to share personal experiences?
💬 How often do we meet?
💬 What can I actually expect to get out of it?

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Rheum to THRIVE in this post. 💜

If you’ve been curious about joining a cohort but weren’t sure what to expect, start here!

And if you still have a question, drop it in the comments or send a DM. 👇

You can also comment SUPPORT for more information!

09/29/2026

It’s hard to believe I cured my rheumatoid arthritis through diet, exercise, & yoga…because I didn’t!

I need medications* to put my disease in remission, like the VAST majority of patients. In fact, RA meds are so safe and effective, it is unethical to perform a randomized control trial with an unmedicated control group, because you’d be denying patients with a progressive disease the change to slow down and stop disease progression.

*I also use lifestyle medicine ALONGSIDE medications. I prioritize exercise, sleep and anti inflammatory nutrition but these are not a substitute for disease modifying medications for me or the majority of patients.

In my Rheum to THRIVE program, we do a deep dive into all the evidence based ways to improve your quality of life and manage your disease, from medications to stress management to executive functioning skills.

And, it’s important to me that I help you have realistic expectations - lifestyle medicine is not going to be a substitute for medication for the vast majority of patients, and that’s ok! There’s no reason to feel guilty for taking meds.

Unfortunately there are WAY too many people out there trying to sell autoimmune patients quick fixes and “natural” cures, which sound safe but they’re not.

It’s time we stop the “either or” narrative of lifestyle OR medications. It’s a both-and!

Agree? Disagree? I’d love your thoughts in the comments!

- Cheryl Crow, occupational therapist, founder of Arthritis life and Rheum to THRIVE, RA patient for 20+ years

correctingmisinformation

Have you ever had a therapist or friend call you out in a way that makes you immediately uncomfortable…but you know deep...
09/27/2026

Have you ever had a therapist or friend call you out in a way that makes you immediately uncomfortable…but you know deep down they’re 100% correct?

Recently, my therapist and a few loved ones have helped me confront some uncomfortable truths about my people-pleasing tendencies.

Being kind, helpful and compassionate are some of my core values. AND sometimes, my desire to please other people has come at the expense of valuing my own time, communicating what I actually want, or holding a boundary when someone else doesn’t like it.

People-pleasing can be a recipe for resentment and burnout, especially when you’re living with chronic illness and your energy is already limited. Apparently, it’s time for me to practice what I preach in my support groups!

So lately I’ve been asking myself: How do I stay the warm, helpful person I genuinely want to be without making myself responsible for everyone else’s happiness?

And maybe even harder: Can I accept that I can be a good person AND still disappoint people sometimes?

😂 Apparently, this is a revolutionary concept to me.

Here are a few confessions from a recovering-ish people pleaser. If you’ve worked on this too, I’d love to hear what you’re learning!

09/27/2026

🌱Gardening with arthritis shouldn’t have to be a grip-strength workout, am I right?

As an occupational therapist living with hand pain from rheumatoid arthritis, I’m always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary gripping, squeezing and repetition.

💚 In this video, I’m sharing 4 gardening and lawn-care products that have all earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Certification.

My take-home message: save your hands for the things that actually matter! And remember: small design changes can make a BIG difference.

What gardening or yard-work task is hardest on your hands? Do you have any products or hacks that help? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: I do not have direct financial relationships with any of the products shown. I do have a paid contract with the Arthritis Foundation to create educational content, including this post about accessible design and products that have earned the Ease of Use Certification. Arthritis Foundation

Products featured:
🌱 Melnor RelaxGrip Multi-Pattern Short Watering Wand & Melnor RelaxGrip Rear Trigger Multi-Pattern Nozzle Melnor Inc | Lawn and Garden

🌱 IMAK Compression Arthritis Gloves Brownmed

🌱 Spruce W**d & Grass Killer with Power Wand Spruce .Ventures

Meet your October Rheum to THRIVE facilitators: Lauren & Cheryl! 💜 Lauren Huffman We’re both occupational therapists who...
09/25/2026

Meet your October Rheum to THRIVE facilitators: Lauren & Cheryl! 💜 Lauren Huffman

We’re both occupational therapists who also know firsthand what it’s like to live with rheumatic disease, and we’re so excited to bring our different personalities, perspectives, and strengths together for this group.

We are obsessed with creating a warm, supportive space where you can learn practical tools for living well with rheumatic disease, talk honestly about the hard stuff, celebrate the wins, and connect with people who truly get it.

The next Rheum to THRIVE support group runs October 19, 2026–February 2027, and registration is officially open!

There are currently 7 spots remaining. We cap each group at just 12 participants to keep the experience small, supportive, and interactive. Spots are available first come, first served.

💜 Comment “THRIVE” to learn more and I’ll send you the details!

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