5 Reasons Your RA Isn’t Improving

You take pride in your strength.  Sometimes, even if the joint stiffness is severe, you try to hide it. You try to mask it. You ‘suck it up,’ put on a brave face, and go on your way. Fatigue, tenderness, swelling – you know it all, all too well. If any of this reminds you of your battle with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’re not alone.  Caused by an autoimmune condition, RA is the most common inflammatory arthritis among Black folks, and is more likely to affect them than whites and Asians. These findings are made even more concerning by the fact that the research overwhelmingly focuses on white people. In other words, the Black community is vastly underrepresented in the medical literature – and it shows. If your symptoms of RA aren’t improving, this may be a reason why. Doctors simply don’t know how to treat you!  Here are five reasons your RA is staying the same or getting worse… 1. Medical Biases According to the Arthritis Foundation, Black men and women with RA are significantly less likely to get pain medicine than white patients. Now, if we’re being honest, this issue can go both ways. Sometimes, you just don’t...