Angela Dorris

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

One of the biggest misconceptions about disability and chronic illness is that rest has to be "earned" after you've pushed yourself to the limit.

For millions of people, rest is part of managing a medical condition. It's how they recover from flares, conserve energy, reduce pain, and make it possible to show up for the moments that matter most.

Productivity isn't the measure of a person's worth. Your body doesn't need permission to ask for what it needs.

This Disability Pride Month, let's normalize something that should never have been controversial: rest is a medical need, not a luxury.

If someone in your life needs more rest than you do, believe them. Support them. And if you're the one who needed this reminder today, know that taking care of yourself is never something you have to earn.

#DisabilityPrideMonth #DisabilityPride #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #InvisibleDisability #Accessibility #SpoonieCommunity

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

📢 The @FDA is deciding what comes next as COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorizations are phased out.

If you're immunocompromised, or care about someone who is, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Ask FDA to establish a timely regulatory pathway that avoids unnecessary gaps in access to COVID-19 preventive therapies for vulnerable patients.

🎧 Tune in and learn more: https://t.co/ZuNJ8r1tdO

#PatientAdvocacy #COVID19 #FDA #Immunocompromised

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Weekend reminder:

For many people living with chronic illness or a disability, canceling plans isn't about not wanting to go—it's about recognizing when their body needs something different.

A few reminders:

• Symptoms don't follow a calendar.
• Rest is healthcare.
• Protecting your health isn't letting people down.
• Canceling plans isn't selfish.
Give yourself permission to choose your health this weekend. 💜
#DisabilityPrideMonth #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #Accessibility

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

For too long, mobility aids have been seen as something to hide.

The truth?

• A cane can mean less pain.
• A wheelchair can mean more freedom.
• A walker can mean greater confidence.
• A brace can mean staying active.
Mobility aids don't represent failure. They remove barriers and help people participate more fully in everyday life.
This Disability Pride Month, let's replace stigma with understanding.
Using a mobility aid is freedom. Not failure. 💜

#DisabilityPrideMonth #Accessibility #MobilityAids #Disability #ChronicIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

New episode of Healthcare Matters: The 340B Program & Hospital Charity Care - What Patients Should Know

@PopovianPharmD and @AngelaDegrassi discuss the 340B program, hospital transparency, charity care, and whether drug discounts are reaching vulnerable patients.

Listen now: https://t.co/FjjOPIiRkQ

#HealthcareMatters #340B #PatientAccess #DrugAffordability

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Today is #WorldSjögrensDay.

Sjögren's disease is often mistaken for "just" dry eyes or dry mouth. In reality, it's a serious, systemic autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, lungs, kidneys, nervous system, and other organs.

Because its symptoms can be misunderstood or overlooked, many people spend years searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis.

Today, we're proud to stand with the @sjogrensorg community by raising awareness, challenging misconceptions, and helping more people recognize the signs of this often invisible disease.

Learn. Share. Help someone get closer to answers. 💙

#SjögrensDisease #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #PatientAdvocacy

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Summer can be more complicated when you're living with rheumatoid arthritis.

It's not just the heat.

☀️ Heat and humidity may leave some people feeling more fatigued or increase joint discomfort.
💊 Some RA medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
💧 Dehydration can make it harder for your body to regulate temperature.
🌫️ Wildfire smoke and poor air quality can make spending time outdoors more challenging.
The good news? Small adjustments—like staying hydrated, protecting your skin, checking the AQI before heading outside, and planning outdoor activities during cooler hours—can help you enjoy the season more comfortably.

How does summer affect your RA?
#RheumatoidArthritis #Arthritis #AutoimmuneDisease #SummerHealth #ChronicIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Millions of Americans live with osteoarthritis, yet right now, our treatment options are frustratingly few. But what if we could change that?

Your voice—by contacting your elected representatives—can help spark the innovation people living with osteoarthritis deserve.

When was the last time you felt empowered to shape healthcare? Now's your chance.

🗣️ Make your voice heard via the link in our bio or visit: https://t.co/XwsYaROISD

#Osteoarthritis #Arthritis #ArthritisAdvocacy #HealthcareAdvocacy #PatientAdvocacy

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Support shouldn't begin at a crisis.

Everyone deserves to be believed, respected, and have access to timely care, accommodations, and accessibility—before reaching their breaking point.

💜 #DisabilityPrideMonth #ChronicIllness #PatientVoice #Accessibility

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

After living with rheumatoid arthritis for more than a decade, Shelley developed painful sores that would not heal — leading to new specialists, treatment changes, and questions about whether another diagnosis was involved.

While waiting for answers, she documented her symptoms with photos, tracking, and written questions for her doctors.

When symptoms do not show up during an appointment, that record can help tell the fuller story.

Read more:
https://t.co/gOJwOfS1cc

🖋️ @shelley_fritz1
#RheumatoidArthritis #Arthritis #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Every person living with a disability has a different story.

Some conditions are visible. Others aren't. Some people use mobility aids every day, while others only need them occasionally. Symptoms can change from one hour to the next, and no two experiences are exactly alike.

That's why assumptions can be so harmful. We don't need to compare disabilities, question whether someone is "disabled enough," or expect people to justify the accommodations they need.

Building a more inclusive world starts with something surprisingly simple: believing people when they tell us about their lived experiences, making room for different needs, and recognizing that accessibility benefits everyone.

The goal isn't to know every diagnosis or understand every symptom. It's to create a culture where people are treated with dignity, believed without interrogation, and included without conditions.

#DisabilityAwareness #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Remember:

Your body isn’t a reflection of your effort. Be gentle with yourself.

You can rest, hydrate, pace yourself, and still have a flare. That’s not failure. That’s the reality of living with a chronic illness. 💙

#ChronicIllness #Arthritis #FlareUps

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Measles. Food recalls. COVID-19. Wildfire smoke.

Different threats, same reality: public health affects all of us — but especially people living with chronic illness.

What should patients and caregivers know right now? We break it down on the latest episode of The Health Advocates.

🎧 Watch: https://t.co/0D8yN4t52z

#PublicHealth #ChronicIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Maybe it took months or years. Maybe you’re still figuring it out. Every TED journey looks different.

Drop your letter below — and tell us more if you’d like. 👇

#ThyroidEyeDisease #TEDAwareness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

We want to hear from our patient community: How has shingles affected you or someone you care about? What questions or concerns do you have about shingles or the shingles vaccine? What do you wish you had known sooner? Share only what you’re comfortable posting publicly.
#Shingles

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

argenx announced positive topline results from its Phase 3 ALKIVIA study of efgartigimod in autoimmune myositis.

There is still more data to come and a regulatory process ahead. But new science in a disease with significant unmet need deserves attention, particularly when it may help us better understand muscle strength, physical function, steroid use, and what meaningful improvement can look like for patients.

We’ll keep following the research, listening to people living with myositis, and asking the question we always ask: what does this mean in real life?

See the official announcement here: https://t.co/DovgGqTU4b

#myositis #myositiscommunity

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

A weekend reminder for anyone living with chronic illness — and the people who love them. ❤️‍🩹

✨ Canceling plans isn’t being flaky.
🛌 Resting isn’t being lazy.
🫶 Looking “okay” doesn’t mean feeling okay.
🧠 Even making plans can take energy.
💛 A slow, simple hang still counts.
🚫 Guilt doesn’t make canceling any easier.
💌 And please, keep inviting us — even when we can’t always say yes.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is make it easy for someone to say yes and safe for them to say no.

What would you add to this list? 👇

#ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Good intentions matter. So does autonomy.

Not every disabled person needs help. Not every disability is visible. And you can’t always know what someone needs just by looking at them.

When in doubt, ask. 💙

What do you wish more people understood about offering support?

#DisabilityAwareness #InvisibleDisability

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

A heat wave can be especially tough when you’re living with arthritis. 🌡️

A few ways to make hot days more manageable:

💧 Hydrate throughout the day
⏰ Save outdoor activities for cooler hours
❄️ Take cooling breaks before you feel overheated
🏠 Move exercise indoors when possible
👕 Wear lightweight, breathable clothing
😴 Give yourself permission to slow down and rest

And remember: extreme heat isn’t the time to push through just to keep your usual routine.

What helps you manage arthritis on really hot days?
#Arthritis #ChronicIllness #HeatWave

[CreakyJoints.org @CreakyJoints]

Living with knee osteoarthritis can affect every part of daily life.

Tell Congress why patients need continued research, innovation, and meaningful new treatment options.

Send your letter today:
https://t.co/XwsYaROISD

#Osteoarthritis #KneeOsteoarthritis #ArthritisAdvocacy #PatientAdvocacy