Let's Talk About It

Get candid with loved ones so they know what you’re dealing with.

- Camille Noe Pagán​​​​​

If you feel that your friends and family don’t understand how arthritis really affects you, you’re not alone. “Since other people can’t see my swollen joints or fused wrist, they sometimes expect things from me that I just can’t do,” says Cathy Welch, 58, who has had psoriatic arthritis since she was 19.

Not only are arthritis symptoms often invisible, but they can come and go. Some days, you may feel great and energetic; other days, you might be too tired or sore to be active. People who don’t have a chronic condition may not get how different your experience can