My Life With Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis

I live with both fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, and the truth is, it’s not easy. I work a full-time job Monday through Friday as a scheduling specialist for a hospital. Most of my day is spent sitting in an office chair, looking at two computer screens, on the phone with patients, handling billing, scheduling, insurance approvals and denials, updating demographics, and collaborating with doctor’s offices. It’s fast-paced, high-pressure work that requires focus, problem-solving, and patience.

But the stress is constant, and stress makes my pain worse. Sitting still all day, not moving much, only adds to the stiffness in my joints and the aching in my muscles. By the time I clock out, the pain is often heightened to the point where I can barely think about anything else.

On my “good” days, I can still push through. The pain is always there, but I can manage it well enough to do my job, come home, cook dinner, maybe even laugh with my family. Thankfully, on some nights, my daughter helps with dinner so I can come home, take a hot shower, and rest through the pain. That simple act of support means more than words can describe.

But there are other days, those days when the pain is so unbearable and debilitating that I can’t do anything more than the bare minimum. Those are the days that break me down the most.

The Everyday Pain

Even on the days I get through my job without interruption, I am never pain-free. Rheumatoid arthritis makes my joints throb and stiffen, sometimes swelling so badly that typing, writing, or even picking up the phone feels like torture. Fibromyalgia adds another layer, muscle pain that feels like deep bruises, burning aches, and a bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of sleep ever eases. My neck and shoulders feel like I have been tortured. My legs ache and burn like fire.

I’ve gotten used to carrying this baseline pain with me everywhere. I can still get things done, still serve my patients, still put on a smile in meetings. But what people don’t see is that every single task comes with a cost. The pain never disappears. I just push through it, because I have no choice.

The Flare-Ups

Flare-ups are another story. They hit hard, sometimes without warning. When they do, it feels like my body has been taken hostage. Pins and needles shoot through my arms, legs, back, hands, and feet, sharp and stabbing, as if my whole body is buzzing with electricity. But instead of energy, it’s pure pain.

My skin becomes so sensitive that even the brush of clothing can feel unbearable. My joints swell and lock up, and the stiffness makes it difficult to move at all. And then there’s the fatigue, the kind that no nap or full night’s rest can fix. It’s so heavy that even when walking I feel like I'm carrying a brick.

By the end of the workweek, these flare-ups often leave me drained. I look forward to my weekends, but instead of being refreshing, they’re usually spent fighting through the aftermath of all the stress, tension, and hours of sitting still. I want to move around, enjoy my time off, but my body is stiff and screaming. It feels like fighting a losing battle.

How It Shapes My Life

Living with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis means my life has to be lived in constant balance. I never know what kind of day I’ll wake up to, whether I’ll have the strength to power through my work and enjoy a little of my evening, or whether I’ll be left completely drained and in too much pain to do anything.

I’ve had to cancel plans, miss out on family activities, and let people down, not because I wanted to, but because my body simply wouldn’t allow me to do otherwise. From the outside, I look like I’m just doing my job and living my life. But inside, I am carrying pain that most people could never imagine.

Finding My Strength

Even with all of this, I refuse to give up. I’ve learned to hold onto the better days, to laugh, to move, to find joy, even while hurting. On the worst days, I remind myself that flare-ups don’t last forever, and that tomorrow might bring some relief.

I try to give myself grace. To rest when I need to, without guilt. To count the small victories, like making it through another workweek, being able to laugh with my family, or having my daughter step in to make dinner so I can just collapse into the shower and the couch and then bed. Those little moments may seem small to others, but to me, they mean everything.

To Anyone Who Knows This Pain

If you’re reading this and you live with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or both, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You know the stabbing pins and needles, the swelling joints, the bone-deep exhaustion. You know what it’s like to feel like a prisoner in your own body.

But I also know the strength it takes to show up at work, to keep pushing through, to smile when your body is screaming. If you’re living this life, you are not alone. I see you, I feel what you feel, and I know how heavy it can be.

This is my life with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, hard, painful, and unpredictable. But even in the middle of pain, I still find reasons to keep going. My body may fight me every day, but I’m still here, still working, still living. And if you’re walking this road too, I hope you know,

I’m walking it with you.