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Community of people living with arthritis & rheumatic disease 🦴 est 1999.
➡️ En español - @creakyjoints_esp
🦸 For beauty pros - @ghlf_heroes

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Living with autoimmune disease or inflammatory arthritis can be confusing. Sometimes lab results come back “normal,” even when symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, brain fog, and flares are very real.

Blood tests are just one piece of the diagnostic puzzle. Many people with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions experience significant symptoms even when markers don’t fully reflect what’s happening in the body.

For patients, the experience of living with the disease matters just as much as the numbers on a test.

#AutoimmuneDisease #ArthritisAwareness #ChronicIllness by @creaky_joints

$What you see is only a fraction of what’s actually felt—physically and emotionally. Pushing through, staying “positive,” and showing up can come at the cost of being fully honest about how hard it really is. If this resonates, you’re not alone and your experience is valid. #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealth by @creaky_joints$

Living with Arthritis is a huge challenge and one of the hardest parts is not knowing what version of yourself you’ll get today, I hope if you’re seeing this today is a good day for you. #arthritis by @creaky_joints

And we’re only two days in. 😭

All jokes aside, sometimes admitting you’re not doing well takes more courage than people realize.

For those living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or invisible disabilities, answering a simple “How are you?” isn’t always so simple.

Sometimes you’re exhausted from managing symptoms. Sometimes you’re in the middle of a flare-up. And sometimes you just don’t have the energy to explain what you’re going through, especially when you feel like you have to convince others that you’re struggling.

It’s easy to say “I’m fine.” Being honest can feel a lot harder.

So here’s a reminder as we head into another month: You don’t have to pretend you’re doing okay just to make other people comfortable. And when someone does open up about how they’re feeling, listening without judgment can mean more than you know.

💜 To anyone who’s been holding a lot together lately, we hope November brings you a little more breathing room.

#ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #LivingWithChronicIllness by @creaky_joints

Living life on your terms starts with understanding the health risks that could get in the way.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is often associated with infants and young children, but it can also cause serious illness in adults, particularly older adults and those living with certain chronic conditions.

For people managing asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease, an RSV infection can lead to complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, or worsening symptoms of an existing condition.

And the impact doesn’t always end when the infection does. Recovering from a respiratory illness while managing a chronic condition can bring additional challenges, from disrupted daily routines to difficulties managing existing symptoms.

💜 This Global RSV Awareness Week, we’re supporting the #MeNotRSV campaign to remind our community that protecting your health is also about protecting your independence, your well-being, and your ability to keep doing the things that matter to you.

Understanding your personal risk is an important first step.

Talk to your healthcare professional about RSV, ways to reduce your risk, and whether RSV vaccination is recommended for you.

#RSVAwarenessWeek #MeNotRSV #RSV #ChronicIllness by @creaky_joints

Go off, chronic pain & co💀🎃

Nothing like making weekend plans and having your chronic illness symptoms decide they’re coming too. 🫠

For people living with chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and other chronic conditions, flare-ups don’t exactly check the calendar before showing up.

One day, you’re feeling well enough to make plans. The next, you’re dealing with fatigue, pain, brain fog, or symptoms that make even getting out of bed feel like a challenge.

And sometimes the hardest part isn’t just the physical discomfort. It’s the disappointment of missing out, the guilt of canceling, and the pressure to explain why you can’t just push through.

👻 Here’s your reminder: Resting during a flare-up isn’t being lazy. And needing to change your plans doesn’t make you unreliable.

#ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #Halloween #flareups by @creaky_joints

It’s honestly spooky. For people living with chronic illness, some of the scariest experiences have nothing to do with the supernatural.

🎃 Chronic conditions can affect far more than physical health. They can change how someone navigates relationships, makes plans, manages their energy, and participates in everyday life.

And while symptoms aren’t always visible, their impact can be very real.

🕸️ Living with chronic pain and other long-term conditions can also mean navigating social isolation, disrupted sleep, and mental health challenges. Having a strong support system and feeling heard can make a meaningful difference.

🧡 So this Halloween, here’s something worth remembering: You don’t have to fully understand someone’s experience to take it seriously.

Sometimes support looks like checking in without expecting an immediate response, keeping someone included even when they can’t show up, or simply asking what would make things easier.

💬 What’s one thing you wish more people understood about living with chronic illness? We’d love to hear from you.

#ChronicIllnessAwareness #InvisibleIllness #Halloween by @creaky_joints

🌍 29 October is World Psoriasis Day⁠
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This year's theme — Look Beyond My Skin — aims to empower young people and encourage them to speak openly about their psoriasis experience. ⁠
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Eliza Spencer was two years old when she was diagnosed with psoriasis and eczema, but she wasn't referred to a dermatologist until she was 25. In this video, Eliza shares how advanced treatments suppressed her conditions and helped her live life with confidence and hope for her future.⁠
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By sharing Eliza's story, we aim to raise awareness of the unique challenges young people with psoriasis face and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to improve their quality of life.⁠
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To watch the full video, click the linkin.bio⁠
For more psoriasis resources visit ghlf.org.au/psoriasis⁠ by @creaky_joints

Sometimes the most important clue is the one you almost don't mention. 👀
Melissa was focused on her pain, fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. Then one morning she noticed a little dryness and brought it up in passing. To her doctors, that small detail was a big deal, and it helped lead to her Sjögren's diagnosis.
Your takeaway: tell your doctor about every symptom, even the ones that seem minor. Melissa shares more of her story across all three episodes of The Sjö, the new podcast from CreakyJoints.
🎧 Learn more via the link in bio or go to: creakyjoints.org/sjogrens
#SjögrensDisease #Sjögrens #DryEyes #DryMouth #ChronicIllness #Autoimmune #PatientVoices by @creaky_joints

When you live with chronic illness, sometimes the hardest part isn’t just managing the symptoms — it’s managing everything they can take you away from.

Plans canceled. Birthdays missed. Trips cut short. Work days lost. Nights out you were looking forward to. And sometimes having to say “I can’t make it” when you desperately wish you could.

After a while, you honestly lose count.

If chronic illness has made you miss something important, you’re definitely not alone. What’s one thing you wish people understood about having to cancel because of your health?

#ChronicIllness #ChronicPain by @creaky_joints

What does it mean to become an Alzheimer’s patient before you have noticeable symptoms?

That question is increasingly moving from the theoretical to the practical.

We were in London for the 2026 World Dementia Council Summit, where global leaders are discussing how earlier diagnosis, new treatments, brain health, biomarkers, AI, and other advances are reshaping dementia care.

On a new episode of #TheHealthAdvocates, we explore what this new era could mean for patients, families, and the health systems responsible for supporting them.

Because scientific progress is only the beginning. The next challenge is making sure patients can benefit from it.

🎧 Listen at the link in bio or go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryzoedBz3c

#Dementia #Alzheimers #BrainHealth #PatientAdvocacy #HealthPolicy by @creaky_joints

Before her Sjögren's diagnosis, @autoimmuneauntie spent a long time searching for answers. What she needed most was for someone to tell her it wasn't all in her head.
If you're living with Sjögren's or still looking for answers, you're not alone. The new podcast from CreakyJoints, The Sjö, has the answers you need to hear, from people who truly get it.

🎧 Learn more and listen now via link in bio or go to: creakyjoints.org/sjogrens
#SjögrensDisease #Sjögrens #ChronicIllness #Autoimmune #PatientVoices by @creaky_joints

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