How many of these incredible people do you know? I’m going to share the names of some chronic illness bloggers that I believe are making a big impact on the chronic pain community.

And by the end of this post, you’ll discover that every one of them has accomplished so much despite living with a chronic disease. Ready? Let’s dive in!

#1: Mariah Leach

Mariah is a busy wife and mom of 2 who lives with rheumatoid arthritis. Before her diagnosis, she was a dual graduate student pursuing a law degree and a master’s degree in environmental policy. She received her diagnosis at 25 when she sought medical advice because she experienced pain and swelling in her joints.

She started her blog in 2008 to write about her life with RA and didn’t let RA hold her back from accomplishing her goals. She completed her degrees and now works to raise arthritis awareness and fundraising for a cure. I like her blog because she’s down to earth, honest and open about her struggles.

You can learn more about Mariah here.

#2: Effie Koliopoulos

Effie has been on a rollercoaster of pain for most of her life. She noticed stiffness in her hands in her early teens, was told that nothing seemed wrong and that she was otherwise healthy. But that wasn’t the case because she received her juvenile rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in her mid-teens. She also had a knee replacement in her late 20s.

But for all that she has been through and doctors giving her the brush off, she has become a loud voice and advocate in the arthritis community. Her posts contain valuable insights and helpful information for people living with RA. You’ll also love her sense of humor, which I find admirable.

You can learn more about Effie here.

#3: Eileen Davidson

Eileen is a young single mother who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but she hasn’t let her disease define who she is. Her blog is full of very informative arthritis research and blog articles on self care, parenting, and mental health. She is also a regular contributor to the website Creaky Joints, a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers.

I really like that Eileen makes self care a priority of her pain management routine. She hopes that her blog inspires people to take the steps to live a healthier existence.

You can learn more about Eileen here.

#4: Grayston|Kirsten of Notstandingstilldisease

Grayson has been living with multiple chronic illnesses since 2003 and with his blog aims to help people navigate their way through life with any disability. He helps people newly diagnosed with a chronic condition and started blogging in 2009 to learn more about his health.

I really like the resource page on Grayson’s site because he has a wonderful collection of external links on sites such as self love and sex and relationships. His blog has been recognized as one of the best blogs on RA and fibromyalgia for the last couple of years.

You can learn more about Grayson here.

#5: Shelley of Chronicmom

Shelley is a freelance writer diagnosed in 2011 with fibromyalgia after many years of trying to figure out the cause of her pain. Eventually, she learned she also had Lyme disease. She started her blog in 2009 after her frustration of dealing with medical professionals that couldn’t provide the help she was searching for.

Her blog covers various topics such as coping, chronic illness, and mental health. Her posts are easy to read and straight forward. If you’re someone living with fibromyalgia, I’d recommend visiting her blog as she has written helpful posts on this chronic disease.

You can learn more about Shelley here.

Conclusion

As you can see from these great influencers, it’s important to keep moving forward despite the struggles of your chronic disease. Chronic disease doesn’t have to define you. It’s a choice. Which side will you choose?

Please share this post with a friend if you found it helpful!