| Myth #1: "Nothing can be done about arthritis..." | | | | Myth # 5: "I'll never get arthritis..." |
| You don't have to put up with arthritis. Now more than | | | | Seventy million people in the United States (25% of the |
| ever, there are excellent medicines that can not only | | | | population) suffer from arthritis!" Also, arthritis strikes |
| treat the symptoms but also, in many cases, get the | | | | 750,000 new people a year. More than 97% of people |
| disease into remission. Arthritis when diagnosed and | | | | over 50 will get arthritis. Just because you don't have |
| treated properly can be controlled. | | | | symptoms now doesn't mean you won't get |
| Myth #2: "It's all due to getting old..." | | | | symptoms soon. |
| Arthritis affects all age groups. Arthritis can even | | | | Myth # 6: It's just aches and pains... Nothing I can't live |
| affect children. Three out of every 5 people with | | | | with... |
| arthritis are younger than 65 years! | | | | Arthritis is the #1 cause of loss of personal freedom. |
| Myth #3: "If I wait, it'll go away..." | | | | More than 100,000 Americans can't walk independently |
| Six million Americans believe they have arthritis but | | | | from their bed to the bathroom because of arthritis. |
| have never seen a physician! A proper diagnosis and | | | | Ten million Americans are limited in their daily activities |
| treatment are important! Who doesn't want to see | | | | because of arthritis. Arthritis is the: |
| their children graduate or play with their grandchildren? | | | | * leading cause of physician visits in adults over 65 |
| It's a choice many Americans make every day. | | | | * most common chronic disease |
| Myth #4: "Arthritis medicines have too many | | | | * most common cause of crippling |
| side-effects..." | | | | * most common cause of impairment and functional |
| Yes... Many of these medicines do have potential | | | | limitation in adults |
| side-effects! Witness the latest flap over the COX 2 | | | | Myth # 7: "My doctor can take care of arthritis..." |
| drugs. But...When properly monitored by an arthritis | | | | Unless your physician is a rheumatologist who remains |
| specialist, the chances for severe side-effects are | | | | active on the cutting edge of new research, there is |
| much much lower! Let's face it... any medicine you take | | | | no way he or she can "take care" of this condition. |
| has potential side-effects. What you and your | | | | There has been a literal explosion of new treatments |
| physician have to determine is this: Are the potential | | | | in the last three years. These treatments can make |
| side-effects- which by the way are relatively | | | | the difference between a life filled with joy and a life |
| uncommon despite what the media would have you | | | | filled with dread. |
| believe- worth my quality of life? | | | | |