[Disclaimer: I was not compensated to do this post. Also, I am not a doctor and I have no experience with the mentioned drug. If you are considering trying this drug, please discuss with your doctor and ensure that you obtain official product and safety information. Thank you.]
Hi everyone! I don’t usually relate to ads for arthritis drugs (since they never show young persons), but today I want to speak about a commercial which touched me the first time I saw it. It is for the new Rheumatoid Arthritis drug, Xeljanz, and you can view the ad below:
The spot starts off with the narrator saying “Arms were made for hugging. Hands, for holding. Feet, kicking…better things than the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis…” I remember the first time I saw this ad on television. Even before I knew it was an ad for an RA drug, those words and images of joints “in real life” resonated with me. If you’ve had autoimmune arthritis for some time, then you know how meaningful a hug can be on a painful day. If you have a special guy to hold your hand, somehow the pain lessens and arthritis takes a backseat as life in all its beauty takes over. Sometimes just playing with your puppy can make the day so much brighter.
I’ve always found it amazing that our arthritis-affected joints are capable of so much. Most of us know what it’s like to have to walk on a swollen ankle or write an exam with painful wrists. If we are diagnosed during childhood, then our affected hands, feet, hips etc. are present during every stage of life onward. From playing at school, hugging friends and family, to dating, first-kisses and hand-holding, to learning to drive, to jobs and marriage, our joints are right there with us, pain or no pain. I love watching the photos from the Show Us Your Hands project, because every picture tells such a beautiful story of strength, hope, determination for life, creativity, style and very often, love.
I agree with the first lines of the ad: our joints were meant for more than feeling pain and stiffness. There is more to life than arthritis and we all deserve amazing and full lives. So even with the pain, let’s freely give our (gentle) hugs and hold hands with our loved ones when we can.
Hope you’re all enjoying your summers, 🙂
Hugs! 😉
Ms. Rainbow
RArainbow 
July 4, 2013 at 12:29 am
Aww what a great post. It’s amazing what a little affection will do. Anything that brings a little happiness, decreases pain a little. Laughing helps, your significant other being there when you’re in pain (although mine never was so I wouldn’t know! Haha). The RA commercials always made me mad as well. Usually never younger people like you said but also rarely do they ashore anyone with actual deformities. I always thought I’d be great for an RA medication commercial! Haha I love the show us your hands also. I was in the last one! 🙂 it’s such a great idea so I had to send a photo in of my deformed hand holding my daughters perfect little hand like on my blog. Great entry. I need to do one. I’ve been so busy, I’m slacking! Thanks for a great blog as usual! Hope you’re feeling well. Wish we lived closer. 😛
July 4, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Aw thanks so much Julie. 🙂 Great point about the deformities. RA is such an aggressive disease and so many of us do get deformities or fusion – and still carry on with life too. I think if the ads showed that, the public would get a deeper insight into RA and also become more accepting of body differences in general. I think you’d be perfect for an RA commercial too haha, or even better, an awareness video. 🙂 I saw the picture on your site…I love it, soo precious and so touching! Hope you’re well too and that the diet is helping. And don’t worry about slacking…sometimes it’s good to take a break! Take care 🙂