Why I’ll never be a hand model… #TylenolArthritis

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arthritis

I’m not sure how old I was when my fingers started hurting…or my toes…my hips, my pelvic bone…and that one pesky rib!

My hips I guess were an issue all to themselves. A rare disorder had me under the doctor’s knife at 20…followed by wheelchair, walker, crutches and cane…until I could finally motor around on my own.

But the other stuff…it’s just always kinda been there. Numerous breaks in my toes didn’t help matters at all…and that pelvic bone wasn’t meant to apparently birth so many babes! There’s this dull ache that from time to time, usually completely related to the weather, turns into a much bigger pain in the butt!

(I wonder if you can get arthritis in your butt?)

Anyway, it’s mostly my fingers…the knuckles on the side…the softest touch can send me over the edge and a quick knock on the corner of a table can bring me to my knees.

In my twenties, I went on a medication that was a MIRACLE DRUG! Everything stopped hurting. But, unfortunately for me, it was pulled off the market as it caused too many side effects in others. As I ran out of the pills, within days…crap started to hurt again.

Stuff I didn’t know was even an issue before I’d started on the meds…which was how I’d discovered that one pesky rib!

So, I went on another medication and sadly, that one raised my blood pressure and I was quickly taken off.

At 30, I stood in front of the doctor and with joint pain that flares up only a few times per year…we decided it was best if I wasn’t on a medication every day…if I tried instead, to monitor things with over-the-counter drugs.

Through my thirties, I cross stitched! Call me crazy but when my fingers start hurting, the best thing to do for me is to keep them moving…stopping causes them to seize up. I wake in the morning with my hands curled into my chest, taking fifteen minutes at least to uncurl my fingers and motivate them to move again. In my late thirties, I wrote a book in the span of two weeks during humid summer temps…just to pound on the keys of the keyboard in order to keep my fingers moving.

Through my forties…I continued to type. My friend Carolyn has been known to massage my hands in a pub once or twice and there’s nothing like sinking your sore hands into a hot sink-full of water.

A few years ago, I discovered Tylenol Arthritis ® (gentle on the stomach, fast and long-lasting relief that doesn’t effect kidney function the way some pain meds can)…in fact, there’s a bottle by my bedside table, one in the bathroom, one by the microwave and yet another…on my office desk. And, no kidding, there’s a bottle on the door of my car. When things flare up, there’s simply no point waiting as it will only get worse. Tylenol Arthritis is all I need…for a couple of days, until things settle down again.

Joint pain is part of my life. At times, it renders me a little bit useless but for the most part, I’m ok. I can’t imagine it worse than it is but for some, the pain must be unbearable at times.

Check out the infographic from Tylenol…showing the numerous symptoms and treatments. By 2031, it’s expected that around seven million Canadians will have arthritis! I guess I’ll be in good company.

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I deal with arthritis from time to time…and for me, Tylenol Arthritis does the trick!

36 Replies to “Why I’ll never be a hand model… #TylenolArthritis”

  2. The inforgraphic statistics seemed high until I started to think about those around me – its everywhere – everyone I know is effected in someway sadly. I think the overall infographic was really informative. Thanks for posting it.

  3. You could totally be a hand model. Maybe for Tylenol Arthritis, even.

    But they’d be missing out on the rest of your beauty and your happy friendly smile. 😉

    I’m surprised by the 6% stat about hospitalizations. Whoa!

    The autoimmune fact, however, not surprising at all. *harumphs* StOOpid autoimmune disease.

  4. I’m surprised by the $33 Billion price tag we pay each year! That’s shocking… I actually learned a lot from that infographic.

  5. Great info! I have many family members that live with arthritis, hopefully one day this will be cured!

  6. There are lots of people for sure…it is still hard to live with. I get it in my fingers too once in a while…Rheumatoid. I’m all about the drugs! If it works, go for it!

  7. I had no idea it affected 1 in 6 canadians older than 15. Well, reported anyway. but holy!

  9. Years of working with physically disabled adults has left me with many painful joints. The wear and tear on these joints can never be repaired, but the pain can be managed…. I also carry a huge bottle of the Tylenol Arthritis in my purse. I don’t leave home without it. Ever!!

  17. I am surprised that 1 in 6 Canadians over 15 have it. My Mom has trouble walking because of arthritis.

  22. I found it interesting that more than 6% of all hospitalizations are thought to be related to arthritis. As our population ages I’m sure this number will increase!

  32. It’s incredible to me, and a little scary that one million Canadians have Arthritis.

  33. Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis in Canada. I found it interesting to know that this form of arthritis affects 10 percent of Canadians.