Ok, so how many people are in love with the new Humira and Enbrel commercials? Don’t be afraid to raise your hand, now. For those of you still staring blankly at the screen (or with TiVo and haven’t seen a commercial in quite a while, watch some TV; you really can’t miss them). I see one every time I plop in front of the tube.
Why do I enjoy these commercials so much, might you ask? Because they put RA in the spotlight! These advertisements tell the general public a little about rheumatoid arthritis. These ads show that RA is a disease the erodes the joint; that it isn’t the same as arthritis; that it can’t just be solved by popping an Advil.
I’ll high-five the makers of those commercials if I ever meet them. And, yes, I know that aren’t out there to inform but to sell. But still, props to Abbott and Amgen (the makers of Humira and Enbrel) for the ads. I’m digging them.
Now there are a few problems with the ads, of course. The actors in them tend to be on the older side, while RA can develop at any age:
“Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but most often appears first between the ages of 25 and 50″ (Milton S. Hershey Medical Center).
But these ads do tell people the most important thing about RA: it causes joint erosion, and you can’t ignore that:
“As your disease progresses, your X-rays can show small holes or erosions near the ends of bones and narrowing of the joint space due to loss of cartilage” (Arthritis Foundation).
So whether or not you can see or feel the damage, it is there, and it is important that you actively treat it:
“Just a few years ago, your doctor might have only prescribed an over-the-counter pain reliever, like an analgesic or non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), until you experienced increased disease progression. Now, with the improvement of available medications, doctors know that they have to be more aggressive early on in order to prevent severe deformity and joint erosion” (Arthritis Foundation).
Biologics such as Enbrel and Humira work to prevent joint erosion (see my post “Shooting up the good stuff”). For people who are able to take them, biologics can help keep your joints in good shape and keep you from having to have surgery or ending up in a wheelchair.
Until next time,
S.P.
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