Health

Arthritis Sufferers Unite in Humor

A new Web site hopes humor and camaraderie will lighten the load for some of the 42 million Americans suffering arthritis. CreakyJoints.com is a sometimes irreverent, sometimes humorous site started by a former poster boy for the National Arthritis Foundation.

Seth Ginsberg, a college freshman who takes 12 pills a day for arthritis, says he hopes the site helps arthritis sufferers of all ages enjoy life despite the disease. CreakyJoints.com contains stories written by arthritis sufferers.

There's also a little dark humor from Creak, an arthritic dog with a foul mouth and a big heart. Other stories touch on a variety of topics, from drug side effects and sex with arthritis to over-the-counter drugs.

The free site, supported by advertising, will offer members an information database of products to make their lives easier and plans call for selling items directly on-site. Members also receive a weekly newsletter.

And the site encourages users to send their stories: "Write," it urges. "Tired of reading the insignificant pontifications of experts in your disease? So are we!"

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For proof over 40 isn't over the hill, check out Unmasking the Myths.