hi folks.
just back from appointment with my consultant, talked about how I am etc, etc. told him of usual aches and pains and location. one particular area getting worse I said was my spine. he then preceded to tell me me it's a matter for my doctor and not him. I asked why.he informed me it can't be Ra, because it's impossible to get RA in the spine.
in 30 years of having RA, that's news to me. has anyone else been told the same?
best wishes ivan.
It's not common, but yes it is possible. I have it. When I had a spinal block for lower extremity surgery the guy complained the joint space was very narrow due to the RA. Yet you can also have osteo in the spine. So either way you would have back pain. I've had RA for around 30 years also. I've had trouble with my neck also. That can all be verified by x-ray.
Hi Ivan
Sorry but I have never has a problem with my back so cannot
advise
Same thing, have back problems and my rheumy tells me that it is not RA that it is OA and degenerative disc desease (old age). She says you don't get RA in your back. Another interesting item, I can't go to a chiropractor either because they will not touch people that have RA.
Why no chiropractor?
I'm in the States so not sure in other areas. I really don't know they just said, you have RA? Sorry, we could hurt you more than help you. A couple of them told me that so I gave up. Do you go to one? I might just not tell them if others haven't had any problems getting an adjustment and just do it.
Be! I have it in mine. And neck. You need a second opinion. What's youre RF#?
IF you have blood test results it should be in there somewhere. Just wondering. I was diag. A week ago and its too late now. Have neurosurgery appt next month for surgery.
Problem with an RA joint is that it is inflammed and RA is systemic, so every cell that can be biopsied will show these inflamatory cells indicative of RA. If maneuvers are done on something inflammed, it can get more inflammed, and even damaged because everything is weakened. Now massage, working with muscles, that would be acceptible. Here's what I did. I got an upside down chair and just hang, letting gravity pull everything into alignment. It would cost about what a series of chiropractic adjustments would cost and you can use it indefinately.
Oops meant to say BS! And that and my knee are the only place I have it so far. Good luck!
But wear a neck collar when you do this, (if you have RA in your neck) so it stays stable.
Thanks for the info and advice Lynn! That makes sense. I do have massages and they help. I've been looking at those chairs. I had one in the mid 80's and I loved it, had no problems then and used it everyday.
I don't have it there yet, probably the only place I haven't had it but again good advice.
Hi
That is rubbish..I had surgery on my spine 3 years ago...on vertebrae c1-c3
My consultant told me that my Arthritis was compressing these vertebrae.
I had bone taken from my hip and placed in my spine at these points..pinned with metal screws...these were fused.
This procedure is known as axial Atlanto instability.
Get it checked out !!!
Hi
That is rubbish..I had surgery on my spine 3 years ago...on vertebrae c1-c2
My consultant told me that my Arthritis was compressing these vertebrae.
I had bone taken from my hip and placed in my spine at these points..pinned with metal screws...these were fused.
This procedure is known as axial Atlanto instability.
Get it checked out !!!
That's very similar to my diagnosis. I found out today, through xray only so far that I have DDD, SCIATICA, OSTEOARTHRITIS, AND BLOOD WAS+ for Rheumatoid arthritis.
Getting MRI next and have neurosurgery specialist appt. Plus rheumatologist. So painful! I feel for you
Fingers crossed for a good result..
I was signed off work for a year...collars...and had to keep mobility to a limit.
The strange thing was I had no pain what so ever.
Quite bizarre really as the severity of my diagnosis was dangerous.
No one is mentioning ankylosing spondylitis.?
thought that was similar to RA and definitely affects the back from what I ve read. Has your consultant looked into that?
We have a family friend that is a chiropractor. I will ask him. He used to treat me for my back. I remember having a stiff neck for 2 weeks and eventually headaches from it. I think that might have been the beginning of my RA. Wan't diagnosed at the time. I'm in the U.S. Too.
Interesting discussion as I have pain in my back. Lately my neck and jaw have been bad and giving me headaches. Going to follow thread for info. Thanks for posting.
Please people..if you are suffering with any upper body (neck..spine..jaw pain) get it checked out.
This AAI is very common in people with RA.
I did a lot of research into this condition and it seems that patients are not regularly checked for this.
I am speaking from experience..it could have been fatal for me..as there was so much movement in my spinal colum.
Don't want to scare anyone just need people to be aware.!!!!