Comments on: Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect the Spine?

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:27:38 +0000

Hi Ashlie,
The first thing I’d recommend is the RA Map on the menu at the top of the page. There are a lot of general questions addressed there. I was like you with exercise, healtful living, etc. I also refused meds – even for years for the thyroid disease I’ve had since age 15. It was a long journey. From what I know about RA, there are not any diet or excercise programs or herbs that can fight the disease. We can & should be as healthy as we can, as I’ve written in several places on this site, but if it’s full-blown RA and turns out to not be a rare mild case, then seeing a good rheumatologist & deciding with him/ her about treatment, is the best way to go. I never heard that BC can help RA, but most patients are forced to use it anyway, because of the other medications.

I hope that helps some – continue to read what’s here – about 650 pages right now – and feel free to post comments & questions. You can use the Tags list to find topics you need.

By: Ashlie

Ashlie — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:51:12 +0000

Thank you for putting all of this information together. I was so happy to have found your website. I have been recently diagnosed with RA…I’m 27, I’m not overweight and I was running 36 miles a week before having my most recent baby who is 5 months old. It certainly affects the spine. After my first baby I had consistent pain in my back and I thought it was from the Epidural. Come to find out it was one of the earlier signs of RA. I am just starting out in the RA so I have no idea how to live with this. I have always been very health conscious and against taking marketed drugs but I cannot get through the day without taking 2 extra strength IBuprofen. I have it in both wrists, both knees, both ankles and my back if I lay on something stiff. I have started to have a hard time lifting my baby because of my wrists and getting up from a sitting position is very painful because of my knees. I wake up in excruciating pain unless I time my Ibuprofen just right before bed. I feel like I’m 90 basically and it makes me want to cry only being 27. I worry about taking IBuprofen every day because it’s linked to Breast and Kidney Cancer but I do not know of anything that is SAFE to take or to ask for. I thought of maybe getting on Birth control because I read that that can help. I am much newer to this than most of you so if any of you have any insight, I am very open to hearing any suggestions you might have. You can email me at tulipsnholland@gmail.com

By: karen

karen — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:25:16 +0000

I just recently got diagnosed with RA. It started in my shoulder then both hands numb ect. Neurologist sent for mri, doctor said i have cervical spine disk disease and that was the pain that I had in my shoulder. Now I’m being referred to a neuroseurgen because I have shooting pain in my hip and leg and cant walk.
So do I think you can have RA in the spine???? YES!!!

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:49:20 +0000

Hi Jan, It might be helpful to read through the other spine-related articles here (http://rawarrior.com/tag/rheumatoid-arthritis-spine/) and check out the articles linked to. It is so important that your sister get the right treatment for her spine. The spine is affected in most RA patients and it can be serious, but there are things that can be done to preserve her health. I hope she finds the doctor who can answer her questions and provide needed help very soon.

By: Sister Jan

Sister Jan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:00:52 +0000

Thank you so much for this website, and today, specifically for the spine information. It is so helpful to me, as I am trying to get info for my sister, who has multiple health problems, and (with not much assistance and NO collaboration among the doctors)are trying Her Rheumatologist and Anesthesiologist (pain doctor) seem to have different viewpoints. We are trying to sort out which symptoms come from which medical problem. Because there was conflicting info on the web, I thought I had not found the right answer. Thank you for clearing up that there is no consensus.

I get very worried about my sister. We are not sure which rheumatologist or pain doctor will be helpful and she has had bad experiences.

Is anyone aware of a rheumatologist or pain doctor in the Rhode Island vicinity that they can recommend?

Thanks!!!!
(Sister) Jan

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:57:53 +0000

I’ve had RA for 17 years now, I take Methotrexate and Prednisolone, I had an MRI which showed Spinal Stenosis, which apparently is caused by arthritis in the spine, my Rheumatoligist says I don’t have it in the spine, even though I have on going neck and head pain, I’m confused to say the least.

By: Lorna

Lorna — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:35:58 +0000

Thankyou so much Kelly for your quick response and all you do for all of us that are dealing with this terrible disease.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:30:25 +0000

Dear Lorna, this is common and I do hear it from patients all the time. I am glad you hear that you have docs who are taking this seriously. I hope they keep an eye on your neck & spine & continue to listen to your symptoms! If damage is severe enough to make the spine unstable or to impinge on the spinal cord, then surgery can be done to fuse joints and stabilize them. But there are other things done before that point, so hopefully that won’t be needed any time soon. Sometimes, just a brace can be used while the neck joints are inflamed or there are various types of injections to arrest inflammation or block pain. If you need to make decisions about what to do, you might need to see a good neurosurgeon to ask how you know when surgery is the option for you. Hope that helps some.

By: Lorna

Lorna — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:10:05 +0000

I have had rheumatoid arhtritis for 31 years and have started having neck pain and crunching sounds in my neck. My xrays 6 months ago showed degeneration in the c3 and c4. I now started having numbness and tingling from my neck down my arms when I lay down in bed at night. I saw my rheumatologist who is now setting me up for an MRI of my spine. Has anyone else been experiencing this and what was done to help this problem? Any suggestions would be helpful.

By: dldg

dldg — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:10:32 +0000

In Feb. 2011, I had double lumbar fusion, and was told my “neck is a mess” but not ready for surgery yet…oh, good…I also have other spine problems. I was told RA didn’t CAUSE my problems, but it “accelerated”them, what ever that means. At least I had a very good surgeon, and I’m doing better than expected. Funny thing, the Dr. said that this what he has learned to expect from his RA patients…they know how to live and work through pain, so they aren’t deterred by it. Guess that’s one “good” thing about living with RA…