Comments on: Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect the Spine? http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:45:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-21099 Kelly Young Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:41:45 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-21099 Best of luck to you with your treatment Anne-Marie! Were you diagnosed quickly? Best of luck to you with your treatment Anne-Marie! Were you diagnosed quickly?

]]> By: Anne-Marie http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-21095 Anne-Marie Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:40:34 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-21095 I was diagnosed with RA yesterday & am doing a lot of research today. I find it interesting too that in all the research, nothing about the spine came up. I was on a website where you could pinpoint your aching joints, but the spine was not included. Most of my pain is in my spine. In fact, that cervical area has been hot for months. To find your post, I had to search for RA in the spine. --- Now I'm off to look at Spine Universe. I was diagnosed with RA yesterday & am doing a lot of research today. I find it interesting too that in all the research, nothing about the spine came up. I was on a website where you could pinpoint your aching joints, but the spine was not included. Most of my pain is in my spine. In fact, that cervical area has been hot for months. To find your post, I had to search for RA in the spine. — Now I’m off to look at Spine Universe.

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-19550 Kelly Young Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:55:35 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-19550 Hi Diane, of course I can't see your neck & I'm not a doc anyway. But I can guess that your test was the anti-CCP test. Here's a link to more about those tests - click here. The neck is affected in a large percentage of RA patients as you read here. Even if it is classified as stenosis or something, it is my understanding that it could be caused by the RA. RA in the spine could lead to a variety of different conditions. It is the same with other joints - one patient could have syntovitis in a joint while others have bursitis or others have erosions or nodules... the cause of any of them would still be the RA. Does that help a little? Hi Diane, of course I can’t see your neck & I’m not a doc anyway. But I can guess that your test was the anti-CCP test. Here’s a link to more about those tests – click here. The neck is affected in a large percentage of RA patients as you read here. Even if it is classified as stenosis or something, it is my understanding that it could be caused by the RA. RA in the spine could lead to a variety of different conditions. It is the same with other joints – one patient could have syntovitis in a joint while others have bursitis or others have erosions or nodules… the cause of any of them would still be the RA. Does that help a little?

]]> By: Diane http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-19548 Diane Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:02:12 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-19548 I have had neck pain for years. My fingers also are very arthritic. For years my MD suspected RA, but my panels always came back normal. He then did a newer blood test (I cannot remember the name) - normal was 20 -- I was > 97. My neck is my main source of pain. I have a very difficult sleepin due to this. Also I have very limited ROM of my neck. My rheumatologist said I have cervical stenosis. What are the further symptoms of RA in the spine. Am I misdiagnosed regarding my neck? I have had neck pain for years. My fingers also are very arthritic. For years my MD suspected RA, but my panels always came back normal. He then did a newer blood test (I cannot remember the name) – normal was 20 — I was > 97. My neck is my main source of pain. I have a very difficult sleepin due to this. Also I have very limited ROM of my neck. My rheumatologist said I have cervical stenosis. What are the further symptoms of RA in the spine. Am I misdiagnosed regarding my neck?

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-17703 Kelly Young Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:50:50 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-17703 Yes, Cathy. I don't know why the confusion. I still not only read articles that say "no RA in ______ joints" - I also have some people comment on the blog telling me I'm wrong. Cervical spine RA <b>is</b> quite real for the majority though, unfortunately. How many years before you had the hip replacements? I'm starting to get nervous. I haven't had any replacements yet. Yes, Cathy. I don’t know why the confusion. I still not only read articles that say “no RA in ______ joints” – I also have some people comment on the blog telling me I’m wrong. Cervical spine RA is quite real for the majority though, unfortunately.

How many years before you had the hip replacements? I’m starting to get nervous. I haven’t had any replacements yet.

]]> By: cathy nash http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-17700 cathy nash Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:36:43 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-17700 I have RA in my Cervical spine! I have had two disk fusions 4-5 & 6, and just went for another MRI due to problems I am having again in my neck. I learned I had RA after my first disk fusion. It is very painful and uncomfortable. I can't see how they can exclude any joint from RA... I caused damage in my neck in a motorcycle wreck, 2 actually, so I think that is why RA settled there first. I have also had two hip replacements due to RA. I hate this disease!!! I have RA in my Cervical spine! I have had two disk fusions 4-5 & 6, and just went for another MRI due to problems I am having again in my neck.
I learned I had RA after my first disk fusion. It is very painful and uncomfortable. I can’t see how they can exclude any joint from RA…
I caused damage in my neck in a motorcycle wreck, 2 actually, so I think that is why RA settled there first. I have also had two hip replacements due to RA. I hate this disease!!!

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-14884 Kelly Young Wed, 19 May 2010 14:17:33 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-14884 oh yeah, I got that. ;-) oh yeah, I got that. Wink

]]> By: MichaelPatterson http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-14799 MichaelPatterson Wed, 19 May 2010 00:15:11 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-14799 Last part was sarcasm there lol. Last part was sarcasm there lol.

]]> By: MichaelPatterson http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-14798 MichaelPatterson Wed, 19 May 2010 00:12:47 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-14798 THANK YOU SO MUCH! I wake up every morning with stiffness in my back (all over), that doesn't go away until the rest of my RA pain/stiffness does. I'm told that I have osteoarthritis in my back b/c RA cannot be there. Well, I may have OA ALSO, but I know what RA pain feels like, and ITS IN MY BACK FOR GOD'S SAKE. I can't tell you how relieving it is to see someone who gets it! I can't stand up straight every day, and it just coincidentally goes away when the rest of my stiffness does (if it does that day). THANK YOU SO MUCH! I wake up every morning with stiffness in my back (all over), that doesn’t go away until the rest of my RA pain/stiffness does. I’m told that I have osteoarthritis in my back b/c RA cannot be there. Well, I may have OA ALSO, but I know what RA pain feels like, and ITS IN MY BACK FOR GOD’S SAKE. I can’t tell you how relieving it is to see someone who gets it! I can’t stand up straight every day, and it just coincidentally goes away when the rest of my stiffness does (if it does that day).

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/can-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-the-spine/comment-page-1/#comment-13653 Kelly Young Sat, 08 May 2010 18:50:09 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=401#comment-13653 Hi Jamie, Many things do not show up on x-rays. Of course, MRI's show more. What kind of "natural methods" deal with this kind of chronic pain in the back? Heat and rest? Hi Jamie, Many things do not show up on x-rays. Of course, MRI’s show more. What kind of “natural methods” deal with this kind of chronic pain in the back? Heat and rest?

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