Spinal involvement in RA - Jane

October 29, 2002

Hello, Jane!

The current thinking is that RA affects the cervical spine (upper spine

near the neck) much more commonly than the lumbar spine. This does not

mean that an RA patient cannot be affected in the lower spine or have

lower back problems; however, there may be reasons other than the RA

itself in an RA patient who has lower back pain and/or abnormalities.

Tylenol #3 is a pain medication (an analgesic - acetaminophen plus

codeine), but, if it is ineffective or your doctor won't prescribe a

sufficient dosage and offers you no alternative with which to relieve

your pain, you should seek another physician.

Nothing to feel dumb about, Jane!

Re: [ ] Spinal involvement in RA

>

> Hi,

> I did not know that the spine can be affected, I will also take this

to my Rheumy also, I have been complaing about my lower spine for two

yrs now and he said your back has nothing to do with RA.When 5 got up

today my whole left leg went numb down to my ankles on the back side, I

hurt really bad, my doc don't believe in pain killers either, he does

give me Tylenol-3, I have been taking 3 of them at a time to help me,

but every time I ask for something, he gives me those, I am only sopose

to take one every 4 to 6 hrs, that is\a joke but I have no chocie. Have

any ideas? I feel dumb for writing this.

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