Re: RA + Back Issues Connection

[Guest guest]

I have pre-existing Osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine. Space

narrowing, disc herniations etc. This pain stays localised to the

lower back & sciatic nerves. It gets better with gentle, constant

movement and becomes worse without exercise or after silly gardening

extravagances(!). That is - I can generally relate it to a cause.

With RA it's always there - only the joints effected change, for no

reason/cause.Always worse in the mornings, but improves after an

hour or so.

I know that Anti-inflammatories are helpful for back pain, so

Prednisolone is useful - unfortunately, I can't manage NSAIDS.

From my reading it seems that RA generally does not occur in the

lower spine, but may present in the upper cervical region. Some

other forms of Rhuematic diseases do have lower back involvement (ie

AS).

I am new to all this - so hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Deb in Aust.

>

> Hello,

>

> I am trying to understand how the problems I have with my back are

> different than the RA I have everywhere else. I have the typical

> traveling joint inflamation and exhaustion that goes with RA and

> take MTX, Folic Acid, Prednisone, and Remicade infusions that keep

> things going with many less pain dominated days than I used to

have.

> I also have degenerative disk disease, bulging disks, narrowing

> space for the nerves to travel, facet arthropathy, spondylosis and

> had a laminectomy and diskectomy at L5-S1.

> So, I am trying to lower my prednisone and have been handling it

> pretty well with 3 week intervals between lowering the dose. I am

> going from 10mg to 7.5 mg right now and expected the joint pain to

> reappear but in addition I am getting a lot of debilitating back

> pain returning. I have been told by my old and new rheumy that

they

> are two totally separate issues but I don't really understand how

> they are different. Why are they so sure I don't have RA in the

> joints in my back? My newest MRI shows advancing facet arthopathy

> and nerve space narrowing but no new disk issues.

> I know quite a few of you have back problems along with your RA.

Do

> you understand the realtionship? Do the meds for one help the

other?

>

[Guest guest]

--- kuehnlej <kuehnlej@...> wrote:

> Hello,

>

> I am trying to understand how the problems I have

> with my back are

> different than the RA I have everywhere else. I have

> the typical

> traveling joint inflamation and exhaustion that goes

> with RA and

> take MTX, Folic Acid, Prednisone, and Remicade

> infusions that keep

> things going with many less pain dominated days than

> I used to have.

> I also have degenerative disk disease, bulging

> disks, narrowing

> space for the nerves to travel, facet arthropathy,

> spondylosis and

> had a laminectomy and diskectomy at L5-S1.

> So, I am trying to lower my prednisone and have been

> handling it

> pretty well with 3 week intervals between lowering

> the dose. I am

> going from 10mg to 7.5 mg right now and expected the

> joint pain to

> reappear but in addition I am getting a lot of

> debilitating back

> pain returning. I have been told by my old and new

> rheumy that they

> are two totally separate issues but I don't really

> understand how

> they are different. Why are they so sure I don't

> have RA in the

> joints in my back? My newest MRI shows advancing

> facet arthopathy

> and nerve space narrowing but no new disk issues.

> I know quite a few of you have back problems along

> with your RA. Do

> you understand the realtionship? Do the meds for one

> help the other?

>

>

>

>

>

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