Well, I decided to go look up just where RA affects the spine and well here is an article I found.
http://www.allaboutbackandneckpain.com/html/spinesub.asp?id= 200
Joonie - great work. I have seizures and twitches from the RA in my first vertebrae (but I was making it all up for six years). Sometimes it's so bad it jerks my entire body and people almost call 911 until I tell them its okay (except it's like you have touched an open electrical circuit and it just plain scares me and anyone who witnesses it). Thank goodness the medication since my dx last June helps calm it down. I was unaware of the other parts of the spine being affected however, so a great find. I was married in a past life to a chiropractor for decades, so very fascinating. Take care ~~ CathyCertainly does confirm your theroy that Humira was helping with your problems doesn't it Joonie?
Excellent research!
Unfortunately this article, and most others, only seem to state that RA effects the cervical spine, not the thoracic or lumbar spine. That seems to be the position of most doctors -if you have mid to lower back pain, it's not RA. I don't understand that position myself - seems if it affects one part of the spine, it would affect all of the spine, doesn't it?That was the position that the Spine Specialist I saw had. He believed it does effect the lower portions of the back and that's what's wrong with some of my back problems. I did question him about it because so many say it doesn't. He said I'm living proof it does.
Like Joonie; I have found that all of my RA medications do make a huge difference with my back....so I tend to agree with him on that.
The SI joints in the lower back are synovial so they can be affected by RA. They have so limited movement though that many people don't think the entire back can feel it when they hurt.
I also think that even though the overall thoracic and lumbar spine areas don't get RA itself that our limping gait and awkward movements plus overall inflammtion can cause problems in those areas simply due to poor body mechanics
bump for janiefxThanks Suzanne, my pain specialist actually did believe it was RA in my thoracic spine and injected the facet joints with steroids and it really helped so remember everyone the facet joints are surrounded by synovium and these can definitely be affected by RA, and they are throughout our spines - cheers Janie. Great article, thanks for posting!!!