Back Ache !!

[nellysgran]

Does anyone suffer with sciatica? and is it a part of RA,

I have had terrific sciatic pain going down my legs to my feet, just wondered if anyone has this problem.

Wendy

[Hidden]

Well, RA can cause inflammation in the lower back, which in turn can cause referred pain in the hips, thighs and legs

[oldtimer]

Sciatica is so common that it is likely to occur in people who have RA as well (like me). Humans are not well designed to stand upright and then do things like bend over! But, of course, RA can also cause inflammation of joints in the back, but that tends to produce a rather different distribution of the pain, rather than the sciatic pain going down the leg to the toes.

[Kittykatxxxxx]

I don't know but I have chronic back pain ! aaaahhhh!

[earthwitch]

Is it inflammatory back pain? nass.co.uk/about-as/getting...

If it is, then you really need to be asking your rheumatologist some strong questions about whether you could have spondyloarthritis - either as well as or instead of RA. It is treated slightly differently to RA, so important to get the right diagnosis sorted out as soon as possible. Spondy typically is underdiagnosed and the average time from first noticeably serious symptoms to diagnosis is about 8-10 years - in women I suspect it could even be longer.

If the sciatic type pain shifts from one side to the other, then its likely not true sciatica, but that shifting from side to side is very common in spondyloarthritis.

If it doesn't tick the boxes for inflammatory back pain, then its more likely OA, and thats something that docs tend to not do much about (if anything) unless it gets to the stage of severe neurological problems.

[mitzymoo]

Hi angel

I suffered for a long time till my back totally locked on me and a friend advised me to see her chiropractor. It's the best thing i ever did!!

I lost the feeling to the right side of my body 9 yrs ago after choking on food, nothing showed up on mri as to it bring a stroke, so i had to get on with life best i could!

Physio wasn't offered till i started with sciatica 2yrs ago, which due to my weak side made things worse and the physio said it was left to long and she couldn't help me!!

When i went to the chiropractor i found the arch on my right foot (numb side) had dropped and the exercises the physio had given me had strengthened my good side and twisted my spine trapping the nerve! The natural crease line on my waist was 2inches higher on my good side than my right!!

I got ease after my first visit and was told never to put heat on anything but bellyache to only use ice packs on joints or muscle pains!! Heat draws more blood to the area causing it to be more sensitive and hurt more! The initial relief you get from a hest pad only lasts a short time, ice lasts a good hour!!

I now see my chiro monthly to keep my joints where they should be as i also found out i have hypermobility (double jointed ) and my knees and hips pop out very easily.

If you have a back problem or joint problem find a chiropractor, you won't regret it i promise!

If you haven't got any ice packs in get the frozen peas in pillowcase 20mins as often as yoj need it but no longer than 20mins.

Take care and angel blessings xx

[earthwitch in reply to mitzymoo]

chiropractors can be great but definitely NOT if there is any suggestion or possibility that it might be spondyloarthritis. Any kind of manipulation with spondy can be exceedingly dangerous as it is possible that the syndesmophytes (a particular type of bone spur) that are part of spondy could either break off or press into the spinal cord causing paralysis. Chiropractic is one thing that is not recommended at all for spondyloarthritis.

I agree with the ice therapy though. Ice alternating with heat can be good for a lot of things too as the heat soothes, but the ices helps calm down inflammation.

[Jill60]

Hi all, I have had back pain since aged 15' thinking it was due to being thrown from. Horses that I often jumped and fell off......however, it got severe in late 20's, worse than ever by 30's, thought maybe then due to babies, pregnant etc....discovered was sciatic nerve caused also by two Herniated discs.. Given painkillers......carried on etc for years, till it got unbearable, saw Back Surgeon, Rhumatologist etc...discovered. I had REITERS disease which attacks all soft tissue I.e. discs, and the previous two Herniated Discs I had trouble with disappeared......which meant I needed a spine op.....had no choice...had Dynesys, Not fusion......helped eventually, although took me 8 months to recover from discomfort, but did work.. So have screws supporting my L5/L4.... Op 2003........ Then Jan this year had to have another op, same type, as another disc disappeared........so far so good....however! does NOT take away pain completely, but so much better than before ops........I've been lucky as my GP and spine Surgeon are amazing.....others arnt so lucky I guess, and get given ' Shock tactics' and told stories of horror about spine ops and wheelchairs.......I've also had many spinal probes( cocktail of meds into affected area) before having. Major surgery.......so remember that guys.....however, there are many spine conditions that sadly can not be operated on..........Good luck to everyone that has severe chronic back pain...it's a nightmare, but stay positive

Jill UK