Back

[5teve]

Hi all been suffering with a really stiff back lower for around 2 weeks finding it really hard to get up and straighten up after resting , is this down to my RA or is this just another problem

[nomoreheels]

Possibly, but as well as RD I have OA in a good many places, one of which is my lower back (lumbar spondylosis) & that's the cause of my pain. Has your Rheumy mentioned OA to you at all? The pain tends to be worse after resting for some time with me, so in the evenings & first thing on waking. I think it's something you should bring up at your next appointment though, I'm no doctor but do read up on autoimmunity & rheumatoid diseases a lot & there is opinon out there it is possible for RD to be present in the back, though there is also questionable evidence & some Rheumy's follow this train of thought.

[helixhelix]

It's quite possible it's osteoarthritis, especially if you're over 45 and even more so if the RA has meant that you're less active than you used to be so the muscles in your back have got weaker. There are some synovial joints in the spine - which is the type RA likes - but it's less common for RA to attack the back and hugely common for osteoarthritis.

Talk your GP if you don't have a rheumy appointment soon, but do try to keep moving.

[5teve in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for that reply it makes sense i have been inactive for some time and hit the big 50 now will bring it up next time I see the rhumy , going for second opinion on Wednesday will mention then .

[Hidden]

Hi Steve

It could be a number of things. In my long experience of back pain keeping active is the key for me. Have you had an X-ray or seen your gp? I've had slipped discs galore and now have spondylosis, OA and facet joint hypertrophy in my lumbar spine all diagnosed in my 30's. Facet joint hypertrophy is caused by RA.

I've been under a physio and the exercises help keep the stiffness down but it still hurts.

I would see your gp as 2 weeks is quite a while to be suffering Steve. Are you taking painkillers?

K x

[5teve in reply to Hidden]

Thank for your reply yes been to gp and asked for some pain killers he gave me some codeine phosphate been up most of the night with real pain

[Hidden in reply to 5teve]

Oh no this is going on and on. If it doesn't settle I would go back to gp and ask for an X-ray and then physio. Bear in mind physio can take a while, I waited 6 weeks!

Also sounds like the codeine isn't controlling the pain. Are you taking it regularly?