discussion with my consultant

Posted , 14 users are following.

hi folks.

just back from appointment with my consultant, talked about how I am etc, etc. told him of usual aches and pains and location. one particular area getting worse I said was my spine. he then preceded to tell me me it's a matter for my doctor and not him. I asked why.he informed me it can't be Ra, because it's impossible to get RA in the spine.

in 30 years of having RA, that's news to me. has anyone else been told the same?

best wishes ivan.

0 likes, 43 replies

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  • Posted

    Hi

    That is rubbish..I had surgery on my spine 3 years ago...on vertebrae c1-c3

    My consultant told me that my Arthritis was compressing these vertebrae.

    I had bone taken from my hip and placed in my spine at these points..pinned with metal screws...these were fused.

    This procedure is known as axial Atlanto instability.

    Get it checked out !!!

  • Posted

    Hi

    That is rubbish..I had surgery on my spine 3 years ago...on vertebrae c1-c2

    My consultant told me that my Arthritis was compressing these vertebrae.

    I had bone taken from my hip and placed in my spine at these points..pinned with metal screws...these were fused.

    This procedure is known as axial Atlanto instability.

    Get it checked out !!!

    • Posted

      That's very similar to my diagnosis. I found out today, through xray only so far that I have DDD, SCIATICA, OSTEOARTHRITIS, AND BLOOD WAS+ for Rheumatoid arthritis.

      Getting MRI next and have neurosurgery specialist appt. Plus rheumatologist. So painful! I feel for you

    • Posted

      Fingers crossed for a good result..

      I was signed off work for a year...collars...and had to keep mobility to a limit.

      The strange thing was I had no pain what so ever.

      Quite bizarre really as the severity of my diagnosis was dangerous.

    • Posted

      Everything that they xrayed came back with moderate damage. Can imagine what they tell me when I get the MRI done.... Eeeeek.

      This is messing with my mind!

      In severe, not moderate pain. Can't imagine what it will be like when I'm older.

  • Posted

    No one is mentioning ankylosing spondylitis.?

    thought that was similar to RA and definitely affects the back from what I ve read. Has your consultant looked into that?

  • Posted

    Interesting discussion as I have pain in my back. Lately my neck and jaw have been bad and giving me headaches. Going to follow thread for info. Thanks for posting. 
    • Posted

      Please people..if you are suffering with any upper body (neck..spine..jaw pain) get it checked out.

      This AAI is very common in people with RA.

      I did a lot of research into this condition and it seems that patients are not regularly checked for this.

      I am speaking from experience..it could have been fatal for me..as there was so much movement in my spinal colum.

      Don't want to scare anyone just need people to be aware.!!!!

    • Posted

      Yes I get headaches too from my C1-7 being affected. Thinking I have pinched nerve in there somewhere.
    • Posted

      hi Louise.

      fascinating reading your post. please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with the term AAl. embarrassing really. but what is it short for, seeing as I also have jaw and neck trouble. thanks for your post and take care and keep well. ivan.

    • Posted

      Hi.

      AAI is ATLANTO AXIAL INSTABILITY.

      Basically degenerative bone from my RA at points C1 and C2.had too much movement in my spine colum...needed to be made more stable.

    • Posted

      My jaw does suffer in some if the flare ups I have had

      Drives you up the wall with the headaches and neuralgia

  • Posted

    Hi Ivan..

    I have some serious back pain going on. Have had for couple years. Been referred to physio, but like you I was also told it's not likely to be arthritis as it normally only occurs in the neck... But rarely it can appear in the lower back... So why can't we be the rare ones and be taken seriously. I can't even get a doctor to do a xray to rule it out

  • Posted

    Hello Ivan,

    I have been told that I have arthritis in my spine, but to be fair it is mostly Osteo  Having said that, I have quite severe ankylosing spondylitis so I'm wondering if that is what your problem is.  

    I googled RA in spine and this is what it said   'Although rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects the hips, knees, hands, wrists, feet, elbows and ankles, it can also affect the facet joints in the spine, causing pain and, in severe cases, destruction of the joints'

    Take care. x

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