Good morning! That's a great question, and your rheumatologist is partially right — but the full picture is a bit more nuanced.
RA primarily targets the synovial joints, and the lower and middle back don't typically have the kind of synovial tissue that RA attacks. So for most back pain, RA isn't the direct cause.
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Good morning! That's a great question, and your rheumatologist is partially right — but the full picture is a bit more nuanced.
RA primarily targets the synovial joints, and the lower and middle back don't typically have the kind of synovial tissue that RA attacks. So for most back pain, RA isn't the direct cause.
However, back pain can still be *related* to RA in indirect ways:
- Joint damage in the feet, hips, or knees from RA can put extra strain on the back
- Some RA medications, like steroids, can affect spinal health over time
- RA *can* directly affect the cervical spine (neck area), which may cause pain at the base of the skull, headaches, or tingling in the hands and feet So while your rheumatologist may be correct that your specific back pain isn't directly caused by RA inflammation, it's still worth discussing how your RA management and medications might be contributing.
Bringing it up again with your rheumatologist — especially if the pain is persistent — is always a good idea so they can help find the right cause and relief.
August 26
Michele I hope your back pain gets better.
August 28
I believe my feet have caused an increase in my back pain and possibly knee pain. I have never had problems with my back or knees until my feet started giving me problems. So frustrating!
August 26
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