Hi, Ive been having pain in my back for several weeks now. Literally woke up with it one morning, at the base of my spine. Has come and gone a few times. Have spoken briefly to the rhuematology nurse who said its very rare to get RA in the back and its probably down to bad posture from sore feet etc.

Ive been given some insoles from the podiatrist but an having great difficulty in finding shoes that will accomodate them. My husband suggested flippers as they are so wide!

Although Im not huge- size 14 sometimes on a really good day a 12, Im trying to lose a few pounds in the hope that this will ease the joints etc. Does anyone else find back pain a problem and do they have any suggestions.

Thanks so much.

love Heatherxxx

I use Shoetailor.com - come in all widths - I have eee fit. I'm back with Orthotics in March so am also going to check out Hotter shoes as Jean suggests. Hope you manage to find something - bad foot pain definitely affects the back.

Julie

Yeap you have too look for the i call it .( old ladyies shoes ) good make wide and roomie .If you go to a good shop i have found some very fashable shoes flat wide but look good .Like ankle boots and get a good thick sole which bends about .Flat shoes good soles wide roomie round toed leather suppotive and you will crack it Josop isbel i like ( spelt wrong ) Hush puppies .Don,t bother to look at Marks and spenser as feet people tell me not supportive enough .No heels or hard leather or pointed toes .

round toed and made of leather and very supportive .
Back pain i can not be doing with doctors .I have promlems my self and a numb leg find the docs useless

But i went to a private phyiso about £40 and well worth the money .Had all the ans there and then
set of excises and a rurfural too NHS .

See if the RA DEPT have there own phyiso .Might be a good start as mine asks the R.A man if she is not sure or happy about things .

Also the private phyiso concated the R.A PEOPLE .
G,ps where quite useless .
Guess the r.a nurses would not know too much

christine

My physio has referred me to orthotics as he says they can give you some kind of bar to put in your shoes to support the metatarsals (apparently mine are dropping). It must be a common thing with RA as Lyn says. I go in March so will have to see what they come up with.

Julie

I have some back pain, especially at the end of the day, after pushing the double buggy etc. I did ask for a referral to OT from my GP but heard nothing so far. Was wondering about podiatry too, so need to ask again. Feet are so important, mine are "flat" now, as my daughters meep telling me, and laughing at me!!!

Just 'Sometimes'?? Crikey my feet must be worse than I actually thought!!!! Now that is frightening !! Hope you find some footwear that you like and is suitable for you Heather

Sorry Heather ... I'm hijacking now to reply to Julie!!



Hi Julie!
Just one of those things I guess. Had RA for 22 years and in the early days, apart from massive doses of oral steroids, nothing was ever done and treatment availability very poor. By the time I couldn't actually put my feet on the floor any more, due to the pain and discomfort, there was nothing that could be done apart from surgery to remove the metatarsal heads. The surgeon left a couple in place to 'maintain the structure' of each foot. The results were amazing and after 4 or 5 months I was able to walk normally for the first time in about 15 years, albeit a complete size smaller from shortening. However, a few years later and the problems returned in the remaining metatarsal heads so I'm back on insoles and my Reeboks! (Take them off and I'm back beachcombing on the pebbles!) I can actually walk fine in my trainers, no-one would think there was anything wrong, take them off and it's a different story. When I saw the Podiatrist in December she suggested I mention the problems to the Rheumy, but my Feb appointment is now postponed until June, so it's a waiting game!

Julie, once the metatarsals drop, the heads, the large bony bits behind the toes, can quickly become inflamed and that's when the damage occurs. By getting proper support in the early stages major problems can be avoided.

Good luck

Lyn x

I have back problems Heather but not through the RA I had an operation 10 years ago. Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs at night I find this takes the pressure off you back, I always do!!! I have problems with my feet just had injection in my right foot last week, I have had insoles in my shoes for 12 months now but they sent me some new ones last week and they don't feet my shoes couldn't believe it when I tried them need to take a size 10 shoe to male em fit!!!

Thanks for all the replies ladies, will let you know how I get on with the shoes and will try the excercises. Ive rung my local rheummy nurse for some details on hydrotherapy that my rhuemmy specialist and I spoke about last year, and also some physio.

Thank you again for all your help and support, much appreciated!!

Heatherxxx