WHEN YOU THINK of the phrase “rheumatoid arthritis,” which joints come to mind first? Maybe the knuckles? The knee? The hip? You probably haven’t said “spinal joints” yet, but rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can and does affect joints in the spine.
Here’s the catch, though: The symptoms of RA in your back look like, feel like, and are often mistaken for another type of inflammatory arthritis of the spine, called ankylosing spondylitis (AS). What’s the difference? Follow along as our experts explain what spinal RA is, how it’s unique from AS, and why it matters.
Jason Liebowitz, MD, completed his fellowship in rheumatology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, where he also earned his medical degree. He is currently in practice with Skylands Medical Group, N.J.