hi,
thank you for providing the brief history of you.
A thorough neuromuscular assessment is advised.
As mentioned by you the brief history I do not feel you have an RA issue. As per me I feel you need to get assessed your neck and lower back region for any
soft tissue Injury. As one of the thing which triggered me to think this is the symptoms of
radiation. What I can say is over here it is
repetitive stress injury which has got wide based of a combination of symptoms. Also, when there is nerve impingement there symptoms can occur into the distal joints and feels like something else could be there but the actual cause will be in the root of the nerve. Once traced by a clinical neuromuscular assessment and with the help of an MRI of
lumbar spine one should be able to guide you better with it.
Also, exercise is a wide subject to mention here but undergoing a proper
physical therapy for your problem should solve your pain and aches to the maximum. Physical therapy is a non invase way of getting treated with no side effects.
In my clinical practice patient come with similar complaints and have prescription on which it mentioned something else. But the root cause is the
spinal nerve root. As human body lands into the degenerative phase depending upon the
metabolism of each individual and life style as well.
As per my personal Handson in clinic I feel you should get an MRI of lumbar spine done and see the soft tissue stauts.
Also , a physical therapist will be of help to you.
Regards
Jay Indravadan Patel