here for normal individuals who does not have auto immune disease, back pain and lymph node problem at neck level cannot be related to each other but since you are already diagnosed with autoimmune disease it can be related in your case. As per my suggestion you should visit rhematoid specialist and take specific guidelines from him for your back pain. You can also visit physiotherapist who will guide you with spinal exercise program which will help you to improve strength, stamina as well as flexibility for your spine. Another problem what you explain hear about your lymph node swelling i suggest if its increasing in size then you should take a note on that and visit doctor and take his opinion. You may go for lymph node biopsy to rule out there is no other abnormality other then inflammation. here you also need to understand what happens with the people who have autoimmune disease. There are various type of autoimmune disease but the common problem with all these patients are the body s immune system gets activated against the body s normal cell so that there used to be a inflammation in the body which will create pain and disturbance in normal functioning of body s system. usually we have found people who are on anti inflammatory diet ( omega 3) or anti inflammatory drugs used to help against rhematoid conditions. Also doing regular exercise helps to generate certain hormones in body which have healing as well anti inflammatory effect on body cells. So that also helps with this kind of patients. Take care.