Hello!  Welcome to ASA.  Sorry we had to meet under
these circumstances.  You are going to be hit with a
number of inquiries about your state/age/family, etc.
Answer any you feel aren't too personal, shun the
others.

To answer your question, a rheumatologist (rheumy or RD).
They are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of
the 100+ forms of arthritis.  Blood tests, X-rays, possibly
MRI or CT scans.

Your symptoms sound like mine in 1975-76 before I saw
a doctor and was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.
It affects mostly the lower back before spreading to the
hips/legs/knees and the shoulders/neck.  I was given a
20 pound lifting restriction in 1979, later lowered to 10.
Loss of cartilage plus lots of wear and tear meant a total
hip replacement in the summer of 2000.

But remember, none of us are doctors and are not qualified
to give medical advice or make a diagnosis.  Someone may
say "it sounds like......" but that is not a proper diagnosis.

We can give non-medical advice, offer a shoulder when one
is needed, crank up the ASA prayer machine, share our
chocolate (if a certain thief hasn't wiped out the cache),
send you to URLs such as one for the Arthritis Foundation
http://www.arthritis.org and dozens of others piled thick
with data - which often results in "information overload"
for the newcomer.

So find a rheumy -- you didn't say where you're located.
Perhaps search the American College of Rheumatology
http://www.rheumatology.org for your state and the
name/address of a rheumy in your area.

And don't go into hiding.  Come on back and let us know
how you're doing, what you're doing, what the doctor
says.

... Only a lack of imagination saves me from
... immobilizing myself with imaginary fears.

http://www.webmd.com/diseases_and_conditions/back_pain.htm?ecd=ppc_google_legpai
n_backpain_backpain&gclid=ckb8mk__4yccfqndsaodehfubq

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article42.html

Hi Betty,
Not sure about ra, but it sounds more like lower spine osteo or ddd. Check
out the links and see if you recognize yourself in them.
Get an xray of your lower back for starters and hopefully an mri after that
as it will show much greater detail.
After that you will have a better idea of where you stand.
I have similar symptoms and have moderately severe ddd in my lumbar area.
GaryZ