Distinguishing Between Immune Issues and Menopause Symptoms at 50 - Internal Medicine

How to distinguish between immune issues and menopausal symptoms?

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Hello, Doctor.
I am 50 years and 6 months old.
My menstrual cycle was regular until December of last year when it suddenly stopped.
Before March of this year, I experienced insomnia, excessive sweating, frequent colds and nasal congestion, itchy eyes, redness and dryness around the eyes, hip joint pain (pain when sitting down and getting up, with orthopedic X-rays showing only mild bone spurs), and soreness in my shoulders, neck, and back.
After April, in addition to more frequent insomnia and increased sweating, I continued to have mild soreness (which does not occur during physical activity when my body heats up and does not affect my ability to function), but no other symptoms.

In early July, my left hand's distal joints of the index and middle fingers suddenly swelled, turning red, swollen, painful, and difficult to bend.
After consulting with orthopedics and rehabilitation, I was finally diagnosed with Heberden's nodes by a rheumatologist.
I have been taking one Celebrex daily for three weeks, which has alleviated the pain, and now it feels like there are hard lumps when touched.
The immunology department conducted blood tests for over 40 items, and aside from urine total protein <4, white blood cell count 4.59, HLA-B27 positive, and Anti-nuclear antibody 40x+, everything else was normal (e.g., Anti-CCP 0.4, RF <10, C-reactive protein <0.1, ESR-1hr 4).

In the past six months, I have had no difficulty getting out of bed in the morning and can easily turn or move my limbs.
However, I experience tightness and stiffness in my back (previously from the lower back to the chest area, and recently from the chest to the shoulder area) that feels like my lower back cannot straighten or my neck is too heavy to lift my head.
This discomfort usually disappears by around 10 AM or at the latest by noon.
The doctor believes this is "morning stiffness," and along with my finger symptoms, prescribed "Saler."
Aside from the Heberden's nodes that occurred in July, I had previously experienced numbness in my upper arm due to cervical stenosis (which resolved after rehabilitation) in 2019.
My right knee occasionally feels stiff (this has been fluctuating for the past 10 years but has not reached a level requiring medical attention).
In terms of family history, my father and grandmother had recurrent redness and swelling in their toes and knees when they were younger, but there were no spinal symptoms, and they did not show significant kyphosis until around the age of 80.

I would like to ask the doctor: (1) What tests should be done to confirm whether there is inflammation or adhesion in the spine? (2) Is it possible for ankylosing spondylitis to develop at the age of 50? (3) I have been exercising regularly for 10 years, and some movements similar to gymnastics involve supporting my body with my hands.
I have a sedentary job where I sit in front of a computer all day under significant stress, and poor posture and cumulative injuries from exercise are inevitable.
Additionally, my insomnia prevents me from resting (I used to fall asleep easily, but now lying down for a while makes my body feel stiff and unable to relax).
Is it possible that I am only experiencing muscle fascia issues, menopausal disturbances, or autonomic nervous system disorders, rather than an immune problem? (4) Since early July, I have been taking one Celebrex daily, and aside from the alleviation of finger pain, my overall physical condition has not changed (I have only been on Saler for 10 days).
Given that my blood tests are considered normal, if it does not affect my daily life, can I stop taking Saler and Celebrex? I apologize for having so many questions.
My doctor answers when asked but does not provide explanations proactively, and I still cannot figure out what is happening with my body.
Thank you, Doctor!

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Kate, 50~59 year old female. Ask Date: 2023/07/31