Hello

Need to ask a question about nodules, I know it's been talked about before but here goes............

I've noticed for sometime that my wrist bones (the sticky up ones on the outside of my wrist), seem to look more prominent. If I put my arm and hand out in a line they look like little pyramids sticking up. If I knock them they are so, so painful. I can cope with that but I now have a problem with my elbows. I was trying a skirt on and had my arm across my midriff doing the button up and to my horror I saw that my elbows looked like the bone had grown, it just stuck out, the only way I can explain it is a hard boney bulbous lump there. I know in the great scheme of things it's more cosmetic than anything and worse things could happen to me, but it looks awful. I realise that I probably notice more that anyone else would but I'm dreading wearing T shirts in the summer.

Anyway, I went to see my GP a few weeks ago about something else and I asked him what they were. He did say that they shouldn't be like that, so I know I'm not imagining it, he told me that they were bone nodules. He gave me the impression that there is two sorts of nodules with RA. I did ask if they could be shaved off and he said that they use to do this, but they don't now because it can cause more problems. I've googled bone nodules and nothings come up, I've also go a boney lump on the side of my foot. I though it was a bunion but I've been to a chiropodist and he says it's not, it's a build up of calcium on my toe joint (big toe).

I'm just wondering if there is two sorts of nodules and if so, am I more likely to get more? I may of misunderstood what the doctor meant, he may of said that they were nodules that are on bones and I misunderstood him, but they do feel hard like bones. Anyone got any ideas?

Thank you Ellie for your reply, good to read that there is a chance that they might go down. I know like I said before it's just cosmetic and I shouldn't really moan about it, things could be much, much worse than they are, at the moment I am feeling pretty good, managed to half my pain killers and like you I am taking advantage of the good spell and probably doing too much. But it's grab it while you can, well thats what I always think.

Had to smile when you said about not knowing where it's going to attack you next. I always have visions of this little devil inside my body shouting 'peek a boo, catch me if you can' as it runs around my body attacking my joints. During the past four years I think it's been everywhere, from my mouth right down to the tips of my toes. A very well traveled little devil. He's gone away on holiday at the moment and I hope he's along time coming back.

Paula x

Hi paula, poor you! sounds awful. Funny enough i have been having pain in my right arm and wrist for the last 2 days. It is most painful on flexing wrist back or upwards and is tender around my elbow. I have had no trauma and apart from a bad hip pain a couple of weeks ago i have been well for over a year. I am going to have a look for any lumps or bumps because like you, i forget all about RA until it pops up back into my life and bites me! Keep well! dawny

Lyn...

I went to the link and you're right: "yuk!" Thankfully I only have one nodule on my thumb and it is not painful unless I knock it on something.

It is interesting to note that patients taking mtx are more prone but as the mtx is keeping me in remission at the moment I'll put up with the nodule and the lump on my elbow.

Best wishes...



Ellie