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Paula-C
#1 Posted : Tuesday, March 13, 2012 12:30:27 PM Quote
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Location: Nottinghamshire
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?
ellie50
#2 Posted : Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:38:08 PM Quote
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Location: Surrey
Hello Paula...

I also suffer from nodules. I used to have a couple on my wrist bones (like you) but they eventually disappeared. However, I have a particularly large one on the inside of my thumb which has not reduced in size but my Rheumy Nurse advised that it was best left alone - it only hurts if I catch it on something.

Most recently, after trying to put some 'elbow grease' into my polishing, I developed an enormous lump on my elbow which I showed to my Rheumy Nurse last week. She told me it was a Bursitis (a bit like 'tennis elbow') and that it would eventually disappear provided I didn't aggravate it with too much enthusiastic cleaning.

Just my luck - I'm in remission at the moment and feel well enough to put some effort into cleaning the house properly but I'm coming out in lumps! Sad

Never mind, you can never get bored with RA because you never know when and where it's going to attack you next.

I hope your lump(s) will soon calm down and you will be able to wear whatever you like this summer.

Best wishes...

Smile

Ellie
Paula-C
#3 Posted : Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:50:14 AM Quote
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Location: Nottinghamshire
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.Smile

Paula x
ellie50
#4 Posted : Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:19:22 AM Quote
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Oh yes Paula, it attacks in the most unlikely places but where there is a joint it will find it. It attacked my jawbone once and I couln't speak for three days - my husband was in seventh heaven!

Laugh

dawnybee
#5 Posted : Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:19:31 PM Quote
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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
LynW
#6 Posted : Friday, March 16, 2012 12:34:11 AM Quote
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Hi Paula

I have had lumps and bumps in all shapes and sizes over the years but fortunately they have always disappeared over time, but not always quite as quickly as I may have liked!

I don't know how many kinds of nodules there are, I just assumed there to be Rheumatoid nodules ... full stop Scared Here's a link about nodules from the NRAS website, and a pretty picture too ... oh yuck! Do yours look like this? Huh Love the description of the little devil; it's spot on!

Are you coming to Coventry? Would be lovely to see you Smile

Lyn x
My son, Ian, completed the BUPA Great North Run on 15th September running for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). You can read his story at http://www.justgiving.com/ianlukewilson

ellie50
#7 Posted : Friday, March 16, 2012 10:27:24 AM Quote
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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...

Smile

Ellie
Paula-C
#8 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 11:21:57 AM Quote
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Location: Nottinghamshire
I've looked at the link and see the picture, agree with Ellie...YUK. Problem with them being on the fingers is that they are so visible. If my hands looked like that I would be very embarrassed.

I had my blood monitoring done a few days ago and asked the nurse to see what she thought (not one of the RA specialist nurses), she said that you can get bone nodules, but then mentioned that they might be bone spurs. I've googled bone spurs and I don't think they are those. Next time I see the consultant, I will ask him. So it looks like you can get different sorts of nodules.

Paula x
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