Camba, I have had nodules over the last few years, some painful, some not. My rhuematolgist says nodules are an indicatation that you have severe RA. She says nodules havd a life of their own and have no cure. The painful ones may respond to a cortizone shot. My RD tried that on several and couldn't get the needle to penetrate the nodule. You can have painful ones removed, but the likelyhood they will grow back. They are beneign in nature, more unsightly than anything else. Good luck. marcia

I have a big one on my left little finger knuckle. It has been there for several years, but only recently has it been hurting me. I realized today, I have a bunch of small ones growing on my forehead. I had these before I got diagnosed, and a dermatologist told me they were something else and painfully burned them off. I had forgotten about it till I saw them growing again - 10 years later. I guess the mthx helped suppress them.

Just another reminder this disease has new and surprising things in store. I also had one on my vocal fold, but it disappear on its own. Well, after I started on sulfasalazine.

Angela, Interestingly enough MTX can actually be the cause of the nodules, so would not act as a suppresant. That info straight from my rhuemy's mouth. However, we both agree that I am not willing to go off the MTX to find out if the nodules go away or stop showing up!

I have them on both elbows (along with fluid), my hands, wrist and ankles. Lucky for me that they only ones that hurt are on my elbows. I have about 5 large ones on each elbow and it's hard to bend them. I have had them removed, along with the fluid. But they just keep coming back.

Susie

Bizemom-- you mean "methotrexate-inducuded accelerated nodulosis?" I think you'll find there's not any info that's conclusive about methtrexate being the cause of nodules. The TNF inhitors have been linked in the same manner. But you're absolutely right--- who wants to experiment by stopping their drugs? In that regard, all the people I've spoken with about nodules have confirmed my own experience, that they come and they go.

I have them about 3 inches both above and below my elbow, lucklily they are pain free. It just feels weird to have a lump under your skin...

I have them under both of my pinkie toes, on my big toes, one on each of my ankles, one on my right hand and one on my left thumb.I had a huge one on my wrist - it was there for 7 years, and I woke up one day last year and it was gone. They do seem to come and go out of nowhere. I did have one surgically removed from my hand, but it grew back twice as big, so I won't be doing that again.

I know that sometimes switching meds can help, at least to decrease in size. I think (although, you shouldn't quote me on this), but people with RA taking MTX have a greater risk of developing them.

My rheumy says you must just try and live with them, as there isn't anything they can do about them but surgically remove them, which is more often than not a temporary solution, as they often come back, sometimes with a vengeance.

mine come and go. I try to ignore them, which is hard to do when they are painfull like the biggest one I ever had at the back of my heel. Thank God it's gone now.