Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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hard painful lump

lionprincess00
lionprincess00
I, as of yesterday, have developed a hard painful lump. It is not visually there, but you can feel it under the skin. Flip your hand over, look at your palm. Now look at your ring finger. There's a crease at the top by the dip joint, a crease middle joint, and a crease at the bottom...third down. It is under this third crease. Now if you notice this is near the knuckle joint, but the crease is slightly above the knuckle. It's quite painful to touch and press on. I wear a double ring this finger, and the ring falls onto it. It is hard under the skin.

Do nodules hurt? Could this be just a ganglion cyst? Any opinions or advice? Don't want to run to the doc for every little thing. Figured it's an "occupational hazard" of ra, but it really hurts!

Thx so much.
nerot
nerot
I had a ganglion on my wrist. It was some years ago but I don't recall that it hurt. Wish I could help you figure out what it is. Running to the doc all of the time sure gets old. I am with you on that.

Hope this gets resolved for you soon!
annettearizona
annettearizona
I would suggest showing it to your pharmacist but they have mis-diagnosed on our behalf..it isn't a bite of some sorts?
lionprincess00
lionprincess00
No, it's deep below the skin. At that crease. Like a hard lump or knot. My family can even palpate it. No redness around.
Emerald22
Emerald22
Mine are nodules. Hard & the size of peas. No redness. I have two with a third one forming at the base of my thumb and they hurt especially if that tendon is inflamed, something bumps against them, or Im using that finger/hand too much. They're on the backside not the palm.

I have 4 or 5 other ones in different places that don't hurt or bother me though. I haven't done any injections with mine but if they keep hurting I'm going to have to try something. They're on my right hand & I'm right handed and its getting hard to do basic things.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Haha, Buddha, if it hurts I almost HAVE to push on it....insistently....every day....just to make sure it still hurts...

I had a little lump just in the place you are describing. I think the doc said it was a nodule. I was also having problems with that finger being unable to open fully for a while. He suggested getting a cortisone shot, but I just kept moving the finger and it eventually was fine. The little lump even went away. I have a much larger one on the inside of my elbow, it's very hard, and occasionally tender.

Given the variety of experiences we've all had, maybe you should ask the RA dr., especially since it's so painful for you. It's not a "little thing" if it's causing you a lot of pain!
lionprincess00
lionprincess00
Thank you all for your comments! The pump died down within 24 hrs, but the spot is extremely painful still. It hurts on both sides now too. Like if I squeeze, I HAD to haha, it is very painful both sides. I checked just the top side alone after that, and yup! It is hurting both sides, like a deep bruise feeling plum through the finger at the third line mark exactly. I'm at a loss. Will tell her if it's still around when I see her. Thx!