My, My - sounds like Bluedogs2 - rheumy told me last week the pins and needles thing on the bottom of my feet was osteo and probably not RA, but there is so much going bad, I wonder how they can tell - frankly don't know that I care which it is anymore.

Feels like I'm walking on golf balls when bare footed - and when bare footed, I have this huge tendency to fall as if I were trying to stand on a basketball -
The whole thing is a real bummer, but it is what it is -

Venting back at 'cha

Be well
Bluedogs2

No, not everyone with RA experiences nodules. I don't know why. I don't have nodules and I don't have visible swelling. But, I do have swelling...I can tell because my shoes get really tight and there are days my ring on my fingers will not move at all.

The last two weeks have been bad for me as well. Maybe it's the up and down of the temps or pressure or maybe my body just likes attacking me...I just don't know!

Yesterday evening when I took my shoes off and walked across my floor, my feet felt like I was walking on a marble...that area just under the little toe-on the edge of the foot/bone. Had to hobble to get my houseshoes on...ugh!

I'm sorry you don't have answers. Even when you do get answers, it's still frustrating!

Thanks for the input! I appreciate it

I just got great news!! New rheumy called with a cancellation for tomorrow!! My originial appoitment wasnt until June..needless to say I'm thrilled. Maybe tomorrow will bring some answers!

Good luck! and yes, the sooner you know what's up the better.

I've never had nodules either. I didn't think they were really that common, just some get them and some don't.

I have nodules but they have just started to appear in the last 2 years... and I have had RA for 20 years. Hope you get some really good answers from your new rheumy... some answers that will explain why you are feeling the way you do..... that is great you are getting in so quickly!!! Let us know what you find out.

Google 'RA marbles feet' and you will find that the swelling of bursa in feet is fairly common and a clinical sign only associated with RA.

When I'm not in full remission - I more often than not have the marbles as my sign of rheumatic activity. They are the reason that I've had handicapped tag since '04.

I can't believe the rheumy didn't recognize this distinctive symptom. But doctors can pass with C's as well as A's now can't they???? Unfortunately it's the patients who have to figure out who knows their stuff and who doesn't - with both our health and our pocketbooks!

Hope you find a better rheumy soon

Nodules do occur on the elbows. Remember my mother would get them even when no joints were affected. She had several removed by a plastic surgeon. They were the last sign of RA that disappeared after her breast cancer treatment, and have never returned.

She had them since year 3 of very aggressive RA onset. They were the one symptom that never disappeared during the 20+ years of clinical remission that she's enjoyed.

I only got them during the peak of my super severe total body flare back in '09. Once the activity level was reduced by getting back on the name brand Minocin - they quickly disappeared.

Right now I'd say you're in a highly active flare. Once you get that under control, your nodules should reduce in size. They may or may not completely go away.

I have nodules on my thumbs & wrists. Just noticed 3 on my right elbow last night. I'm in my 5th yr and they just started about 4mo ago. They don't hurt just ugly & irritating. They're synovial fluid coming to the surface and can occur on any synovial joint. Im not sure what your dr was talking about. Only 20% get nodules and they usually coincide with a high anti-CCP titre. Have you been tested for anti-CCP? That's a better test than just rheumatoid factor. Sed/crp rates fluctuate a lot. Too much for me to give them much credence-for me anyway. I can be swollen up like a balloon & have low numbers. The opposite is also true. The anti-CCP doesn't change month to month.

Good for you for getting another rheumy. The last one doesn't sound like he's paid attention to the research for the last decade or more.

Emerald