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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What could this be?

TWGarrett
TWGarrett
Have you ever gotten a knot in your arm from giving blood? That's what this is like except it's up alittle and to the left. It's acouple of inches in size. It feels bruised but doesn't look it and it's all under the skin. Any ideas, it's alittle scarry.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It could be an RA nodule, or, it could be a fatty tumor. I have several of varied sizes, usually tender to the touch. You should get it checked. God Bless.
TWGarrett
TWGarrett
Thanks JWSMOM, can a nodule be like a knot under the skin instead of above the skin like a huge bump. It is tender to the touch.
Rosemo
Rosemo
Several years ago I had an IV put in the top of my hand when I was in the hospital for a migraine (totally before RA). Following that I had a small but painful lump about the size of a pea, under the skin near the site of the IV. I didn't get an explanation from my dr, besides it will eventually go away. Well it took 6 months to go away, but it did. Now I refuse to have any IV's in the top of my hand. Recently I told a nurse about this while I was getting my Orencia infusion. She said it might have been a ganglian cyst. In any case, I hope yours goes away quicker, but you probably should get it checked out. RA can do strange things. good luck Rose
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's a hematoma. A big bruise. Let me assure you, that with RA and drugs, it is easy to get them. And a big bruise can take months to subside. It took 6 months for the bruises on my husband's ankle to subside when he broke his ankle, and close to 5 for my foot reconstruction.

If you are on any aspirin based anti-inflammatories, they thin the blood. Then if the blood doesn't clot properly, you get a huge bump or bruise. I had it happen this year. So now I really hold down the vein after. Mine leaked blood everywhere, and it was scary, too.
deleted_user
deleted_user
TWG,
I was told last time I got this to use hot compresses on it and it seemed to work (but it was really small).. so you might want to try it. Good luck!
-Sarah
deleted_user
deleted_user
Phone your Doctor , I wouldn't guess this or that. Be sure if this happened after giving blood, well just call the doc.
please
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with Janebee--talk with your doctor!
Angelpuss
Angelpuss
I agree with Angela that it is probably a haemotoma. I had a CT with contrast scan a day or so before Christmas last year and the canula for the dye came out of my vein 3 times. On Christmas night I was in agony with pain and ended up not being able to move my arm at all. My doctor said it was a deep bruise which was swollen and pressing on a nerve.

However, I would definitely let your doctor see it and decide what it is.