See a rheumatologist. It might be RA nodules.

but do ra nodules appear on xray because these lumps do not show up on xray?

RA nodules don't show on a plain X-ray (and changes with early rheumatoid arthritis - before deformity - also do not show up on an x-ray). Changes with OA may show on an x-ray.
I second the motion to see a rheumatologist.

I am under the care of a rheumatologist . She thinks I am suspect of seronegative (sp) ra in my hands . The plan was nsaids for the oa I have in many places and when I go back on march 14 she wants to start steroids for my hands. I am either trying to educate myself as best I can by then or am trying to find a way out of the ra dx. thank you all and any advice I can take with. me in a couple is greatly appreciated

I had the same question: what exactly is the composition of the lump? Mine do not show up on the xray either, but they're fairly hard to the touch, so what's in there? I asked if they could be drained and the rheumatologist said no. It feels, I guess, like cartilage, because it gives a little bit with pressure. But it wouldn't be cartilage. I'm just curious about what it actually is.

What is it? This is an absolute guess and only a guess based upon the examination of the joints, the areas between the joints, the sides (all/different sides) of the bones, on my wrists, hands, feet, fingers, toes and ankles that the lumps are calcium. Just a guess. Not trying to startle or scare anyone, do consider that I have a very active case of RA (am taking Actemra, MTX, 5 mg prednisone) when I look at the different groupings and different sizes, the locations on the knuckles or the meat of my thumbs or the bottoms of my feet/heels, these days I find myself comping sections to mountain ranges or foot hills of said ranges. While watching the Hobbit Battle of the Five Armies movie earlier in the week, when they began mentioning "the lonely mountain" I starting thinking about which of my nodules fit that descriptor. Odd, yes I know.

Point being that whatever does happen to you, you'll be best served to go ahead and start altering your "personal physical acceptability". If you don't then you'll make yourself mentally miserable and that misery coupled with RA is not in any way a pleasant combination. It is what it is....when you must express and get things out this is the place to do it but when you do express it here then LEAVE IT HERE so that you can enjoy your life the best you can.

The nodules are basically little balls of inflammation with necrosis (or dead cells) in the center. They are like little scar balls. They do not contain calcium.
Interestingly, they are usually associated with seropositive RA, and they can come out as the joint symptoms are improving. They can be seen with other autoimmune diseases too.

I had one bad nodule on my left pinkie finger knuckle for years, before the RA insurance nurses told me what it was. It didn't bother me much, so I didn't care. When I switched to Rituxan, it got rid of it totally.

I had to go off Rituxan 3 years later, because I couldn't breathe and it wasn't lasting long enough. That nodule did not come back, but the milia on my face did. Milia is supposed to have something to do with pores getting blocked. They are little white raised dots. Well, Rituxan got rid of them, they came back when I went off. After 3 years, I was getting desperate. (My face was covered with LARGE milia!) Turns out methotrexate also gets rid of them. Over 18 years, those milia coming and going are totally related to being on RA meds that either do or do not get rid of them. So this is one thing I will not believe doctors on what causes them, or that they ARE a form of RA nodule, whether they like it or not.

So when Simponi failed in Feb. 2015, I started feeling a really sharp pain in my right index finger pad. I went to my family doctor, and I got xrays and ultra sound done. Nothing showed up for me. My family doc told me to ask my rheumatologist, and sure enough it, and the other two on that finger, and the pad of my right pinkie finger were all RA nodules.

Mthx got rid of the smallest ones. But the really hard ones did not go away. I've been putting Diclofenac gel on them, and they seem to have shrunk a bit.

Anyone know if you can carve them out of your skin? That is my next step in getting rid of these annoying things. Because they are on the finger tip of my right index finger, I find it hard to do almost anything with that finger.

By the way, I think RA nodules are supposed to be caused by constant rubbing. My former rheumatologist said people often get them on their knees or on the underside of their forearms, from leaning on them. I am quite certain mine come from playing an open hole flute. I have plugs in those holes now, but a bit too late, to stop them, I guess.

There are some reports of people having the nodules removed or injected (with steroids). But they often come back. I would think it may be worth asking about options for nodules that are really bothersome (like on the pads of the fingers)? I had "micro nodules" (just a few tiny little ones on one hand) the first time I was on MTX, and they went away at some point and have not returned with my restarting MTX). They didn't bother me, but I just happened to notice them on the back of my hand when putting on lotion one day.

I have the nodules in both feet and my right wrist. I was on Prednisone for about 6 moths and they still are there, smaller, but there. I would consider the injections and only consider surgery as a last resort. There are times when cutting you open can cause more harm then good. Good Luck!

@nonightshades - I appreciate everyone on this forum, but especially when someone reminds us we have need to make a conscious effort to have the best quality of life that we can get!!!! I have been in the who what where why when and how phase of RA for too long. You helped me to realize that I need to find my happy where it is and to enjoy each day to its fullest and not to let it take over any more of me. tick tock!!! I guess now I see I wont get any more of those wasted moments back! I have made my mind up to press forward, RA and all. Thank you for your uplifting post. We need more of these!!!!

Have a good day all. You guys are my friends

Thank you for correcting my guess doodle, now I know!