Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

I am new here, but not new to RA. I was diagnosed in September 2010 because in August I woke up with a knot on my collarbone. It is larger than a marble but smaller than a golf ball. I had pain and weakness in my shoulders, pain in my hips, but I blew that off to being 40 and still working out vigorously. My GP wouldn't listen to me about this weird knot and maintained that I had dislocated my collarbone. I knew this wasn't true. Finally an orthopedic surgeon listened and referred me to my rheumy. He diagnosed me with moderate RA. Since then I have developed nodules on my feet and I have significant pain in what seems like ALL of my joints. My concern is that everything that I read says that nodules indicate more severe and aggressive RA. I thought I would bring this up here to get thoughts from other people. Do nodules mean aggressive RA? I take enbrel and methotrexate injections and plaquenil and still have so much pain and swelling that I can't walk my dog. I am a teacher so I work long hours and am on my feet all day.

Hi Alycam welcome to our RA family. I have found great support here.

I was so interested in what you wrote I had to look it up.

the article below said some things, including who was more

vulnerable to get them.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/ rheumatoid-arthritis-nodules.aspx

I was diagnosed 18 mths ago, but felt I had it for several months before dx. I just thought I was just getting older. Until the first flare, it wasn't my worse one but wow wee. owie! Take care and hope to see you online CLAP

Post edited by: claphappy, at: 04/25/2011 06:40 PM

Hi Alycam

You should talk to your Rheumy, it sounds like you may need to try a different med combo.

It does sound like your RA is progressing so getting on the meds that will work for you is important.

I wish you well in your journey..

Hi Aly, welcome to the group! I dont know the answer to your question about nodes and aggressivenes. But i do think that if you are taking plaq, MTX and Enbrel, and still have so much pain and swelling, then your RA is probably not mild. Good thing is your treatment is aggressive. How long have you been on it?

I really appreciate all of your support. Claphappy, thank you for the article--it did answer some questions for me. Cella and Cata, I have been on my meds for about 8 weeks now and my rheumy says to give it 3-4 months. I am anxious for school to be out in 26 days to see if my RA improves with rest. Teachers' days are long and busy, so I am hoping my pain and swelling are so bad because of my job!! Again, thank you for your responses.

Hi alycam. welcome to mdjunction. I was on same meds you're on and the Enbrel helped more than anything as well as Voltaren & Ultram for pain and inflammation. Getting out of school will definitely ease some of your pain. Are you swelling quite a bit? Where is is worse in you? That's just my nosiness. Mine are hands and feet and shoulders with hands the worst. Good luck with your meds! I'll be praying for you. trixie

Thank you Trixie. Feet seem to be the worst--great for a teacher who never sits! Shoulders are bad, hands not so much. Then I have this weird nodule on my collarbone that sometimes causes a weird burning sensation in my throat. Are you still on enbrel? If not, why the change? (Just my nosiness )

Hi Aly, and welcome.

Are you teaching this summer? I hope you'll be able to enjoy an extended period of rest.

From the research I've done the course of RA is more severe when there are both RF (rheumatoid factor) and anti-CPP antibodies present in the blood. Each of these is what is called "sero-positive" for RA.

Studies on prognosis with nodules are too weak to draw conclusions from, but may indicate a course where there is *less* bone erosion in the joints. Here's a link if you want to read some abstracts. (Your school might have accounts with some of the publishers, might want to check that out.)

http://tinyurl.com/3u8a8uh