Before rushing to a Doctor (Without insurance that would be a most expensive venture...) I would like to have a short list (If possible) of possible disorders/diseases that cause the following.

The first hard lump I noticed was on my right foot, right on the boniest part on top of the foot. The lump grew to be about the size of a dime in diameter making a small dome.

When it first appeared it was sensitive to the touch, slightly painful. After being established (reaching it's full size I assume) it ceased to be painful.

The lump hasn't grown at all for the past three months, I notice no change at all.

Two months ago on my right knee cap, in the midle of the cap, another boney lump started growing. It followed the same pattern, at first sensitive to the touch, growing to about the size of a nickle in diameter and when it stopped growing the soreness went away.

The lump is on the same knee that I had orthoscopic surgary on four years ago, the removal of the meniscus due to a cyst caused by previous damage when I had tore the meniscus.

Most recently, on my left shoulder blade another one of these lumps have appeared. Presently it it sensitive to the touch and is about the size of a pea. It is located on the boniest part of the shoulder blade.

I am a 36 year old man, I have arthritis in my fingers, hands, wrists, toes and ankles and In the past six months it feels like the arthritis has moved to my right knee where the surgery took place.

In the past year my arthritis has flared up, my finger joints have swollen and I am no longer able to put on my finger ring. The stiffness in the morning is far worse than in winter months of the past this summer.

My questions are:

What are the possible reasons for these lumps?

Is this somehow related to my arthritis which has been worse this year than in years previous?

Since the pain dissapears after the lump(s) establish themselves am I to assume that this means the lump is benign?

If you wish to email me with your answer, you may click on my name to get my email address.

Cheers.

David

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[This message was edited by Dwight on 08-19-02 at 01:09 PM.]

One possibility is what are called rheumatoid nodules, which occur in 20-30% of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Usually there's no specific treatment needed unless they are bothersome enough to be removed. I copied this paragraph from a website on RA; several others say much the same:

"About twenty five percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients develop hardened lumps under the skin. These hardened lumps are called rheumatoid nodules. Development of hardened lumps usually develops in the later course of the disease. Often times, the nodules are found on bony sites such elbows, hips, heels, and back of the head. However, they can also form under the skin in the finger, toe or heel pads, or in tendons."

I figured it was related to the arthritis. I recall, vaguely, my doctor warning me of the things to come with this one. I believe that the description you gave is almost her exact words.

Thanks

David