Karen, the doctor removed a combination of blood, cement particles from his elbow replacement and a thick substance that he referred to as "fleshy matter". Roger did go back to the surgeon a few days ago and the doctor sort of dismissed it as trivial and said it was blood and would eventually be absorbed by the body. Right now it's almost the same size as when he had it removed. The doctor didn't seem concerned but then he doesn't have a swelling the size of a golf ball on his elbow.
Welcome! Sorry to hear your husband is having trouble with nodules. I have never had one, my son had one on his wrist and it went away on it's own after sev months. I'm glad you found us. Come visit in the RA forum I think you'll get alot of replies there. I, like Karen, would suggest having someone look at it again as soon as possible if it is continuing to grow. Perhaps a 2nd opinion is in order.
Come see us in RA forum, I'm glad you're here
I'm new here and posting for my hubby because his hands just don't work so well. He has, among other things, a rheumatoid nodule on his elbow. It's been growing in size for some time and a few weeks ago he had the substance which was inside removed. Ever since the surgery, it has been growing in size again. He went to the doctor the other day about it and was told it's blood that will be eventually absorbed into his body. Meanwhile it's getting bigger and bigger. Has anyone here had any experience with these nodules? He also has one on his lung which was discovered prior to a surgery he had done a few years ago. Glad to be part of this site. We really need a place like this where we can talk to people who totally understand what it's like. Carol CAROL, SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOUR HUBBY IS HAVING PROBLEMS BUT HE'S FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU TO SUPPORT HIM. I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH RHEUMATOID NODULES BUT HAVE RECENTLY DEVELOPED A KNOT (MAYBE A NODULE) ON MY PALM AT THE BASE OF MY THUMB AND WRIST. I WOULD CONTACT YOUR DR ASAP IF IT IS STILL GROWING. WHAT EXACTLY DID THEY REMOVE FROM INSIDE THE NODULE...CURIOUS? IS IT BLOOD, FLUID, ETC? GOOD LUCK TO YOU CAROL AND KEEP US POSTED ON ANY DEVELOPMENTS. SOMEONE WILL PROBABLY COME ALONG SHORTLY THAT WILL BE OF MORE HELP TO YOU! They say I have nodules on my back. But nobody ever said that they could take them off or fix them. I guess they just go with the RA. Hi Carol, My oldest sister and I both suffer from RA. We both have nodules. Neither of us have had one drained, so I don't have any answer there. I do know however that some medications can cause nodules. I know methotrexate is one of them. Also my rheumy has told me that if you have them drained, they will come back. Not very encouraging news is it. I wish your husband the best and God Bless you for being there for him
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