Re Rheumatoid nodules

[jwitney]

I am a 60 something female and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 13 years. It is under reasonable control due to various medications (which include methotrexate) but recently I have started to develop nodules. One on the sole of my foot has ulcerated. My Dr tells me it will require surgical removal which I am not keen about especially as I have read it may return in spite of the op. Has anyone experienced nodules, especially on the foot? I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have had them successfully treated without resorting to surgery.

[kageyd]

jwhitney, I am newly diagnosed last November, age 69. i started with this forum, where there is a small number of helpful people. But someone else here steered me over to Facebook, where the large Rheumatoid Arthritis Discussions involve a huge number of people. I can't recommend it too highly. You have to go to Facebook (google to get there), and sign up for a page (all free). Then if you plug "rheumatoid" into the little search bar at the top, you will see there are several RA groups, one with over 3000 members. This latter is the one you want to join (painless, just click on "join", again no fee, ever). You will find questions and replies under Discussion. They are reverse chronologically, with the most recent "reply" at the top, and then you just scan topics and scroll back as far as you like. The people are informed, helpful, caring, knowledgeable, and constantly struggling with the best way to deal with this awful disease. "Nodule" are mentioned very often, in many places in the body, so you have plenty of company (fortunately I don't have any - yet). And medications are also a common topic, along with attitude adjustment, and ways to make yourself comfortable.

If you have any questions, post again here, as I continue to check in every few days precisely in order to steer people to the far more informative group on Facebook. Oh, and many of us find the About.com RA pages a good starting place for information, as well as the Johns Hopkins site, although by now you have probably read those and many others several times over. Stay in touch and let me know how you are doing (there are very few "over 60" people on any RA forums - I guess most of us at that age don't use the internet or Facebook (which was totally new to me as a participant just two weeks ago). But the ones who are there are eager helpers. Kagey Dorosz

[jwitney]

Thank you very much Kagey. I shall follow up on your advice immediately.
I am reasonably computer literate but until now have not resorted to the internet for RA information.
Judy

[kageyd]

I don't remember if you signed in there or not, there are so many names. If not, and if you need any help, just post here again. If so, well, good!!