A growth on my thumb???

[Freefrompain]

Hi to you all

I have been a member of health unlocked for many years but not posted anything! I have RA and was diagnosed in 2000. Over the years I have learned to cope with my RA and the other conditions that have come along with it! For myself I have tried to keep positive all along and didn’t want this to overtake my life. While there have been times where it has sucked the life out of me I have still tried to keep positive! I have not seen my Rheumatologist since before lockdown and when I was eventually sent an appointment to go and see him it was cancelled a couple of weeks later. Since then I still haven’t had a new appointment. The reason for my post today is I have a growth on my thumb which started as a very small lump that was squishy, over time it has become bigger and bigger! I have spoken several times with my nurse and with a a GP and they have no idea what it is? As it’s grown bigger the top part of it is hard and the bottom of it as it grows is squishy. It’s gone from a very small lump to nearly covering my thumb. Does anyone on here have any idea what it could be please?

[KittyJ]

Sorry I can’t help with what it could be but I think I would insist on being seen in person rather than just speaking to the doctor. Lumps should be investigated, I can’t believe because they don’t know what it is they’re happy to just leave it without even seeing it. If they don’t know then they should refer you to someone who will be able to tell you. It might just be a nodule but it’s growing and that’s not good. I hope you find out what it is soon🤗

[Freefrompain in reply to KittyJ]

Thank you so very much!! It feels like at times I’m just fobbed off and since having my first Covid vaccine it became bigger and then the same after my second vaccine?

[springcross]

Hi Freefrompain. Have you tried your nearest A & E or ringing 111, you need it looked at and if your GP or rheumy department won't check it out, someone else should. Good luck.

[AgedCrone in reply to springcross]

Or if there is one in the area that I would try the walk in Minor Injuries unit…they deal with most things….they confirmed my attack of Shingles & got me an emergency GP appointment to get the anti virals.

[springcross in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes, good idea - we've got one in our little town.

[AgedCrone in reply to springcross]

I find ours isn’t usually too busy either…. So the nurses who run them have plenty of time to really discuss what you want to talk about.

[springcross in reply to AgedCrone]

Ours isn't that busy since Covid (on the odd occasion I've been in there) but the nurses do tend to stand around chatting and laughing between themselves sometimes which is a bit annoying when you're waiting to be seen, but it's better than nowt.

[Freefrompain in reply to springcross]

Thank you so much for your advice x

[springcross in reply to Freefrompain]

Let us know how you get on. 🤞 xx

[Freefrompain in reply to springcross]

Thank you 😊 so much

[Lolabridge]

Yes do insist on a F2F appointment with your GP or Rheumy so that can be checked.

[medway-lady]

Ganglion? but your GP must know surely. He/she should see you or refer you to a dermatologist to get it checked out. Even if not painful it must cause problems when gripping stuff.

[Freefrompain in reply to medway-lady]

Yes it does cause problems when trying to grip anything and it seems to be growing more and more

[Sheila_G]

I agree with Kitty. This definitely needs investigating. Don't be fobbed off. Ring for an emergency appointment today. Someone needs to see it and deal with it. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

[Freefrompain in reply to Sheila_G]

I will let you know how I get on thank you for your advice

[Gilliancheche]

You need to be referred for further investigation. I had a lump for a couple of years which I thought was a ganglion. It wasn't. I saw a second GP who sent me for an ultrasound and I had to have the lump removed and a biopsy - which fortunately was benign. Don't delay

[Freefrompain in reply to Gilliancheche]

Thank you you are so right!! But trying to get an appointment with a nurse is hard let alone a GP or consultant

[Bookworm55]

Yes you definitely need it seen by a doctor but could be a nodule linked to RA. I seem to be prone to these despite my RA being generally well controlled. Mine vary massively from hard bony lumps to tiny hard spots. They don’t hurt at all but come and go in various parts of my hands.

Nodule

[Freefrompain in reply to Bookworm55]

I do have Nodules on both my hands which are pretty much the same size as yours. I also have a couple on my wrists and toes do I’m certain it not a Nodule.Thank you for your advice .

[Tatiana13]

I have two on my thumb but they are now hard , I would get your GP to look at it. I haven't seen my consultant since lockdown but the nurses are great . Don't lose your positivity

[Freefrompain in reply to Tatiana13]

Thank you I’m trying hard not to I really am! Hopefully I will get some one to look at it very soon thank you

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hi I also have the same lumps. Mine appeared about 3 years ago. I’ve also went and should my doctor who looked then asked few other doctors to look and told didn’t know what it was and I also went on to show rhemy my nurse and a few different doctors and I never got a answer neither. All I got was mmm and I’m still none the wiser.

Snap

[Freefrompain in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

I understand completely unfortunately I have had the same response as yourself and it does get you down as when you are told over and over again that they have idea what it is and it does worry me.

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to Freefrompain]

Yes I know so now I just live with it. Don’t have much options really do we

[AgedCrone]

It looks like a ganglion/cyst…they can be removed …..or it could be a Heberden node…I have these on my fingers & rheumy tells me they are from osteo arthritis. Mine don’t hurt most of the time…then for no reason they are very painful for a couple of days then they go back to normal.As you have shown it to your GP & he doesn’t know what it is I’d try to at least to get your rheumy nurse to have a look at it.

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to AgedCrone]

I’ve already show it to my Rhemy nurse and rhemy doctors, yes I was told some ppl get them when got RA or OA. I’ve OA in my hands knees and hips

[Freefrompain in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

I do have RA but this growth is very different from the Nodules I already have?

[AgedCrone in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Wel l if they aren’t worried about the lump…..there should be nothing to worry about.

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to AgedCrone]

I don’t but did when started to appear which any normal person would

[AgedCrone in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Yes….it’s amazing what can send us into a spin isn’t it?

[Freefrompain]

Thank you for letting me know your experience much appreciated.