Lumps on my arm

[yorkshiregirl44]

Iv got some painful lumps under my skin on my arms. If i run my finger over my arm i can feel then as they are raised and i can seethem. They look like lumps on my muscle or veins i dont know which.

Any advice to what they might be.

Thanks

[CanaryDiamond10]

Hi Yorkshire: I never had the grace and balance of a ballerina, but I wished for it from the time I was a little girl. One day a few months ago, I was putting on deodorant and found a very large (6" or so) lump placed just below the shoulder and under the arm. I could not figure out what it was but had an appointment with my rheumatologist shortly. It was very, very hard to the touch. When she looked at it the only thing she could figure is that I took a corner short (having lost peripheral vision) and when one knocks into a door corner that hard it sometimes turns the muscle hard and it takes months for it to resolve. I fall so much I just can't pay attention. I just have to get up and keep going or I'll forget what I was about to do. It could get lost for days. It seems my long term memory is better than short term. I still don't remember hitting myself that hard or taking any corners short. But due to all the pain medication I am on, I may have just straightened myself up and kept on to reach the goal.

So you can accidentally knock yourself in a muscle and it is possible it will turn into a hard lump. She (Dr.) did say you have to hit it pretty hard and had concern for how I couldn't notice that. I certainly had no explanation. It doesn't happen often to me.

Could you have fallen or bumped yourself and just "kept on going"? If you did or not, any lumps should be investigated by your doctor as soon as possible. Lumps can be nothing and they can really be a big something. So it's best to check sooner than later. Also document changes with photos if you have to wait for an appointment. It will help explain it to your doctor and help you to remember.

Warm wishes, and good luck.

CanaryDiamond10

[yorkshiregirl44 in reply to CanaryDiamond10]

Thanks, the lumps are several on the muscle of my arm and very sore. For a long time i have had pain in that arm and cant bend it properly, i always thought it was athritus.

[CanaryDiamond10]

Then I'd say it is time for a thorough check. An ultrasound or x-ray to see what is causing it. The doctor may be able to tell by touch,but I'd doubt it. Truly, it is not anything to wait on. Any sort of a lump is better checked sooner than later even though they may turn out to be nothing to worry about. At least the next time the pain in your arm pops up you;ll know what it is. Good luck and warm wishes, Yorkshire,

Canary

[yorkshiregirl44]

Got doctors appointment tomorrow and my list of symptoms...thanks

[Ajanowiak]

Hi there. I have Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis, which is caused by Primary Sjogren's Syndrome. Before I got put on Plaquenil for the vasculitis, I would also get lots of smaller bumps on the undersides of my forearms. You could definitely see them; they were like little nodules and they were also red on the raised part. They would usually pop up at nighttime after being out and about - resting my arms on tables during dinner would particularly cause them. I think if I drank an alcoholic beverage or two, they were more likely to come out. They made my skin feel tight and they made my arms and finger/wrist joints very sore. Thankfully they would be gone the morning after. I believe I read online that they could have been rheumatic nodules. I told my rheumy about them during my diagnosis but never asked him what they were. Let us know what you find out!

[Wellsie]

I have had bumps along my arms too, and they can be very painful. In my case, PAN causes inflammation to the medium sized arteries, and these bumps were actually arterial nodules (the N in PAN is Nodosa, or nodule).