Heberden's nodes are yiuck

Mat48

I don't really understand why I have these blasted things but they keep getting red and sore and are getting bigger again? I know they represent OA as opposed to RA - which I also have - but they are the more disfiguring for me and make me feel older than my fifty years.

Now I have both index fingers with hard, slightly red and hot pea sized nobs on them and all my other fingers have them on the distal joints. Do others with RA also get this OA stuff on their hands? My GP told me it was genetic but I'm fairly sure neither of my parents, both now dead had them?

Is it because I use my hands too hard and does anyone know how can I stop them growing so fast? I suppose I'm a bit spoilt because the RA has been effectively controlled to a large degree by the MTX and Hydroxy I take - but the nasty Heberden's nodes seem to grow bigger and sorer daily. I feel like something out of Kafka's Metamorphosis - they also get knocked really easily and my hands look much older than my fifty years now. Husband gets flinching and growling wife if he tries to squeeze them. Advice on how to minimise the growth of these nodes would be very welcome. Mat x

stickywicket

I have them and, yes, they don't look good. I didn't know they had a name. I've just long accepted them as part of the OA which has resulted from the RA. I don't remember my Mum or Dad having them though.

I'm not sure that they keep growing bigger. I think they stop after a point but, because they stick out, they are easily banged and that does make them bigger for a while :roll:

I don't know whether using your fingers a lot would make them worse or not and I've just always assumed nothing could be done about them. It's far too late for me but I'll watch the thread with interest.

Mat48

Thanks SW. You may know me well enough by now to realise that I'm always doubting that I have RA so having the OA bits as more visible and disfiguring than the RA bits feeds this silly worry often. Having both arrive simultaneously (OA shortly after RA) adds to the confusion. I'm only just 50 and having these nodes on my finger tops really offends all my efforts to withstand arthritis (just finished Zumba work out on my Wii! - gold star girl!) because, as you say we can do nothing about them whereas we can at least take DMARDs for RA and do as much exercise (and I've built up slowly and lost 4 stone on route over 18 months) is good for the RA.

These Hebridean islands (that's a fitting distortion of actual name!) - and endless having them bump on things and then get slightly infected - is just so not cool at all!

Sorry to moan when others, including you, weather all this with great humor and generosity. I will try and hopefully in time I'll just accept these Scottish finger mountains.. I will, I will.. xx

stickywicket

Mat48 wrote:

Sorry to moan when others, including you, weather all this with great humor and generosity.

:shock: Don't you believe it, Mat. For a true picture, just ask my nearest and dearest Besides, I've had a lot longer to come to terms with all this than you have.

Re the RA/OA thing - I know my OA is a result of my RA. It makes perfect sense. However, might it be possible that you had some early OA when you first got, or were diagnosed with, RA? I have learnt that, just because our bodies acquire one cruddy disease, it doesn't mean we get are dealt a get-out-clause on others :roll:

Scotland's mountains are beautiful. (But I doubt that's any help :roll: )

jillyb1

I too didn't know they were called Heberden's nodes ; in my family they are affectionately known as " those bleep bleep bleep lumps " on mum's fingers . I have them on both hands especially the right which is contracted by Depuytrens , being a vain female , I hate them . Jillyb

Mat48

Thanks both. My hands and face used to be covered in eczema - then i had five years or so off and now they have OA and RA so aren't as pretty as they briefly were. I hate these Herberden nodes more than any other part of me - including my saggy belly - so that really is a lot! But I'm fairly sure it was the RA that started well before it showed itself properly or became enough of an issue for me to visit a GP with. The OA nodes sprang up really suddenly after I'd had a Kenalog jab for my RA and the swelling went down as these hard things popped painfully up. I was horrified! I suppose they remind me of old people - and I don't feel I belong to that category yet.

Hebrides are beautiful so will try to see them as such but I don't think I could ever succeed. My belly at least housed three large sons so I can credit al the stretch marks with this - what did these mini mountains ever do that was productive?! Thanks for your kindness SW.
Mat x

lululu

I did not know they had a name either Mat, I just have them on my right hand. You say you doubt the RA, just a thought you say you had excema could that have progressed into SA, as I said #just a thought'

Mat48

Ah well now you know you can call the little darlings names such as Herby and Deany etc? :roll: The ones on joints below are called Bouchards nodes which makes them sound a lot more kissable and glam than they are doesn't it

I have thought often this might suddenly turn into PsA but as all my nails are currently normal and I have no psoriasis its looking increasingly unlikely. Also I'm responding well to injectable MTX and Hydroxy but wouldn't be if I had PsA as this tends to require anti-tnfs I'm reliably informed. But my mind is wide open - am hoping to be like Benjamin Bucket so as I age I get younger looking - started out as a wizened little bag of wrinkles and have only recently started to bloom - that's why I hate those bu**ers on my fingers with such a vengeance! X