Are the nodules that grow on the muscle tendons of the legs common, and will they go away?

I was diagnosed with severe RA in 1978 and am currently being treated with Remicade and methotrexate. Are the nodules that grow on the muscles tendons of the legs common and will they go away? This seems to be the reason I lack flexibility and limited range of motion in my knees after replacement surgery 18 yrs ago.

Answer:

Nodules occur in approximately 10-20% of patients with RA and seem to be less and less common these days due to the modern aggressive treatment approaches to RA. Of interest is the fact that methotrexate often causes nodules to increase in number and they often appear on the fingers and can be painful and limit function. Anti TNF medications such as Remicade often cause nodules to decrease in size and number but this is not always the case.

---

posted 8/11/2004