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Big Lymph nodes popped up on arms

DoreenC
  • By DoreenC
  • Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:27 am · 10 replies
  • In Symptoms
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

Has anyone had enlarged lymph nodes pop up on their arms? I have one large lymph node in the crook of my arm where you bend the elbow on both sides. It's in the area where phlebotomists like to get your blood tests from.
They're both a bit larger then a silver dollar and raised.
I am scheduled for an ultrasound and with a surgeon for posible biopsy.
This has surprised me because I have been on high doses of pred for a little over 10 weeks.

Thanks for any input,
Doreen

Explore topics in this discussion:

Pain Edema Sarcoidosis

10 replies

chicagosaint

I noticed a similar lump on the inside of my arm near the elbow last night. I am scheduled to see a doctor to biopsy a swollen lymph node near my ear this Wednesday. I will let you know what the results are. I suspect and hope that it is a sarcoidosis symptom since I already have demonstrated sarcoidosis of the mediastinal lymphnodes per prior biopsy. It is just disconcerting when swollen lymph nodes appear in other places.

Patrick

SandyIncharge

Are you sure it is a lymph node? I suppect what you have is a fatty tumor which is a sarcoid thing. I had one form under my right shoulder blade. Felt like a large lump under the muscle. It was putting pressure on the nerve and caused alot of pain. I had it removed because it was getting larger and more painful. Keep up posted on your test results.

SandyIncharge

Lymph nodes don't appear. They are stationery. The body has lymph nodes all over the body. They collect infectious cells. When they become enlarged, it is usually because there is an infectious process going on. This usually occurs in the lypmh nodes which are located in the neck, under the arms, in the groin area, and in the chest cavity. The lymph nodes will contain the granuloma generated by the dysfunctional immune system. The biopsy will reveal the presesnce of granulomas. Good luck!

DoreenC

Patrick;

I went to the surgeon and he said it was lymph circulation impairment from the sarc and subsequent edema. The lymph nodes on each arm by the elbow are always swollen but I began to notice that as the day goes on it increases and first thing in the morning they are somewhat smaller.
Keep me updated on your biopsy.

Doreen

DoreenC

Sandyincharge:

I went to the surgeon and he said it was lymph circulation impairment from the sarc and subsequent edema. The lymph nodes on each arm by the elbow are always swollen but I began to notice that as the day goes on it increases and first thing in the morning they are somewhat smaller.
He did say that it was not a fatty tumor, nodules etc.
It's amazing what sarc can do to the body.

Doreen

chicagosaint

Thanks, Doreen and Sandy. I do not expect it to be a fatty tumor as the location is exactly where epitrochlear lymph nodes are located. Did your surgeon make that determination from a biopsy? After an ultrasound, my surgeon was a little more than suspicious about the lump in front of my ear. As a result, I am scheduled for a biopsy this Wednesday. I have not had the chance to tell him about the one near my elbow. Prior to noticing these lumps, I have never noticed enlarged peripheral lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph nodes resulting from my sarc appeared to be isolated to the mediastinum (chest) until now. The new enlarged peripheral lymph nodes now raises the question of whether the enlargement is caused by the sarc., infection, lymphoma or metastatic disease. This makes me question whether or not to obtain a biopsy every time I have a new swollen lymph node (i.e. better safe than sorry strategy). I will let you know what my surgeon thinks.

Sandy - I agree that lymph nodes do not just appear, but they do become enlarged. I was just stating as a matter of perception it just appeared.

Take Care,

Patrick

DoreenC

Patrick:

I too have had enlarged lymph nodes in my chest in the past but they had disappeared over time.
This was totally new to me. They too are in the epitrochlear area of each arm.
The surgeon said there was no reason to do a biopsy in my case because the lymph node looks normal and what I am having is edema from impaired lymph drainage circulation.
Of course they will watch things in case anything worsens .
But, I agree with your strategy. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Doreen

TerClark

This is how I first presented with Sarc six years ago. I felt like crap, majorily fatigued, but brushed that off. Then I had these huge bumps on the inside of both arms. I went into my doc and asked if that was normal. He said no and almost instantly suspected that I had sarcoidosis. The bumps aren't as large now, but still more prominent then most.

DoreenC

TerClark:

Thanks for sharing that story. I had never seen or heard anything like it and was shocked when they appeared. Knowing that someone else has it doesn't make feel so worried. You have had these lumps for 6 years?
Sarc is certainly a strange disease.

Doreen

chicagosaint

Reporting in on the preliminary results from my biopsy and it appears to be sarcoid granulomous that is causing the swollen lymph nodes, not malignancy. Sarcoidosis is a strange disease.

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Help and information from FSR

Sarcoidosis and the Body
Sarcoidosis is a "multiorgan" disease - meaning it almost always involves more than one organ. It's unpredictable and affects different people in different ways.

You can learn about the ways in which sarcoidosis affects the body in FSR's Sarcoidosis and the Body brochure.

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