I have trigeminal neuralgia but it has never extended into my shoulder,
thank goodness!!! I was on Tegratol for years. I lost all feeling in my
finger tips and had to be very careful not to burn myself. Now, I have
acupuncture for it - it's not perfect but it seems to help. It least it
saves me from being on Tegratol - which BTW, I become a witch when I'm
coming off of it!!

Nodes, yes I think I have had a few of those - not enough to worry about or
do anything about - seems to be hard lymph nodes on me that do go away. But
what is in your arm sounds almost like what my dog had - a fatty tumor. Best
to have it checked out even by a regular GP or PCP.
Bev

Try a google for CREST ?

Hi Carol,
I think that what you are describing are nodules, rather than swollen lymph
nodes. I gathered that from their location. I have a lot of hard, pea sized
nodules. They run along the side of the long bones of my shins and forearms.
They are rarely painful, unless they are in a spot that makes contact with
hard surfaces. I had larger ones on my spine. Those were quite sore, because
they touched the back of the chair when I was sitting down. My doctor
injected those with cortisone and fixed me. I have no ideas as to why the
ones in your thighs would be painful when walking. This is something your
rheumatologist might explain. No wonder you are crabby. Neuralgia is such a
painful condition. I sure hope that settles down soon.
BJ-Also in chilly, grey Sk.

What does the blurb say Carol?
I had a lump (could be described similar to BJ's removed in Sept, big mistake,
now I've got nerve problems and more pain and parts of my arm and fingers go
numb. I have to have an EMG in case that can be corrected. Nobody knew exactly
what it was until the pathology report - the tissue also contained nerve tissue.
The lump was scar tissue and inflammation and that's what I'm ending up with, so
had I to do again, I'd have steroid injection into it, instead).  I'm not sure
if it's the surgery that caused the "nerve problems" or the way, I was
holding/resting my arm (due to postop pain), that caused all this chaos.
I'm not saying yours is that.

There's a list here of possibles
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020301/901.html

I see an MD, FRCPC. She was working in a pain and rehab clinic when I was first
referred to her.
I don't have a family doctor now, and the pain clinic at hospitals are saying
they're not taking new patients.
Patients drive for hundreds of  miles to see this MD/FRCPC for various purposes.

I was thinking if your doctor could give steroid injections, they add lidocaine
or marcaine for less pain from the injection, or try to find one under "pain" or
rehab" in the phone book who does injections. (and then be referred if
necessary). If it works, that way, you can concentrate the appointment with the
rheumatologist on other issues.
Just a thought.
Best wishes, let us know.
J

I had another thought about those nodules, Carol. If they are in or on the
muscle, a muscle biopsy might be in order. That might give a clearer picture
as the what they are and why they are painful.
BJ-Sk. Canada