Thumb Arthritis Pain

You can be helped! By Virginia Taft, owner Coeur d’Alene Hand Therapy and Healing Center.

Thumb arthritis can be painful and debilitating. If you think there is little that can be done –think again! Osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb is caused by injury or wear and tear on the joint. The most common joint affected is the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. This is the joint at the base of the thumb where it meets the wrist. This joint is especially prone to injury, as it needs to be stable and take a lot of force to allow you to pinch, hold and twist. Pain when pinching, gripping, lifting or pushing on the joint is usually the reason people seek help.

While “use it or lose it” applies to most arthritic joints, the thumb joint needs a balance of stability and mobility. If there is looseness in the ligaments, you may need a splint to support the joint and prevent further inflammation and injury. Splinting is generally recommended full time for 3-4 weeks or until pain is minimal. Then the splint may be used only at night and during stressful activities. Silver ring splints look like fine jewelry, but are a comfortable option, especially for long term use. Sometimes you may need a firm splint for work activities and something softer and less restrictive for night wear. You might need a specific type of splint for a sport such as golf. A word of caution – over the counter supports can be helpful, but make sure you are applying them correctly and they are the right type for you. Do not continue to wear a splint that causes you pain. Your therapist can advise you and help you get the right fit.

Heat, ultrasound or other modalities may be used along with massage of the soft tissue to help reduce pain and swelling, as well as improve blood flow. Exercises are recommended to strengthen weakened muscle groups, but the thumb should not be forced into pain. You can be shown pinch patterns that help to avoid additional stress on the joints. It is also very important to protect your joints by modifying activities or using adaptive equipment such as larger handles, different types of scissors, etc.

Many people who have OA also have other joints in the body that may be affected. It is critical to look at you as a whole person, as well as a whole body. That means identifying movement patterns and postures that contribute to stress on the joints as well as looking at your lifestyle and what is important to you. Your therapist can make recommendations about treatment and community resources such as the Arthritis Foundation since there is always new information coming out. However, the best thing the therapist can do is to help you learn to listen to your body, so you can get help before you are in a crisis. Although you may not cure this arthritis, your therapist can help you to develop a plan for pain relief, increasing your function and learning ways to protect the joints from further damage so you can continue to do the things that you want to do.

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