What is it that could be causing your thumbs to hurt when you use them? Are your thumbs tender and starting to swell up, or do they lock as you attempt to do anything? There are several different reasons for a thumb to be hurting during use, let’s look at the top three.
Arthritis
When the cartilage in the carpometacarpal joint wears away, it causes arthritis in the thumbs.
Arthritis causes swelling, stiffness, and swelling of the thumb; this makes movements more difficult.
Arthritis is most commonly found in people 40 years old and above, or those with previous injuries to the thumb. The best way to treat thumb arthritis is to ice the area for 5 to 15 minutes and take an anti-inflammatory to ease the swelling.
The use of a splint or brace is also recommended to prevent the movement of the thumb. When suffering from arthritis, rest is always the best form of treatment.
Trigger thumb
Trigger thumb is caused by repetitive forceful actions such as gripping and is common in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. There are several treatments for trigger thumb, the most effective being a cortisone injection.
You can also take an anti-inflammatory pain killer, then splint to allow the area rest. Trigger thumb or finger is the most common reason for one’s thumbs to be hurting.
De Quervains Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is the second most common cause of thumb pain, behind trigger thumb. De Quervain’s is caused by repeated motion that inflames the tendons in the wrist and thumb.
Treatment is very similar to trigger thumb, taking an anti-inflammatory and pain killer is usually what is recommended. The use of a brace or splint will help in the healing process. In extreme cases, surgery followed by physiotherapy may be required.
