Arthritis of the Thumb

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Arthritis of the Thumb

Modify activity when arthritis symptoms increase, try to stay active

Thumb arthritis is the second most common type of arthritis in the hand

Women are 10 to 20 times more likely than men to develop thumb arthritis

What is thumb arthritis?

Normally in a joint, cartilage covers the ends of bones and creates a shock absorber to allow pain-free movement. With arthritis, the cartilage deteriorates, which results in contact between the bones. This produces pain and eventually deformity. We are discussing arthritis of the base of the thumb. This is the most common site of arthritis in the hand. The joint, also called the carpometacarpal or CMC joint, is a saddle shaped joint that allows the thumb to have a wide range of motions. This gives you the ability to pinch and grab things. CMC joint arthritis may make it difficult to accomplish many everyday tasks.

Who gets it?

Arthritis of the base of the thumb is more commonly seen in women over the age of 40. It is a fairly common problem that happens to around 7% of men and 15% of women. There are conservative treatments, but many arthritic thumb cases commonly requires surgery.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom of CMC joint arthritis is pain at the base of the thumb. It often becomes difficult to do everyday tasks, such as opening jars, turning door knobs or writing. The pain can become so severe that you may experience pain at night when sleeping. In more severe cases destruction and mal-alignment of the joint occurs, and a bump develops. If you start to experience these symptoms you may want to consult your doctor, who can advise you on the best option to treat your discomfort. They will diagnose you by a physical evaluation as well as X-rays of your hand. X-rays are used to confirm the diagnosis, although the severity of your arthritis cannot always be determined with x-ray findings.

Treatment Options

Non Surgical Options – conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatories or cortisone injections. If these treatments do not help your pain your doctor may refer you to a surgeon to discuss your discomfort.

Surgical Treatment Options – following are five common surgical treatment options for thumb arthritis: Joint Fusion, Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition (LRTI), Arthroscopy, Joint Replacement (Arthroplasty), Osteotomy. Learn More

F.A.Q’s

According to government figures, 50 million Americans are now living with arthritis — a number that’s expected to be 67 million by 2030… The same piece notes that thumb arthritis occurs as much as 10 times more often in women than in men, which may be due to hormonal differences.
Usually, the first sign of arthritis in the thumb is pain, tenderness, and stiffness. You’re most likely to feel it at the base of your thumb as you try to grip, pinch, or clasp something between the thumb and index fingers. … A high level of pain doesn’t always mean your arthritis is more severe.
In its early stages, arthritis at the base of the thumb will respond to nonsurgical treatment. When nonsurgical treatment is no longer effective, surgery is an option. The operation can be performed on an outpatient basis, and several different procedures can be used.
To meet the disability criteria to qualify for benefits, an arthritic person must have swelling and pain, and his or her joint movement must be limited or painful. … Your hand surgeon will diagnose the severity of your disease, which may or may not qualify as a disability.
While there is no cure for basal joint arthritis, there are simple treatments that effectively relieve the symptoms in many individuals. These treatments, including splints, heat and cold, joint protection techniques, and gentle motion, can all be used independently following instruction by a therapist.
Thumb arthritis usually starts between ages 30 and 50, but it can start as early as childhood.
Because gripping and pinching tend to aggravate the symptoms of basal joint arthritis, squeezing a ball and similar exercises should be avoided. Some individuals respond well to gentle motion performed in warm water to alleviate morning stiffness. Therapists provide advice about specific exercises if they are appropriate for an individual.
Several surgical options are available, and the best approach depends on the stage of the disease and severity of symptoms. Broadly speaking, most thumb surgeries remove some or all of the arthritic bone and use various methods to stabilize the joint.

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