Are you experiencing unexplained pain in your thumb joints? Thumb arthritis occurs when the cartilage starts to deteriorate, which causes the bones in the joint to rub against each other and lead to friction, inflammation, damage, and pain. It can be caused due to many factors. While there’s no cure for arthritis in your thumb, many treatment options are available to relieve symptoms. Learn thumb joint pain treatment options in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

 

 

Management

Thumb arthritis management depends on the severity of the symptoms. In the initial stages of arthritis, treatment includes a combination of home remedies and medications. However, if the pain is severe, surgery is recommended.

Home remedies focus on lowering pain and improving thumb function. It includes:

  • Using ice or heat therapy: You can apply ice packs to your thumb joint for 5 to 15 minutes several times a day. Or you can use a heating pad for 5 to 15 minutes a few times a day. You should try both options to see which one works best for you.
  • Hand exercises: You can do some exercises to strengthen the muscles around the thumb and improve your range of motion. It includes:
    • A thumb stretch, where you try to touch the tip of your thumb with the pinky finger.
    • IP (interphalangeal) stretch requires you to hold your thumb still with the other hand and try to bend the upper part of the thumb.
    • Simply touch the tips of every finger with the tip of the thumb.

Make sure you perform these exercises after consulting with your doctor or physical therapist to ensure you perform the movements correctly.

  • Splint: Your doctor may recommend a splint for your thumb, especially for certain activities that may strain the joint or at night. It may look like a half glove with reinforcing material inside. This can help to reduce pain, help to keep the thumb in the correct position, and provide rest. It should be used continuously for 3 to 4 weeks until your symptoms get better, however, don’t wear it all the time.

 

Medications used to manage thumb arthritis may include:

  • Over-the-counter medications: These medications can be taken without a prescription to reduce the pain. It includes:
    • Acetaminophen
    • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Keep in mind that high doses of NSAIDs may lead to health problems, so only take recommended dosages that are mentioned on the package or what the doctor recommends. You can use topical NSAIDs like Voltaren gel, to apply on the joint which doesn’t cause many adverse effects on the body.
    • Supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin, are available in pill and powder form to relieve pain. You can also use capsaicin skin creams as well.
  • Prescription medications: It may include cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib and meloxicam to treat arthritis symptoms. These medications are amazingly effective, however taking high doses may cause some side effects, including:
    • Ringing in the ears
    • Cardiovascular problems
    • Liver and kidney damage
    • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Injectable medications: The doctor may prescribe steroid injections to relieve swelling and pain in the thumb joint. It is usually done 2 to 3 times a year. The relief from these injections is temporary but effective. However, excessive physical activity should be avoided if you take these injections, as it can put you at risk of damaging the joints.

 

If these non-surgical treatments aren’t effective, then the doctor may recommend surgery to reduce pain and restore range of motion and strength. It includes:

  • Fusion surgery: In this surgery, the surgeon fuses the bones of the thumb joint to eliminate pain and increase strength but may limit mobility. The surgeon hollows out the thumb’s metacarpal bone to shape it into a cone to fit inside the socket. Then, a metal pin is used to hold the bones together until they fuse.
  • Total joint replacement: In this surgery, the surgeon will remove all or some parts of the damaged thumb joint and replace it with an artificial implant.
  • Ligament reconstruction: In this surgery, the surgeon removes a portion of the damaged ligament and replaces it with a piece of the patient’s wrist flexor tendon which stabilizes the joint and prevents the bones from slipping out.
  • Ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI): In this surgery, the surgeon removes the damaged joints and replaces them with a cushion of tissue that prevents the bones from rubbing each other. They also remove all or a part of the bone in the wrist from the base of the thumb joint and replace it with the closed tendon. This reduces pain while continued movement.
  • Osteotomy: In this surgery, the doctor removes bone in your joint to align correctly and may trim the excess growth.
  • Trapeziectomy: In this surgery, the doctor removes one of the wrist bones in the thumb joint (trapezium).

The most common surgery for thumb arthritis is LRTI but it takes a long recovery time, and some people experience pain during recovery. It can take 8 weeks (about 2 months) to 1 year to recover from thumb surgery and for better results, the patient should consider consulting an occupational or physical therapist.

 

Need help with thumb joint pain, visit our pain management specialist in Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now and manage your pain with ease!!!

Your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. The location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at http://www.painmanagementbrooklyn.com/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.