Suggest Treatment For Pain In The Thumb Joint

Posted on Wed, 26 Aug 2015

Question: I am 50 yo female with left thumb pain at the base of the joint for 2 weeks. No known trauma or injury. It is a constant pain which becomes worse with a certain movement. Then it is a sharp pain. I don't notice any bruising or erythema.

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
stop the ice and consider seeing orthopedist

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Ice will not help much. It is good after an acute injury for the first few hours but can actually slow healing if used regularly.
The thumb immobilizer may help relive pain but you need to know the cause of pain in order to treat it properly.
First see your doctor for an exam and xrays. If it is from osteoarthritis then tylenol and glucosamine may be helpful.
If there is inflammation in the joint ibuprofen may help.
If nothing shows on the xrays and the pain is constant you may need an MRI to look at the cartilage.
A joint injection by an orthopedist may be helpful as well.
There are hand physical therapists that may help as well but they would only be able to see you after you got a diagnosis from an orthopedist.
I hope you get some relief soon,
Dr. Robinson

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar