Arthritic thumbs.

Just a mild warning.... For a long time, I put up with a swollen and painful middle finger,which varied in the level of pain; I got used to avoiding pressure on it. Then it really flared up just before I was due to drive from Berkshire to Wales for my brother's funeral, so I went to my GP, who was enthralled by it and diagnosed gout; I think it was the first time he'd acually seen what he explained were tophi - tiny yellowish bumps on my finger apparently caused by acidic crystals in my blood.
I knew I had gout on and off in my feet, but it had never occurred to me that I had it in my finger. After that I began taking allopurinol daily which has relieved much of the pain.

I now have similar problmes to some of you re thumbs and presumably arthritis, but thought it was worth mentioning that some of you may be suffering from signs of gout.

Marydoll

You probably need anti-inflammatories, Mizuna, but with your lung conditions, a doctor would need to prescribe and monitor

My thumbs are permantly swollen and painful and I use 10% Ibruprofen gel, which is only available on prescription.

Heat or ice packs will also help with the swelling and pain.

It’s freely available online.

my right thumb is swollen and very painful even when I'm not using it ,a pain just shoots into it , I use deep freeze but it doesn't always work. since i developed arthritis in my knees it seems to have spread to other parts.

I have just bought 10% Ibuprofen gel from my chemist. I have very swollen finger joints and nodules.

I used to have really painful arthritic thumbs (& toes) and went down the steroid injection route, which gave me relief for a few months, then the joints were too swollen, so then I had to have guided injections using a scanner at the hospital, but I haven’t had an injection for several years- they are stiff and slightly painful, but nothing like they used to be, no one can explain it, but long may it last.

I have taken turmeric and black pepper tablets for a few years now. It takes two or three months for them to start working, but, once they did, they gave me great relief. The swelling in my my fingers went down considerably. Definitely worth trying.

I have arthritis in a knee and in my thumbs and it’s starting in my ankles. However I have managed to keep pain and stiffness very low by taking a combination of anti inflammatory supplements. I take two capsules a day of turmeric with black pepper, two of resveratrol (1450 mg), and a ¼ oz slug of liquid glucosamine and chondroitin (Synflex - liquid is better absorbed than tablets). It’s quite expensive keeping up with that but frankly worth every penny for the amount of pain it prevents.

Marydoll

You probably need anti-inflammatories, Mizuna, but with your lung conditions, a doctor would need to prescribe and monitor

My thumbs are permantly swollen and painful and I use 10% Ibruprofen gel, which is only available on prescription.

Heat or ice packs will also help with the swelling and pain.

I used to get mne on prescription but you can now buy it over the counter frequently at a cost cheaper than a prescription unless of course you get prescriptions free.

Arthritis and gout flare up if you eat high prurine food. Pilates classes have helped with wrists and knees arthritis. I never take meds nor use gels. Over 70 and keeping up with gardening ...

Physio!! They are brilliant. A thumb strap to support the affected area , or steroid injections.

Turmeric is a known anti-inflammatory and there is an oil that comes highly recommended that you can apply to the affected area. www.purextracts.co.uk

I had an op for my severely arthritic thumb last August after 4 years of steroids injections twice yearly My advice to anyone offered a trapeziotomy is REFUSE it After nine months of agony I'm in more pain with a less useful thumb than ever before !!

Of course rest - but also Tiger Balm (the red one) not expensive and very helpful. (Learnt about it from adult daughter who is gymnast).

With all due respect to GrauntyHelen, I can't agree with the advice to reject a trapeziotomy. I had this operation 17 years ago and have had no trouble with the joint in all that time. A friend, who had been the surgeon's theatre nurse, told me that I was lucky to have him as he was very highly regarded. However, GH, I am so sorry to hear that your surgery was not successful, but I just wanted other people to know that this operation can be really successful.

Mizuna, if the pain is not as bad to need G P /medication attention you could try GoPo available at Boots etc. I was first introduced to this through Gransnet and take it religiously following guidelines. You take the higher dose initially then reduced dose. I would say give it the full 3 month trial as I only felt the difference in the third month but they work,

missdeke

Marydoll

You probably need anti-inflammatories, Mizuna, but with your lung conditions, a doctor would need to prescribe and monitor

My thumbs are permantly swollen and painful and I use 10% Ibruprofen gel, which is only available on prescription.

Heat or ice packs will also help with the swelling and pain.

I used to get mne on prescription but you can now buy it over the counter frequently at a cost cheaper than a prescription unless of course you get prescriptions free.

Fortunately I live in Scotland, where prescriptions are free.
However, Ibruprofen gel is used in conjunction with CD pain relief, biologics and NAISDs. Even then I still have pain.
I can't buy over the counter medication, without my clinicians' advice, because of contraindications.
People with multiple comorbididities need to be really careful.
It is worth remembering that are a number of reasons for painful thumbs. R.A, osteothritis and carpal tunnel are the reason for mine.

Not all thumb/wrist problems are caused by arthritis. Last year I developed a pain at base of left thumb - didn't affect my grip. Went to GP who referred me for X-ray, which showed some arthritis. GP asked if I'd like to be referred to orthopedic specialist, for possible treatment. He diagnosed DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, rather than arthritis:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/de-quervain-tenosynovitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371332#:~:text=De%20Quervain%20tenosynovitis%20(dih%2Dkwer,anything%20or%20make%20a%20fist.
Having Googled my symptoms, I suspected it might be this, rather than arthritis. Specialist gave me 3 options- do nothing; steroid injection; surgery.
I opted for the steroid injection and the pain disappeared within a few days. I know it's not a permanent solution, but I had tried splint, ibuprofen gel (can't take orally) with no effect so I was delighted with injection.

There's a test called Finkelstein test you can do to see if this is the cause. Link was meant to show but easy to Google it!

Farmor15

Not all thumb/wrist problems are caused by arthritis. Last year I developed a pain at base of left thumb - didn't affect my grip. Went to GP who referred me for X-ray, which showed some arthritis. GP asked if I'd like to be referred to orthopedic specialist, for possible treatment. He diagnosed DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, rather than arthritis:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/de-quervain-tenosynovitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371332#:~:text=De%20Quervain%20tenosynovitis%20(dih%2Dkwer,anything%20or%20make%20a%20fist.
Having Googled my symptoms, I suspected it might be this, rather than arthritis. Specialist gave me 3 options- do nothing; steroid injection; surgery.
I opted for the steroid injection and the pain disappeared within a few days. I know it's not a permanent solution, but I had tried splint, ibuprofen gel (can't take orally) with no effect so I was delighted with injection.

I had de Quervain's, but after steroid injections, I needed an op, because I eventually couldn't use my right hand.
I had ultra sounds and nerve tests to determine the cause. It took a long time to determine the cause. People with R.A are prone to this.

That was seven years ago and the op did help. I was fortunate because a well respected plastic surgeon performed the op.
In the last year however, after an R.A flare up, it has returned.
I also have nodules on my thumbs. They are excrutiating to touch.

My fingers are curled and my thumbs are at a very odd angle, have painkillers from the doctor but doesn't always helped but I bought Moov cream on Amazon when I fell and hurt my spine, as soon as I put it on I can feel the pain going.
I did try the spray but nowhere near as good

I find that Velcro wrist straps actually makes my thumb joints hurt even more. There are several exercises that the hospital told me to do that I must admit to forgetting to do. I wear padded gloves a lot of the time and put ibuprofen gel on the joint at night. Someone at the hospital mentioned a gadget full of wax which you heat up and put your hands into but I tend to just rest my hand on a hot water bottle at night.

I too have arthritis in my thumbs and finger joints. I was taking naproxen and using ibruprofen gel too prescribed by doc. I was advised against by pharmacy review as I was overdosing on nsaids so now use chilli based gel which sometimes helps but not much. I have been waiting on physio for months and months. I find heat helps me and look forward to the summer months.

I'd say it depends on which part(s) of your thumb are affected.
In my case, the pain originated about 4cm above my wrist and radiated all through the thumb(s) (both hands).
I do have MS and osteoarthritis which seem to have exacerbated each other, so I ended up having surgery on both hands to remove the trapezium bone (trapeziectomy), and had a second surgery where a silicone spacer had to be put into the one hand because a minor fall a month after the initial surgery made the bulk of my thumb 'fall back' into the space where the bone had been.
Apart from the MS and OA, my consultant said that repetitive strain had likely caused some of the problems, and that in maybe 20-30 years' time, many of today's youngsters will be needing similar surgery because of all the repetitive 'thumb-action' required when using today's phones and gaming, and many will experience those types of pain and injuries.

I believe you’re having joint replacement surgery later in the year? Over the last couple of years my thumb joints had become particularly troublesome and painful but, like you, I was awaiting joint replacement surgery and reliant on walking sticks, even indoors. I’ve always taken glucosamine but started to use Rhus Tox and ibuprofen gel with little effect. It’s only now, 6 months after getting my hip replacement and finally pain and stick free, that I realise my thumbs are very, very much improved, just occasional twinges in my left (worst) thumb! I still use a hiking pole if I’m on a country walk, but it’s height adjusted and held at a different angle.
So, a seemingly simple solution for me which I hope might be the answer for you. Time will tell!

Yes NanaBabs, my right knee in two months' time and this is the third year that I've been on crutches, so I suspect that it's taken a toll on my hands. I would use walking poles but the cobbles in the town where I live make it hazardous for me unless I'm using crutches. It will be interesting to see if my hands improve after my op.

So many different stories here, thank you everyone. I'm processing all the information and really value the time people have taken to respond.