Thumb Arthritis

In my experience; confirmed by consultant - hand arthritis tends to go crazy and terribly painful when it first comes on and for a while afterwards while it very kindly disfigures your fingers/thumbs. However the pain seems to settle down and then you "just" get the occasional stab like the witches in Macbeth. That's where I am with mine and in my case I'm glad I didn't have surgery. However, people here are saying get it done and it seems to have worked for them. I might have more use of my fingers if I'd had it done?
Second thing - hip/knee arthritis. I waited a decade and my life was adversely affected by hip arthritis. I was frankly terrified. However I had pretty much no cartilage left and the pain was fabulously awful. Wish I'd had it done way sooner - a life-changing miracle for me. I was like my old self and hadn't realised how much pain like that was affecting my relationships, job, travel etc. That's my advice is to go for it but I know we are all different and knees are trickier than hips. If/when you do - be prepared to really put in the rehab and don't do silly things too soon. Good luck- your decision.

Sorry, I haven't had time to read all the responses OP, but I have this too. I had the first injection which worked well, but was incredibly painful. Then I saw a video about it, and tried what was recommended, which was as follows:

If the pain in in your LEFT thumb, put your RIGHT hand underneath your left, and grab your thumb from underneath, pull it down as far as you can bear, the first time I did this it was excruciating, but now I get pain very rarely, and when I do, I do this same process, and it's no longer as painful as the first time, but soon seems to take the pain away.

I'm a bit concerned that I haven't explained it very well, but basically you're pulling your thumb back towards your wrist. I hope this helps, as it's certainly worked for me.

I’d totally agree with your comments. You would not do yourself any favours by delaying the operation. Delaying only makes your recovery longer.

Lizbeth59

Thanks everyone for your kind advice. I think i will put up with it for now until it becomes unmanageable x

I had injections in both my thumbs and braces to help when I was working. Eventually the pain just disappeared, I have not had any pain at all in the thumbs for a few years now. Wish my back would follow but that is a completely different story.

I to have had a trapiesiectomy on both my thumbs , recovery was quicker than expected I'm 8 years on and never even a twinge of pain since , would highly recommend having it done.

Thank you Oldbutstilluseful. I have had pain in my left thumb for a long time but manage it fairly well. The pain came on gradually, but two days ago I woke up unable to move my right thumb. It eased off as the day went on but is still painful. I managed with one duff thumb( I gave up ironing altogether ! ) but it's something else altogether when they both go funny. I am grateful to hear that something can be done.
I am having an injection in my toe next week as I have a Mortons Neuroma in there. My goodness life can get complicated when you are 75.

Had surgery yesterday - the anaesthetic was nerve block - which I had to have rather a lot of because I could still wiggle thumb & fingers when I shouldn't have been able to! Surgery went well according to the surgeon and feeling in fingers and thumb had returned on waking this morning. Hand and thumb are swollen and a bit sore managed by regular painkillers and I'm in a sling for a few days with a whopping great bandage encasing the whole hand and wrist. Not allowed to lift anything but managing quite well with just my right hand - although pulling trousers up is a bit of a challenge! I'm certainly pleased I've had it done - I didn't wake up once last night - usually 2 or 3 times before with thumb pain