Thumb Pain

[windsurf]

There aren't too many tasks that you do with the hands that don't engage the thumb joint. I had an acute onset of pain at the base of my thumb (at the joint adjacent to the wrist below the "meaty" aspect of the hand). I am just about hoping it is tendonitis rather than arthritis in the joint. It is very painful with use and hurts like a mf'er with shooting pains into my forearm sometimes. Has anyone else dealt with this? After a couple of weeks of no relief with heavy aspirin dosing, I made an appointment with a hand surgeon which I will have on 1/11. I anticipate that he will start with a cortisone injection and if that doesn't work go a tendon sheath release. Any suggestions as to what to expect on tendonitis vs. arthritis and prognosis?

[aaronc879]

Any numbness? You could have a problem with the median nerve causing carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Do this: make a gentle fist with the affected hand. Now tuck your thumb gentily inside your fist, under the index finger. Gradually move your fist and thumb to the side, kind of stretching the base of the thumb as you do so. If that markedly reproduces the pain in question, I'd lean toward tendonitis.

Many patients with this do well with a wrist splint of the type that stabilizes the base of the thumb, too. Steroid shots seem to bring relief, if immobilzing it doesn't work. Doesn't sound like arthritis.

If it's in the wrist itself, ask the doctor if he or she thinks it might be gout -- that disease can affect more joints than just the toe.

Good luck with it -- hope the cure if fast and easy. See my signature line for the usual disclaimers.

[Martha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa Do this: make a gentle fist with the affected hand. Now tuck your thumb gentily inside your fist, under the index finger. Gradually move your fist and thumb to the side, kind of stretching the base of the thumb as you do so.

Am I the only one who "did this" even though my thumb is just fine?

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha Am I the only one who "did this" even though my thumb is just fine?

Nope, both my thumbs checked out fine too.

I just couldn't make it work with my toes...

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha Am I the only one who "did this" even though my thumb is just fine?

Great, so now we have everyone on on the board doing it except the OP.

You'll probably all get tendonitis from repetitive stress injury, and we'll have to start a Tendonitis Forum.

But now that I know how compliant you all are, try this... oh, never mind.

[Janet H]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa Great, so now we have everyone on on the board doing it except the OP. You'll probably all get tendonitis from repetitive stress injury, and we'll have to start a Tendonitis Forum.

haha - I just googled tendonitis forum and ER is 4th on the page - this thread actually.

The first hit is a guitar players forum I have posted to about my own battle with a ganglion cyst - a guitar players nightmare!

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet H haha - I just googled tendonitis forum and ER is 4th on the page - this thread actually. The first hit is a guitar players forum I have posted to about my own battle with a ganglion cyst - a guitar players nightmare!

Well, just another war story: in the "old days" a common treatment for ganglion cysts was to immediately consult a 5 lb Harrisons Textbook of Internal Medicine. You would then raise the book with your good hand and smash the cyst with the book.

Now before half the forum starts smashing themselves with dictionaries, it didn't always work.

[windsurf]

I did "it" (the movement suggested by Rich-thank you and no disclaimer necessary here) and the traction produced pain. I don't have any numbness or tingling such as I would have assumed with carpal tunnel. Had gout once for a couple of days in the big toe and that was hot and swollen. This is not markedly swollen. I do a lot of weightlifting and try to "work around it" but that's not easy. Just getting dressed and using kitchen utensils keepps aggrevating it. If the ortho agrees with the tendontits diagnosis, I expect I'll be getting the splint. BTW, my heavy cast iron skillet (see recent posts in "Other Topics") is problematic for its weight.

[Janet H]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa ...... it didn't always work.

Humph - thanks for the tip. Just what I need - broken (and lumpy) fingers.

...you get paid for this

[simple girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsurf I did "it" (the movement suggested by Rich-thank you and no disclaimer necessary here) and the traction produced pain. I don't have any numbness or tingling such as I would have assumed with carpal tunnel. Had gout once for a couple of days in the big toe and that was hot and swollen. This is not markedly swollen. I do a lot of weightlifting and try to "work around it" but that's not easy. Just getting dressed and using kitchen utensils keepps aggrevating it. If the ortho agrees with the tendontits diagnosis, I expect I'll be getting the splint. BTW, my heavy cast iron skillet (see recent posts in "Other Topics") is problematic for its weight.

I had de Quervain's (thumb tendonitis), and it can be really disabling and very painful. I wore the thumb spica splint religiously, eventually had an injection, and finally was able to fully resolve it with some ultrasound treatments. I had a pretty severe case. Hopefully you will be able to get it better with just the splint, especially if you are catching it early, and you haven't done a lot of repeated damage to the tendon. Baby it and try not to use it! (easier said than done, I know)

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet H Humph - thanks for the tip. Just what I need - broken (and lumpy) fingers. ...you get paid for this

Not enough to FIRE just yet. Just think how helpful I'll be then .

[UncleHoney]

My thumb hurts every once in a while, but I usually know the cause.

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleHoney My thumb hurts every once in a while, but I usually know the cause.

Rich, you're fired.........we're all going to try Uncle Honey's method.........

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa Well, just another war story: in the "old days" a common treatment for ganglion cysts was to immediately consult a 5 lb Harrisons Textbook of Internal Medicine. You would then raise the book with your good hand and smash the cyst with the book.

"Here, Bubba, hold my beer in your left hand while I treat the ganglion cyst in your right hand. Nah, if'n I wuz you I'd hold it in your other left hand. Thanks, here goes!"