
Unfortunately the ligaments in the thumb can become injured in this way. During a fall, most people land on an outstretched hand to brace themselves. Carpal tunnel surgery is very effective for most patients if non-operative treatment is not successful or if nerve compression is severe. Treatment for most patients includes wearing a wrist brace at night, stretching exercises, hand therapy, and steroid injections. In severe cases, the thumb muscles can become weak and atrophied. Some patients feel electric shock sensations or burning pain in their thumbs. Initially symptoms come and go, and are often worse at night. When the nerve is pinched in the carpal tunnel, patients have numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and/or ring fingers. Carpal tunnel syndromeĬarpal tunnel syndrome is a type of pinched nerve. DeQuervain’s release surgery is occasionally necessary to resolve this condition. Treatment consists of splinting, anti-inflammatory medications, therapy, and steroid injections. This is classic in young mothers, and is sometimes called mommy’s thumb. If there is friction on the tendons, they can become inflamed and very painful.

These tendons travel through a tight compartment on the thumb side of the wrist. The tendons in the wrist that lift the thumb up are prone to tendonitis. If symptoms persist with treatment, thumb CMC surgery can greatly improve quality of life. Ways to reduce inflammation and treat thumb CMC osteoarthritis include topical anti-inflammatory gels, oral over-the-counter medications, adjusting hand activities, using a thumb splint, and steroid injections. However, the symptoms of osteoarthritis can be treated by reducing inflammation in the joint. Wear and tear is part of the normal aging process. So far, we have not found a way to prevent osteoarthritis. This process is called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.Īnyone can get osteoarthritis if they live long enough. When the joint wears out, it can become inflamed and painful. Normal, every day activities can cause wear and tear in the thumb CMC joint.

The joint at the base of the thumb which allows opposition is called the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. This gives us the ability to write, use a needle and thread, and use hand tools. Most animals do not have an “opposable” thumb. We can touch the tip of the thumb to the small finger - a function called opposition. If symptoms persist with treatment, trigger thumb release surgery is very effective and has low risks. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medications, splinting, and steroid injections. The thumb can also become swollen, stiff, and very painful. Sometimes the tendon gets stuck in the thumb pulley, causing the thumb joint to click, catch, or lock. If there is swelling or inflammation around the thumb tendon, it will not glide smoothly. The tendon that bends or flexes the thumb is called the flexor pollicis longus (FPL). There are several causes of thumb pain including: (1) trigger thumb, (2) arthritis, (3) tendonitis, (4) carpal tunnel syndrome, and (5) skier’s thumb. Read below to learn more.

When the thumb is not working properly, tasks are more difficult, and we then realize how important the thumb is. During normal life, we take our thumbs for granted. When the thumb is painful or injured, it becomes very difficult to use the hand. The thumb is involved in about 50% of all hand functions.
