Thumb Arthritis

[Superman]

I thought arthritis was for old people, not for young 64 year-olds like me. And yet, here I am with fairly debilitating thumb arthritis. At the bases of both my thumbs, where it meets the wrist. At times, it is bad enough that I cannot carry a book with one hand. I am an active person and a bass player so I really need to make this go away somehow. Sure, I should see my doctor about this but first I want to hear from the Pelicanheads. Anybody have experience or other perspective on this?

[Rot 911]

I’ve got a similar problem, but only in my left hand. Unfortunately, I am left-handed. I went to an arthritis specialist. They can give you prescription medication to reduce the inflammation, but you’ll probably end up taking it for the rest of your life. Fortunately, for me, the doctor recommended I just take a couple of ibuprofen in the morning before I get started on anything. So far, that has worked for me. Some days I need to take a couple of ibuprofen in the afternoon. Still better than getting stuck taking a prescription med.

[Bugsinrugs]

That big ass bump is my thumb knuckle. Arthritis in both thumbs. I have always been hard on my hands and now I’m paying for it. I just suck it up and do what I have to do and then suffer at night.

[Superman]

Here is an excellent discussion:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dealing-with-thumb-arthritis.1509328/

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Superman

And yet, here I am with fairly debilitating thumb arthritis. At the bases of both my thumbs, where it meets the wrist.

I'm just starting this journey at 65. Base of thumbs at hand have been bad for a few years but it has to be mild based on what you are describing as perhaps advanced moderate? At least fully moderate on the mild, moderate or extreme scale?

My left hip is moderate. It sucks a whole lot. It was exacerbated by the 36 cardiac rehab sessions late last fall after triple bypass mid last year.

I take Mobic/Meloxicam but just started three months ago.

I can't take ibuprofen because I have afib. I do take two or three once a week if I forget to take the Meloxicam.

I think the best bet right now for either of us is steroid shots. More you than me because the pain for me is an annoyance and frankly, does not make my eyes tear up. I don't know how to describe the degrees of discomfort but I am not at the "Are you effing kidding me" level

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

That big ass bump is my thumb knuckle. Arthritis in both thumbs. I have always been hard on my hands and now I’m paying for it. I just suck it up and do what I have to do and then suffer at night.

Any steroid/cortisone shots?

[john walker's workshop]

Voltaren helps.

[Superman]

Thanks, Bob. The "can't carry a book" thing is worst case scenario which I think can be avoided. I have done nothing to make things better, and there are many things I notice I can do. Warm-ups. Ibuprofen. PT (the link has a video link with exercises). hand/thumb braces. I think those will help a lot. After that, perhaps Rx meds. I think I am a distance away from needing surgery yet.

But for five dozen years my body has done exactly what I asked it to do. This is changing, and I am spoiled.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Any steroid/cortisone shots?

I don’t like cortisone. Had a few injections in my shoulder years back. Relief was minimal and short lived. Ibuprofen works for me.

[Evans, Marv]

IU have that on my left hand. I attribute it to the fact I whacked it really hard with a tool while working in the garage a couple/few years ago. At the time, I thought I may have cracked the bone near the joint. It's still fairly minor, & I'm hoping it doesn't get worse as time goes along.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Superman

....Sure, I should see my doctor about this but first I want to hear from the Pelicanheads.

Made me laugh. What a sign of the times.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Made me laugh. What a sign of the times.

Right you are! I should have posted this in another nearby forum where doctors and other scientists are routinely out-smarted.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Superman

Right you are! I should have posted this in another nearby forum where doctors and other scientists are routinely out-smarted.

It'll end up there soon enough; most everything else does these days where different points of view are present. Good luck finding a fix.... I'm sure you already have a strength and stretching program that you're implementing?

[Superman]

Well no. I'm a lazy and distracted dumbass, but the link I posted offers some good suggestions, like the strength and stretching you mentioned.

Looking forward to hearing about the role of government policies in all this.

[dw1]

I'm about the same age and also have arthritis in my hand, mostly the right thumb metacarpophalangeal joint.

I've been told it is among the most common types of arthritis.

Some months ago I received injections (corticosteroid & numbing agent). The first one didn't do much, but after the second my symptoms are, and have remained, mostly gone. Definitely well worth it.

[Brian 162]

I'm in the same boat, my left thumb has been bad for years. Now my right thumb is sore as well.
For me it's from cutting copper pipe and holding the pipe with my left hand.
I just try to grab stuff using my thumbs as little as possible.
BTW I'm 62

[A930Rocket]

I doubt it’s related to arthritis (I have finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder pain) but when I use my hands on something like a hammer drill, sander, shovel etc. my hands feel numb and shake when I try to write. It takes a little while for the feeling to come back where I can read my writing. I’m 63.

Makes me wonder what it’s going to be like in 5, 10, etc. years.

[Steve Carlton]

I have concerns about my hands and had them x-rayed. Haven't heard the results yet. My doctor said a vegetarian diet helps. A friend of mine who switched from being a Harvard MD to an acupuncturist said acupuncture will help, but they need to know what kind of arthritis it is.

[Noah930]

First, I think different posters are talking about different issues/joints. It sounds like OP is talking about the thumb joint by the wrist: the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. Otherwise known as the thumb basilar joint or trapeziometacarpal joint. That's the most common joint in the hand for painful arthritis. It's caused by repetitive pinching between the thumb and index finger.

That's different than the thumb metacarpophalangral (MP) joint, which is the joint where the thumb joins the hand.

https://arthriticthumb.co/

This is the best splint I have ever had people try for thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis. It's inexpensive, at about $30. It's fairly unobtrusive, so compliance is good. They're made in Texas. Sizing is measured in inches from the radial styloid to the thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint; almost everyone is a small or extra-small.
But it's made out of leather and textile, so if someone gets their hands wet frequently (i.e. florist) then there's another splint I like, the Push Metagrip.

Push Metagrip Is made out of a plasticky/rubbery material, so it can handle moisture. But it's more expensive at about $80. It's made
by some Dutch company, and then imported by a distributor in NJ. It follows traditional glove sizing (string circumferentially around the metacarpals of rhe four fingers).

Treatment options: behavioral modification (don't pinch as much/hard), oral anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen/Naprosyn/Relafen/Voltaren/etc, topical anti-inflammatory like Voltaren (diclofenac) gel, thumb CMC splinting, cortisone injection, surgery.

X-rays aren't too important when first dealing with thumb CMC arthritis. You're treating the patient, not the x-rays. It should be fairly obvious to the treating physician what the diagnosis is. But it's worth getting x-rays before going on to surgery, to prevent intra-operative surprises.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Noah930

It's caused by repetitive pinching between the thumb and index finger.

Does this mean I should masturbate less?