Thumb Arthritis

[berettafan]

WD I'm with you on the restricting movements idea! Last thing I need is encouragement to sit on my ass and get fatter and more sloth-like. Screw that! I can't be one of those scooter people at wal mart.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Tobra

See also anti-inflammatory diet.

This ican be a real thing. My son has rheumatoid arthritis. The docs had him on a regular infusion of some kind and a bunch of drugs. He stopped eating animal protein and the inflammation went away. He titrates the amount of animal protein he will eat based on how much pain he wants to put up with the next day. For the most part he’s a vegetarian.
I tried it. Didn’t work for osteoarthritis.

[Flatbutt1]

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.

I have the same thing. My Dr says there's nothing to do for it. However, if it turns into "trigger finger" then there is a bone shave that can be done.

[BillYates]

It’s not just for older folks, so you're not alone in that. For something like this, I’d recommend seeing a doctor, but in the meantime, there are some things that might help manage it, like splints for your thumbs or gentle stretches. You could also try something like CBD oil for pain relief—some people find it helpful. If you’re into alternative options, you might want to check out the best dab rigs, which could help with managing pain too.

[stevej37]

Where's KC when he is needed?

[jhynesrockmtn]

I see a BOT has resurrected this thread. Timely. I have been dealing with CMC joint arthritis pain now for several months. It impacts both hands but the left is the worst. I had a consult with a hand surgeon yesterday and they re-did xrays before the visit.

He just looked at me and said, sorry, I don't have any good news. You have significant CMC joint or Basilar thumb arthritis in both thumbs. The right actually looks worse on xray so I'm not sure why the left is more painful. I'm right handed. I'll be 62 in April.

I had two of the most painful injections I've done. They do steroid guided by xray into the joint. Yesterday was very bad. The shots hurt during and after. It feels like a balloon is being blown up in the joint. I got what they call "steroid flare" in my left joint yesterday afternoon. Super bad constant ache. Luckily I had some left over hyrdo's from a mouth surgery several months back. It is way better this morning. He said by Saturday I should be basically pain free.

He said he as a few hundred patients that do these injections annually and it provides good relief. Surgery is the next step, but it is a long recovery and he said while the pain relief is excellent, "it's not the thumb god gave you" after.

We'll see how the injections hold up. I've had them in my knee and shoulder before. I'm a type 1 diabetic and steroids really mess with your blood sugar for a few days. Even at this low dose.

[wdfifteen]

Pain management has become a big part of my life. I've settled into a routine that lets be get by, but I'm moving a lot slower than I used to. A LOT slower.
I get up and take 600mg of ibuprofen before doing anything else. My hands (thumbs) hurt so bad the first thing in the AM that I have to use a tool to take the cap off of the pill bottle. In about an hour the pain subsides and I can start my day with limited mobility. At about 10AM I take 50 mg of tramadol. In another hour it kicks in and I'm pretty much functional, able to bend and twist my torso and use my hips a reasonable amount, until 4 or 5 PM.
Funny thing is, after the Ibuprofen kicks in I can do my full morning stretching routine and it doesn't hurt my back or hips much, but random day-to-day activities hurt like a mofo.

[ErrorMargin]

Originally Posted by Superman

Anybody have experience or other perspective on this?

I have some sort of arthritis in my right thumb CMC joint. See the xray below, the issue in my thumb is the fuzzy blotch indicated by the red arrow.

The pain was pretty bad, and I didn't do anything about it for years. That was dumb.

Now, the pain is close to zero. Here is what I've done to manage it:

1. In case of a pain flair up, I put my hand in ice water for about 5 minutes and take a few ibuprofen. Then I minimize use of my thumb for the next day or so.

2. Wear a brace. Something like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Thumb-Splint-Stabilizer-Tendonitis/dp/B096XGF5LS/ The brace does an amazing job of reducing the pain and if I wear it for a day, the pain is basically gone.

The two steps above are easy, non-invasive and cheap. If you have thumb pain you should at least be doing these two steps.

3. Cortisone shot. 1 or 2 shots gives me 9-12 months of relief. I still try to minimize hard use of that thumb, but there is no issue in day to day activity.

If you have thumb pain and have not tried 1 or 2 cortisone shots, you should go get one ASAP.

4. PRP shot. I've been asking my doctor for over a year to do a PRP shot on my thumb. He refused because he said the data they had did not show it was better...but he admitted they did not have much data. I kept at him and he eventually agreed. I got the shot about three months ago and I am pain free (similar to a cortisone shot)...the question is, is it a permanent or at least longer term fix than the cortisone shot. Time will tell.

With options 3 and now 4, I don't have to wear a brace or ice my hand, and can use my thumb for all normal activities. I do try to avoid extreme pressure on my thumb, but it can take it.

Has anyone else tried a PRP shot?

[creaturecat]

Sissy Hankshaw vibes.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by ErrorMargin

I have some sort of arthritis in my right thumb CMC joint. See the xray below, the issue in my thumb is the fuzzy blotch indicated by the red arrow.

The pain was pretty bad, and I didn't do anything about it for years. That was dumb.

Now, the pain is close to zero. Here is what I've done to manage it:

1. In case of a pain flair up, I put my hand in ice water for about 5 minutes and take a few ibuprofen. Then I minimize use of my thumb for the next day or so.

2. Wear a brace. Something like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Thumb-Splint-Stabilizer-Tendonitis/dp/B096XGF5LS/ The brace does an amazing job of reducing the pain and if I wear it for a day, the pain is basically gone.

The two steps above are easy, non-invasive and cheap. If you have thumb pain you should at least be doing these two steps.

3. Cortisone shot. 1 or 2 shots gives me 9-12 months of relief. I still try to minimize hard use of that thumb, but there is no issue in day to day activity.

If you have thumb pain and have not tried 1 or 2 cortisone shots, you should go get one ASAP.

4. PRP shot. I've been asking my doctor for over a year to do a PRP shot on my thumb. He refused because he said the data they had did not show it was better...but he admitted they did not have much data. I kept at him and he eventually agreed. I got the shot about three months ago and I am pain free (similar to a cortisone shot)...the question is, is it a permanent or at least longer term fix than the cortisone shot. Time will tell.

With options 3 and now 4, I don't have to wear a brace or ice my hand, and can use my thumb for all normal activities. I do try to avoid extreme pressure on my thumb, but it can take it.

Has anyone else tried a PRP shot?

Good advice. I started keeping an ice pack at work and am using that. I'm 5 days out from the two cortisone shots. The right is virtually pain free, the left is still sore. Definately better though. I did order a better pair of braces and will use them for any activities and maybe wear at night. I had not heard of the PRP shot and my Doc didn't mention it. I'll do some reading. Cheers.

[Cajundaddy]

Caveat: I am not an MD and this is not medical advice. I am simply relaying my personal experience.

20 years ago I started to develop arthritis in my hands and R knee (had surgery in college). My wife is a Radiologic Technologist and was working with a bunch of Orthopedics at the time. One day they were discussing the effectiveness of Glucosamine, inconclusive human studies but a very significant success with a study on German Shepherd pups known for genetic hip dysplasia.

We put our Rottie on glucosamine for 3 months as she had a significant prior shoulder injury and seemed to be suffering arthritis. After 3 months she greatly improved, was no longer limping on hills, and easily completed her 2 mile walk every morning and evening.

I was the next experimental subject as we enjoyed hiking but after about 5 miles my right knee was in significant pain. After 3 months I noticed significant improvement in my hands and R knee. Hiking became fun again and I could play a 3 hour gig on guitar without major suffering the following morning. Fast forward 20 years and I would say that my arthritis symptoms have improved 90% with no other treatments and zero side effects.

It was definitely not instant relief but over time proved to be very effective either as an actual agent of relief or powerful placebo effect. Either way I can call it a win. This is a cheap over the counter treatment, no prescription required, no negative side effects, no surgery.

[Rtrorkt]

I am repeating myself, buy a copper bracelet.