by Laura Magureanu

Created on: April 12, 2011   Last Updated: April 13, 2011

Thumb joint pain is quite widespread in women over 40 years of age, and one of the reasons behind the high occurrence of this condition is the fact that this joint is one of the most flexible in the body. In time, people tend to overuse this joint, which leads to wear and tear. Since the cartilage covering the head of the bones starts wearing thin with age and use, pain and other symptoms appear in the area. Here are the common causes of thumb joint pain that may affect you.

Accidents

Among the many causes of thumb joint pain, you will always find trauma. Accidents can lead to severe stretching of the ligaments sustaining the activity of the thumb and, subsequently, to pain. If you have just suffered an accident and your thumb joint hurts, then you should know that the ligaments may have been hurt, hence the origin of the pain. If the ligaments are not broken, the thumb joint will repair itself and the pain will disappear.

Too much use

Because the thumb joint is so mobile, helping people in their daily activities, there is no wonder that overuse and abuse may occur. Too much gripping, pinching, and carrying weights can lead to pain in the thumb joint. In case you feel that you have overused your hands, it is highly recommended to take a rest. Do not wrap your hand in bandages, as this may actually cause more harm than good.

Osteoarthritis

The thumb joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, as the other joints in the body. This degenerative condition, that occurs more in women than in men, with increased chances of appearing as people age, practically leads to the destruction of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones in the thumb joint, resulting in pain, discomfort, and even impossibility of properly using the hand. Fractures or other physical accidents can lead to an increased chance of osteoarthritis in the thumb joint.

What to do?

If you have seen your doctor, and osteoarthritis is the cause of your thumb joint pain, then you should know that your joint will not return to its previous healthy stage. As the osteoarthritis progresses, you will be experiencing more pain. However, there are thumb joint pain treatments that will offer you relief. Placing an ice cube over the inflamed joint will reduce the pain and the swelling; taking anti-inflammatory drugs can also help.

Even if the causes of thumb joint pain in your case include osteoarthritis, do not lose hope. Addressing the problem with your doctor from the first symptoms will help identifying the treatment for slowing the pace of osteoarthritis.

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