My Thumb Hurts – Do I Have Thumb Arthritis?

my thumb hurts - thumb pain

Do I Have Thumb Arthritis

Do you repeatedly hear yourself say “my thumb hurts” because of the pain you feel at the base of your thumb (down by the wrist) when you pinch or grasp something?  If so, you may have CMC joint arthritis, also known as thumb arthritis. There are 3 stages of thumb arthritis, which is one of the most common forms of arthritis.

The good news is – there are things you can do to help ease your pain and lessen the progression of your arthritis. (There are other health conditions that may also cause pain around the base of the thumb, so it’s important to discuss your problem with your health care provider.)

  Download our thumb eBook for more information on how to treat your thumb problem

3 Stages of Thumb Arthritis

Like any other type of arthritis, CMC joint arthritis or thumb arthritis can be mild or severe and can get in the way of your daily activities.

Thumb arthritis can be broken down into three stages.

Stage 1 of Thumb Arthritis

In the beginning, you may feel a “grabbing” or sharp pain only when you start to use your thumb- such as picking up your coffee cup or pressing down on a remote control button or pen to write. You may find you don’t feel as much pain once the activity gets underway- only for the pain to return when you stop doing it. This occasional pain is easy to ignore – but it isn’t advisable.

Stage 2 of Thumb Arthritis

As your arthritis progresses, you may feel pain even when you are doing light activities or simply relaxing. You may also experience pain and tenderness when you touch the area around the joint of your thumb. At this point, you may also notice the base of your thumb “sticking out” and looking as though it is a little ledge or step. Now if there were any doubt before that you have CMC arthritis, your thumb is definitely telling you otherwise.

Stage 3 of Thumb Arthritis

In later stages, your thumb may look “crooked”. When the middle knuckle of your thumb is bent, and the end joint is hyperextended, it could be what is called a Boutonniere Deformity.

Another “crooked” position is called a Swan Neck deformity. Your middle knuckle is hyperextended and it may be difficult to move your thumb sideways. With time, the skin in the “web” of your hand can shrink, making it impossible to open your thumb away from your palm.

In late stages of thumb arthritis, your may actually feel less pain, but the strange position of your thumb makes it harder to use it and you may lose strength.

Is there anything I can do so I don’t end up with Stage 2 or Stage 3 arthritis?

It would be really nice to be able to say – if you take this pill, wear this brace, or do this exercise, your arthritis will not progress or it may even go away. Unfortunately for those with a family history of arthritis or those who just did not win the toss of the coin for long lived, healthy bones- the disease may progress despite the best care.

What you can do however, is learn to use your hands so they are less stressed, use tools/gadgets that help you with your daily activities and wear splints or braces that support your thumb joints.

Even at the very early stages of CMC arthritis, wearing a brace that applies light compression and support, can really help relieve pain and allow for better movement.

I can’t wear a hard thumb brace and still do my work. Are there other options?

There are lighter weight, foam lined braces that provide cushioning, support and light compression with only slight restriction in motion- such as the 3pp ThumSling.

3pp thumbsling for thumb arthritis
3pp ThumSling

What if I need more thumb support?

If you need more control, moderate support splints, such as the CMCcare Thumb Brace, Fix Comfort Thumb Brace or the 3pp Prima Thumb Brace

cmccare thumb brace for cmc thumb arthritis
CMCcare Thumb Brace
fix comfort thumb brace best brace for arthritis gamekeepers thumb and skiers thumb
Fix Comfort Thumb Brace
3pp prima thumb arthritis brace
3pp Prima Thumb Brace

The important thing to know is that you do have options that can help with your pain and reduce stress so you have fewer problems later in life.

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oh my arthritis thumb braces

Our blogs are educational in nature and are not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Because your condition is unique to you, it is recommended that you consult with your health care provider before attempting any medical or therapeutic treatments. We are always happy to answer questions about products mentioned in our blogs, however, we cannot provide a diagnosis or medical advice.

18 comments on “My Thumb Hurts – Do I Have Thumb Arthritis?

  1. As a 45 year hair stylist, my thumb was very repetitive in working with scissors ,
    I have burning felling from knuckle to base of thumb. Extreme pain and the thumb locks in hyperextended position! the pain and burning really hurts thier very sharp shooting pain
    Topical cbd helps but it’s constant. And lately not letting up,
    How long will it last? Or just continue to worsen?

    1. Hello Barbie, I’m sorry to hear you are in pain. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and are unable to give medical advice. We suggest you consult with your healthcare provider or with a specialist who can diagnose your thumb problem and recommend treatment. I hope you find relief soon.

  2. I drive school minibuses and have just been told I have arthritis in my thumbs will driving make it worse

  3. HI, I had surgery on my wrist[Scaphoid fracture/Internal fixation-Bone Graft] around 8 years ago, back in high school. surgery went well, but around 3 1/2- 4 years ago I started to lose mobility and the ability to bend my thumb. today i can rotate it clockwise and counter clockwise, but like i said, other than that I have no mobility. I’m 23, going on 24 this August and Just want some advice on what i should do to figure this out. its my left hand…. I’m left handed. Please lmk what is going on, or what steps i can take to fix this issue, if fixable. thank you.

    1. Hi Dallas,
      I’m very sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional or a certified hand therapist who can examine your thumb and provide a correct diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Please visit http://www.htcc.org to find a certified hand therapist in your area.

  4. About three weeks ago. While sitting at my computer reading the news. With my right arm rested on my desk top all of a sudden I had a sudden severe pain between the bones of my lower it was so bad it felt like I had been stabbed , I then applied pressure to try to get the pain to subside didn’t work after manipulating and rubbing it began to subside to the point that it felt like a bad cramp awhile later it subsided that was when I noticed my thumb only would move part way not allowing movement to open or do a thumbs up. Today I was out side walking around in the woods and now my left thumb did the same thing I wasn’t using my arm or hand for anything. Now when I try to do a thumbs up with my left hand my thumb won’t raise up either and is very painful between the arm bones above the wrist . Now this is frustrating me it is extremely debilitating by this not having the dexterity in both thumbs

  5. After a lifetime of athletic competition, both thumbs suffer from CMC arthritis. My left thumb is especially painful. Over 50 years ago, that thumb was horribly dislocated, but gave me few problems over the years. Last year, I was struck on each hand separately by ground balls while playing softball. The right thumb has occasional pain, but the left is constant. I use a brace when I’m not playing, but can’t wear a mitt or grip a bat with it during a game. I don’t want to quit playing, so I just “suck it up”. I am looking for a better solution; what would surgery accomplish?

    1. Albert, I’m very sorry to hear you are experiencing pain. As we are not medical professionals, we are always happy to answer questions about products mentioned in our blogs, however, we cannot provide a diagnosis or medical advice. With that said, it’s very important that you get your thumbs checked out by a healthcare professional who can recommend treatment options. We highly suggest that you don’t delay treatment as this could cause your thumb problem to get worse, rather than better. You may want to visit this link on our website https://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Learn/Helpful-Resources/ to find a hand specialist near you. The CMCcare Thumb Brace for thumb arthritis provides firm support to the CMC joint so you can work, play sports or even swim with less thumb arthritis pain. Its lightweight, slim design can be worn under gloves. I hope you find relief soon!

  6. The Base of my thumb stings when I pick up things but then the pain continue’s on after and my thumb has started to look as though it is strained, I’m only 19 should I get this checked out or will it eventually go away/get used to the pain

    1. Hi Aisha, I’m really sorry to hear that you have pain in your thumb. It’s very important that you get it checked out as soon as possible and that you “don’t wait to feel better”. Delaying treatment could cause your thumb problem to get worse, not better. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnosis your problem and give you recommendations for treatment. Hope you find some relief soon!

  7. I have severe pain and my thumb on both hands goes to my wrist and I also feel in the webbing of my hands. Regardless of what I’m doing. Is this arthritis do you think? Thank you. in advance

    1. Hi Karen, I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing severe pain in your thumb and hands. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and are not able to diagnosis your thumb problem. We suggest that you consult with your healthcare provider who can examine your thumb and give you recommendations for treatment.

      With that said, it sounds like your pain may be due to CMC Thumb Arthritis. Once you have received a diagnosis from your doctor and options on what type of brace would be most beneficial, we do have thumb braces that can help. https://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Shop-Splints/Thumb-Splints/ I hope you find relief soon.

  8. My left thumb has a popping feeling in the joint in the middle of my thumb and it is starting to hurt when I wake up in the morning. Is this some sort of arthritis or is there another problem.

    1. Hi Chris,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing problems with your thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to diagnosis your thumb problem. It’s best to consult with your healthcare provider who can examine your thumb and give you recommendations for treatment.

      With that said, you may be experiencing “Trigger Thumb”. You can find additional information about Trigger Thumb on our website at http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Learn/About-Health-Conditions/Trigger-Finger.html along with information about the Oval-8 Finger Splint. The Oval-8 Finger Splint is a light weight, comfortable splint that can help stop triggering without messy tape or straps. I hope you find relief soon.

  9. I have severe sharp pain in the base of my thumb and extended on down in my wrist to the outside of my wrist. I am a hairdresser for 36 years now and I am starting the same symptoms in my left hand now, I see a hand Specialist on June 12th hopefully can find what’s wrong.

  10. i have extreme pain in both thumbs when i try to move,pickup,or push and pull something. very weakness in both hands. things just falls right out of my hands

    1. Mr. Solomon,
      I am very sorry to hear you are experiencing pain in your thumb and hands. I hope the information you found on our website will help lead you to a health care specialist who can perform a thorough evaluation and direct you to helpful treatment. You may wish to visit this link on our website https://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Learn/Helpful-Resources/ to help find a hand specialist near you who can make certain you have a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. If a splint is recommended for you, I hope you will consider some of the thumb splints available on our web page.

      I hope that you are able to find relief for your pain very soon.

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