My Thumb Hurts – What’s Wrong?

my thumb hurts whats wrong

Thumbs are awesome! So awesome in fact that most of the time we take them for granted. That is… until your thumb starts to hurt. When you have thumb joint pain, you realize just how much you use it. Pain in your thumb can be caused by several health conditions. If you find yourself saying, “my thumb hurts – what’s wrong”, you may have one of the 4 common causes of thumb pain – 1. CMC Thumb Arthritis, 2. de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis,  3. Gamekeeper’s or Skier’s Thumb, or  4. Trigger Thumb.

Where Does Your Thumb Hurt

Thumb joint problems can make every day activities challenging. To discover what’s causing your thumb pain it’s important to understand where on your thumb it hurts, when you feel the pain and how often you feel it. The following information can help you learn why your thumb hurts and give you answers on what to do about it.

Start by answering the question Where Does It Hurt?  in the charts below. Initial treatment generally begins with immobilizing your thumb with a splint or brace to help limit your motion and rest your joints and tendons. In most cases, it is best to treat the condition early, with simple measures. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the chances that your pain can be relieved. Don’t wait to feel better.

4 Common Causes of Thumb Pain

1. Thumb Pain from CMC Thumb Arthritis

 Where Does It Hurt?

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At the base of the thumb where your thumb meets your wrist; you feel pain when pinching or gripping, especially holding small objects like pens or tool handles. You may experience loss of grip strength and thumb mobility. CMC Thumb Arthritis (Also known as CMC Joint Arthritis, or Basal Joint Arthritis) occurs when the cushion-like cartilage wears out, causing the bones in the Carpometacarpal  Joint or  CMC  Joint to grind together. CMC joint arthritis can be mild or it can progress over time and is one of the most common causes of thumb pain CMCcare thumb brace for thumb arthritis pain

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2. Thumb Pain from de Quervain’s

Where Does It Hurt?

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Along the side of your thumb when moving it into the hitchhiker position or when bending your hand towards your little finger; pain may “shoot” along the thumb side of your forearm. de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (also known as Mommy’s thumb) is inflammation of the tendons at the base of your thumb, on the side of your wrist. The most common cause is from overuse when lifting or performing side to side motions with your hand and wrist 3pp ez fit thumbspica splint for dequervains

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3. Thumb Pain from Gamekeeper’s Thumb

Where Does It Hurt?

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Pain in the middle joint of your thumb where it attaches to your hand; you have difficulty grasping or holding objects; pinching is painful and hard to do. Gamekeeper’s or Skier’s Thumb  is an injury to the ligament that happens when your thumb is pushed sideways away from the index finger which tears the ligaments between the bones in your thumb. A fall, where you catch your thumb on the way down or a strong twisting motion are common causes

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4. Thumb Pain from Trigger Thumb

Where Does It Hurt?

You Might Have This?

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You feel a “popping” pain when bending or straightening the end of your thumb; your thumb sticks in a bent position and has to be pulled straight Trigger Thumb is inflammation of the tendon(s) that flex or bend your thumb. The tendons in your thumb get too large to move back and forth through the “pulleys” causing your thumb to get stuck Oval-8 Splint for trigger thumb Oval-8 Finger Splint for Trigger Thumb

While this information can be useful to help narrow down what your thumb problem might be, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a health care professional before beginning any treatment. Treating your symptoms with the wrong diagnosis can not only delay proper healing, it may also make your condition worse.

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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.

90 comments on “My Thumb Hurts – What’s Wrong?

  1. my thumb is swollen and a very tender lump between the 1st joint and the nail bed. hot swollen and very painful!

  2. Hi I am quite sure the recommendation will be to go see a doctor, but I about four years ago no more like eight years ago. I started getting pain in the fleshy part of underneath my thumb of my hand, but I only got it in the winter time when it was really cold and I asked my doctor about it back then and he’s like I got a little arthritis. No big deal, I’m now going on 55 and every winner. The pain in my thumbs is so bad that you could literally put me to my knees and make me just cry if you pinch me on my thumb underneath in the fleshy part of my hand and it also is starting to travel into my wrist. I type all day so if this is arthritis, is there a cure for it or I mean, can I get better or what? I’ll make appointment asap.

  3. One may feel severe to moderate pain in their thumb depending upon their problem. It may be due to common accidents or even arthritis. Visit your doctor to learn about the cause and type of your pain and enquired treatment. Good share!

    1. You also need to let people know they may need an MRI of their thumb. I had bad pain for a long time and finally they did an MRI and found a glomus tumor under my nail. They operated on it and it fixed it but I think I have another one under a thumbnail will be checking with my doctor. I see no where does anyone bring up glomus tumor.

  4. So, i play softball and i’m mostly in outfield, one day i caught a ball and i felt instant pain in between my pointer and thumb and my palm. i had 8 tournaments with that pain and i’m basically busy all the time. my parents don’t know and idk what to do. like i can’t even really catch a ball without pain!

  5. I not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. Cheers

  6. I’m very happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.

  7. Female, 71, hurt my thumb on right hand approx. 2 mo ago. I believe it happened when I pried the large shower head off the hinge in the shower which is magnetically attached. The magnet holds the shower head very tight and hard to remove. My thumb now has an electrical shock which occurs in the ‘pad’ of the thumb if I try to lift something with my hand, using my thumb to stabilize the item, ie, cup of coffee, pot, plate, etc. It’s a horrible electrifying shock that makes me yell. I believe I’ve injured the actual nerve, perhaps pinched it, but I’m not sure. Any suggestions? Thank you for your assistance.

    1. Mary, I’m very sorry to hear you injured your thumb and are experiencing such 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 thumb pain checked out by your healthcare professional who can diagnosis your problem and 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. Once you receive a diagnosis, we do have many thumb braces available that can help relieve pain from Thumb Arthritis, Skiers Thumb, De Quervain’s, Trigger Thumb and more. I hope you find relief soon!

    2. I am a 71 year old male with very similar symptoms, so very interested in what your diagnoses was determined to be.
      Could you be so kind as to share this information with me?

  8. my Thumb hurts so bad it started out like my thumb was sticking in the joint where my thumb bends now i can’t bend my thumb at all and sometimes i bend it in my sleep and the pain is so bad it wakes me up and i have to take my other hand and bend it back up i can use my other hand to bend my thumb and it doesn’t hurt but i can’t bend my thumb by itself now it is starting to go into the other thumb any advice

    1. Hello Hester, I’m sorry to hear you are experiencing pain in your thumb. It’s important that you get it checked out by a healthcare professional who can diagnosis your problem and give you treatment recommendations. Delaying treatment could cause your thumb problem to get worse, not better. Once you receive a diagnosis, we do have many thumb braces available that provide support and pain relief from Thumb Arthritis, Skiers Thumb, De Quervain’s.Trigger Thumb and more. I hope you find relief soon!

    2. I am having the same problem as Hester Harless. My thumb on my left finger pains me and when bend it is stays down and it is worse when I wake up. I try to excercise it every day by keeping it moving up and down. I have to take my other hand and take it out of the bend position sometimes. it does not really pain me unless I move it up and down, and I just noticed this problem 2 weeks ago. I know it is definitely not broken because I can wiggle it and move it in all position. Not able to see doctor because of Corona virus but in the meantime I am keeping it moving by doing thumb excercises.

      1. HI Tasia,
        I am sorry to hear you are experiencing pain in your thumb. Please know that we are not medical professionals and therefore are unable to diagnose your problem. With that said, it sounds as if you may be experiencing Trigger Thumb. Trigger Finger or Trigger Thumb happens when your finger or thumb locks or clicks when it is bent and then suddenly pops back when trying to straighten it, like a trigger on a gun. The Oval-8 Finger Splints are a very effective treatment for Trigger Thumb. You can find additional information on Trigger Thumb and Oval-8 Finger Splints by visiting Ohmyarthritis.com https://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Shop-Splints/Finger-Splints/Oval-8-Finger-Splints.html

  9. I have been experiencing pain in my thumb but it doesn’t match one of the above diagnoses. It is painful in the joint in the middle of my thumb. It hurts when pressing there or when pressing down on my thumb and recently when I move it up and down.

    1. I have the same thing it sounds lime. The Dr tells me I have”thumb arthritis” but it doesn’t seem to fit 100% Im wondering if I have 2 conditions in the thumb. Have you made any progress or found help for the pain?

    2. Me too! I have had carpal tunnel release surgery about 2 years ago and soon after my thumbs been hurting. It feels like the muscle is bruised when I press on it. Sometimes it flares up and has a slight shocking joint pain.

    1. Hi Brent,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing problems with your thumb. Skier’s thumb is an injury that happens when your thumb is pushed sideways away from the index finger, tearing the ligaments between the bones in your thumb. It is possible that you injured your thumb while rock climbing. 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.

      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.

  10. My thumb is actually swollen and I cannot bend it. It is not necessarily painful, but irritating. I don’t think it is broken. If it is, I’m not sure how I did it. What can it be?

    1. Hi Nikki, I’m sorry to hear you are having thumb problems. It’s important that you get it checked out by a healthcare professional who can diagnosis your problem and give you treatment recommendations. Delaying treatment could cause your thumb problem to get worse, not better – “Don’t wait to feel better”. Hope you find relief soon!

  11. Went to ortho last Monday about thumb joint(Basil?) pain left hand,non dominate. He injected with cortisone and sent me home with brace. Its ok with brace but hurts without .take 800mg ibuprofen at night and/or as needed. On average, how long should it take for shot to do its thing, if its going to work?

  12. Having a sharp pain when I bend my thumb a certain way and then other ways when I bend it it’s a sharp pain and it pops What could this be?

    1. Hi Jordan,
      Very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in 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 it sounds as you may be experiencing “Trigger Thumb”. You can find additional information about Trigger Thumb at https://www.blog.ohmyarthritis.com/i-think-i-have-a-trigger-thumb-what-do-i-do-about-it/ I hope you find relief soon.

  13. Working continuously or writing normally causes thumb pain. Apart from that it can be joint pain that may be at its first stage of arthritis or so. Thanks for sharing and giving reply to each with right solution.

  14. It seems that mine has symptoms of tenosydonitus and cmc thumb arthritis. I can not extend into a hitchhikers thumb nor can I grip most anything. I am wondering since it’s in between which brace would be the best to use?

    1. Hi Sarah
      I am very sorry to hear about your thumb pain. If you are unsure exactly where your thumb hurts, it may be best to consult with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and options on what type of splint would be most beneficial. With that said, the 3pp Thumspica and the Mueller Thumb Stabilizer provide support for pain relief from both Thumb Arthritis and de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. We hope you find relief soon.

  15. Continued from first post…you can suggest as far as a brace is concerned to help with the discomfort? Thank you. I apologize for ending the prior post abruptly, I must have hit the post button by mistake.

    1. Hi Erika,
      I am so sorry to hear about your thumb pain and other health concerns. While wearing a thumb brace can help, it is difficult to recommend a brace without knowing where your thumb hurts or what activities are causing it. It is important to wear a brace that gives you the support where you need it. It may be best to consult with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and options on what type of splint would be most beneficial. Once you have received a diagnosis, we hope you’ll come back and visit our site, as we do have many thumb splints and braces that can help ease your pain.

  16. I suffer from lupus and recently out of nowhere my left thumb starting hurting. I braid my own hair and this became impossible after the thumb pain started. I went to my rheumatologist and I was given a shot of some sort, he told me of the pain continued I need to see a hand surgeon. I, unfortunately have been diagnosed with cancer and will be starting chemotherapy and radiation in a few weeks. If I am unable to address this issue prior to my 6 weeks of treatment, is there anything you can BM j

  17. Hi what can i do to relief the pain my right thum hurts exremely i feel numbmess in all my fingers but my thumb is killing me right at the bottom of my thumb if i touch it hurts extremly and its been like this for a few weeks now

    1. Juan,
      I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb. While we have many thumb splints and braces that may help, we are not medical professionals and are not able to provide a diagnosis for your thumb pain. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider who can help diagnosis your thumb problem and provide the best solutions for your pain. I hope you find some relief soon.

  18. My right thumb is quite painful at the base. I’ve noticed comparing it to my left thumb that there is lump and slight swelling on my right thumb compared to the left. I haven’t knocked my thumb so I don’t know where this pain has come from. Any advice on what it could be?

    1. Ellen,
      Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions and answer questions about our products, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide a diagnosis. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can help diagnosis your thumb problem and provide the best treatment options for you. Once you have received a diagnosis, please come back and visit our site, as we do have many thumb splints and braces that can help ease your pain.

    2. Hello Ellen,
      Did you ever dig out what was wrong with your thumb? My 9yearbikd daughters thumb has been hurting for 2 days now. She has the same symptoms as you described.

  19. A few weeks ago when i was jumping a hurdle, I fell and my thumb hurt right away. Everyone said it was jammed but it’s been a while and it still hurts when I bend my thumb back or try to lay on my hand or anything, I can’t press my thumb flat or bend it back. Lately whenever I’m typing it’s been popping and it hurts sooo bad. Whats wrong with it?

    1. Hi Kristen,
      I am very sorry to hear that you injured your thumb and are still experiencing pain. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions and answer questions about our products, we are not medical professionals and are unable to provide you with a diagnosis. We suggest that you consult with a healthcare professional who can do an examination of your thumb and provide the best treatment options for you. Once you have received a diagnosis, please come back and visit our site, as we do have many thumb splints and braces that can support your thumb to promote healing and ease your pain.

  20. I am 12 years old and when I was about 9 I was at a ice skating rink and I fell and my thumb smacked the ice and now I can move it inwards closer to the middle , and now it hurts but not as much

    1. Hi Jessica
      I am sorry to hear your thumb has been hurting you for so long.
      I hurt my finger a few months ago and it turned out I had damaged a tendon in it.
      I found out that there were things I could do to help it heal, like in my case wearing a splint for a while and later doing exercises to help it to regain its strength.
      It is almost back to normal now and hardly ever hurts, but it took a while to get there.
      I originally went to a medical doctor to have it diagnosed as it really hurt at first and wasn’t working right. Then I had some sessions with a physiotherapist who specialized in hand therapy. I also looked on the web for exercises to do.
      But getting a diagnosis of what was wrong was an important first step.
      I wish you luck with your thumb. I know from personal experience that it can be both painful and worrying when something you use so much as your finger or thumb isn’t working quite right.

  21. My eleven year old daughter was playing volleyball and twisted her thumb backwards it happened three days ago and she still complains about it every time she moves it.It doesn’t hurt to pinch things but everything else she does it hurts her.What do you think it is and how can we get it better

    1. Hi Ryan,
      I am very sorry to hear that your daughter injured her thumb and is experiencing pain. It sounds as though you should take your daughter to have her thumb examined by your healthcare provider. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions and answer questions about our products, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide a diagnosis or treatment. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional/specialist who can help diagnosis your daughter’s injury and give you recommendations for the best course of treatment. Once you have received a diagnosis, we do offer many thumb splints and braces that may help.

  22. My name is Charlene. I am a bit concern that my thumb if pointing it upwards, it is severely painful between the nail and the first joint. I need to put pressure on it all the time. It is so sensitive that it is painful when something touches it. What can I do?

    1. Charlene,
      I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions and answer questions about our products, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide a diagnosis. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can help diagnosis your problem and provide the best treatment options for you. Once you have received a diagnosis, please come back and visit our site, as we do have many thumb splints and braces that can help ease your pain.

    2. Did you ever find out what was wrong? I have pain in the same area, except it is always painful and touching it in a specific spot puts my pain through the roof!

  23. My daughter is 9 Year old. Her thumb finger start paining when she plays violin for 15 minutes. We tried all sorts of remedies. Nothing happened. Please guide what to do?

    1. Hi Sanjay,
      I am very sorry to hear that your daughter is having pain in her thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide a diagnosis. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnosis the problem and provide recommendations for treatment. Once your daughter has received a diagnosis, we do have many thumb splints and braces that provide support and can help ease her pain.

    1. Robbie,
      I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb joints and forearm. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide you with a diagnosis for your problem. We recommend that you consult with a healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnosis your problem and give you recommendations for treatment. Hope you find some relief soon.

  24. My right thumb pops in every joint. It also catches and when I force it to move it feels like I’m breaking my thumb. I can’t use it at all without great pain. What could this be?

    1. Shannon,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb. Our Learn About Health Conditions discusses many common thumb conditions and may be helpful. 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. I hope your thumb feels better.

  25. I’m very worried as my right hand thumb is really hurting near the top of my thumb just under the nail any remedies?

    1. Tommy,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in 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. I hope your thumb feels better.

  26. I recently got my thumb crushed in a window. (don’t ask)
    It felt completely numb after the accident however, a day later it’s making clicking noises when I bend it every now and then. It’s not bruised or anything I’m just worried if a bone is broken.

    1. I’m very sorry to hear about your thumb injury. 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 “clicking thumb”. It’s best to consult with your healthcare provider who can examine your thumb to see if its been dislocated or broken and give you recommendations for treatment. It is important to be properly treated by your healthcare provider to prevent worsening of your condition. I hope your thumb feels better soon!

  27. My right thumb has been sore for about 2 weeks now. I noticed swelling now..
    The pain is at the base of mt thumb. I do alot of loom knitting. I believe that is what caused it. Can that happen. It hurts when i hold a glass. Or when i try to open the door. If I try to use my thumb it hurts. I would really appreciate any ideas that you may have. Thank you in advance

    1. Hi Monica,
      I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and swelling in your thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and are not able to provide you with a diagnosis. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider or a specialist who can examine your thumb and perform a thorough evaluation.

      You may also wish to visit this link on our website http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/contactus.aspx to find a hand specialist near you who can recommend a treatment plan. I hope this helps!

    1. Julie,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in 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 to see if its been dislocated and give you recommendations for treatment. I hope your thumb feels better.

  28. i have pain on my thumb joints and some in the forearm bone for about 15cm up frm the wrists what could be the cause

    1. I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb joints and forearm. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals and therefore are not able to provide you with a diagnosis for your problem. We recommend that you consult with a healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnosis your problem and give you recommendations for treatment. Hope you find some relief soon.

  29. I experience sharp pain in the thumb of my (L) hand, it usually happens when I pick up or use anything that requires me to grip. The pain is in the pad at the top of my thumb it feels like I have a splinter but I have checked it many times and have found nothing, the pain lasts for some time after pressure has ceased. Please help

    1. Heather,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals. We suggest that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your pain and give you recommendations for treatment. If you decide to seek the help of a hand specialist, this link on our website may help you to find a hand specialist near you. http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/contactus.aspx. We hope you are feeling better soon.

  30. My left thumb doesn’t twist,i had a cut injury in my palm,thats why i want to consult with abroad to whom it mat concern.can anyone help to consult.

    1. Rupak,
      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 provide you with a diagnosis for your problem. It’s best to consult with a healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnosis your thumb problem and give you recommendations for treatment.

  31. For about 2-3wks now I have been having numbness and sharp pains in my right thumb. The pain and tingling is 1 in. Below the last joint. When touched or bumped a shooting nerve pain goes straight up to the top of my thumb. My wrist is not involved at all. It is extremely painful. Please help!!!!!

    1. Pam,

      I am sorry that you are experiencing pain and numbness in 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 provide you with a diagnosis. We suggest that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your thumb problem and give you recommendations for treatment. If you decide to seek the help of a hand specialist, this link on our website may help you to find a hand specialist near you. http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/contactus.aspx Good luck and we hope you find relief soon.

    1. Hi Sara,
      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in 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 provide you with a diagnosis for your pain. It’s best to consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your thumb problem and give you recommendations for treatment.

  32. I have pain between my thumb at the joint connecting to the hand. It hurts when I bend it to draw or to play videogames. Is there something wrong with it?

    1. I am sorry to hear that you are experience pain in your hand. If you recently fell on your hand or sustained an injury or sprain, our blog on the condition Gamekeeper’s Thumb may be helpful. https://www.blog.ohmyarthritis.com/i-think-i-have-gamekeepers-or-skiers-thumb-what-can-i-do-about-it/ Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals. We strongly suggest that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your pain and give you recommendations for treatment. We hope you are feeling better soon.

  33. ok so i think i have de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis but the problem is i have a sharp pain that shoots up my arm like a shock wave when the top corner of my nail is tapped or touched

    1. We are very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in your thumb and arm. Please know that while we can provide information on certain health conditions, we are not medical professionals. We strongly suggest that you consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your pain and give you recommendations for treatment. We hope you are feeling better soon.

  34. I believe I have de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. I have the symptoms listed above. I haven’t seen a Dr. about it yet as I have only had it for a week. But it really hurts, especially when I stretch my thumb in a certain way to do something.
    What can I do for it?

    1. Tai,

      I am very sorry to hear you are having pain in 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 provide you with a diagnosis. Your best course of action is to consult with your healthcare professional or a specialist who can diagnose your thumb problem and give you recommendations for treatment. If you decide to seek the help of a hand specialist, this link on our website may help you to find a hand specialist near you. https://www.ohmyarthritis.com/Learn/Helpful-Resources/

      You can also find additional information about deQuervain’s tenosynovitis on our website http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/arthritis.aspx#DeQuervain%27s with suggested splints listed below this information. Please know that while choosing an appropriate splint to rest your thumb and taking an anti-inflammatory drug may be helpful to relieve your symptoms, it is important to be properly treated by your healthcare provider to prevent worsening of your condition.

  35. Mm yes, the first and most common symptom of thumb arthritis is pain. Pain occurs at the base of your thumb when you grip, grasp or pinch something.

  36. My thumb feels as if it is broken,I didn’t know arthritis can be so painful can you please refer me to a specialist in MA. Thank you.

  37. I work as a secretary and a week ago I was using a large binder clip, clipping a big stack of documents. While pressing the binder clip open I had a severe pain and numbing go through my right thumb from the nail bed straight down my thumb to my wrist. Now my hand is not feeling good, some pain and numbness is still going on. Do you think a splint would help? If so what type? Thanks. Kris

    1. Kristine,

      We are sorry to hear about the pain you are experiencing. Although we are not health care providers and cannot diagnose your injury, it sounds as though you could have done anything from strain your thumb to rupture a ligament. Given the severity of your pain, we suggest that you consult with your healthcare provider or a hand specialist as soon as possible. Your healthcare professional will do a thorough examination of your hand and provide you with a diagnosis and treatment. If you decide to seek the help of a hand specialist please see the links on our website – http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/contactus.aspx – to find a hand specialist near you.

      In the meantime, it is important to rest and protect your thumb as much as possible. Look for thumb splints that cross the wrist and offer moderate to firm support. You can find these splints for purchase on our site http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/en/functional-splints-and-supports/thumbs, or you may be able to purchase a splint at a drugstore near you.

      We hope your hand feels better soon.

  38. My thumb joint pain is not in the basal joint but the Distal joint, right side. It hurts at an 8-9/10 when pressure is applied and has been ongoing for about 3 months. It is hard to tell if there is a lump but it is a very small specific localized pain. Can this be a ganglion cyst?

    1. We are very sorry to hear you are having pain in your thumb. Please know that while we provide general information on health conditions on our website, we aren’t able to give you a diagnosis. We suggest you consult with your healthcare provider or with a specialist who can diagnose your thumb problem and recommend treatment. If you decide to seek the help of a hand specialist please see the links on our website – http://www.ohmyarthritis.com/contactus.aspx – to find a hand specialist near you.

      Thank you for trusting us to answer your question. We hope you find relief very soon. If you do find you need a splint, please feel free to e-mail us again.

  39. Hey.. My thumb hurts for more than a week now.. My doctor said it’s an inflammation in the tindon & gave me a splint. I wore it for 4 days but no good … 🙁
    What should i do ?? Help me…

    1. We are very sorry to hear that you are still experiencing pain in your thumb. Be patient, as it may take 2-4 weeks of splinting and anti-inflammatory medicine to feel improvement. If after that period of time your thumb still isn’t feeling better, you may want to consult with a specialist. Please go to the bottom of our Contact Us page and view the links to find a physician or therapist who can recommend further treatment for your thumb problem.

  40. Hi the pain and stiffness is in the first joint in my right thumb not the basal joint. What can I do? Thanks I appreciate your blog.

    1. Hi Katherine,

      We are sorry to hear you are having a problem with your thumb. Please know that while we provide information on certain conditions and can describe what a splint might do to alleviate your concern, we cannot provide you with a diagnosis. You may want to review our full list of blog topics related to the thumb at https://www.blog.ohmyarthritis.com/category/ohmythumb/ to see if one describes the problem you are having. Please also consider discussing the information with your health care provider to make certain of a diagnosis and to recommend the best treatment for you.

      If you are not able to discuss your concern with a health care provider near you, you may want to utilize the Arthritis Today “Ask an Expert a Question” service at http://www.arthritistoday.org/community/expert-q–a/ask-expert-question.php.

      To find a health care provider with expertise in conditions related to the hand, please revisit out Contact Us page and view the links on the bottom to find a physician or therapist near you who may be better able to help you find a way to successfully treat your thumb problem.

      I hope this information is helpful and that you are able to determine how best to relieve the discomfort you are experiencing.

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