Arthritic thumbs.

Marydoll

You probably need anti-inflammatories, Mizuna, but with your lung conditions, a doctor would need to prescribe and monitor

My thumbs are permantly swollen and painful and I use 10% Ibruprofen gel, which is only available on prescription.

Heat or ice packs will also help with the swelling and pain.

It’s freely available online.

Just a mild warning.... For a long time, I put up with a swollen and painful middle finger,which varied in the level of pain; I got used to avoiding pressure on it. Then it really flared up just before I was due to drive from Berkshire to Wales for my brother's funeral, so I went to my GP, who was enthralled by it and diagnosed gout; I think it was the first time he'd acually seen what he explained were tophi - tiny yellowish bumps on my finger apparently caused by acidic crystals in my blood.
I knew I had gout on and off in my feet, but it had never occurred to me that I had it in my finger. After that I began taking allopurinol daily which has relieved much of the pain.

I now have similar problmes to some of you re thumbs and presumably arthritis, but thought it was worth mentioning that some of you may be suffering from signs of gout.

I have this,too, though not as bad. I can’t take neurofens so just have to have Panadol which is pretty weak, not much help. I thought it was ‘ computer thumb’ but I get it in both thumbs so not that.

Thanks everyone, it's interesting to see what works for some and not others. Freeze gel is excellent on my soon-to-be-replaced arthritic knee but has no effect at all on my thumbs! However, I have stopped using a biro for doing crosswords and that has helped. 😁

*trapezium

My husband has had painful thumbs for years due to arthritis and recently had an operation on one. They removed a small bone ( trapezoid?) and he quickly recovered and seems to have no pain now.

This is the first year my thumbs have really bothered me and I'm also aware that I no longer have a good grip for opening jars etc. I have a very large garden which I haven't looked after so well in the last couple of years and there's a lot to be done but after an afternoon gardening I have to take painkillers and then rest hands for day or so. I've also noticed a couple of bulky joints on 2 of my other fingers so assume it's arthritis and yet another sign of 'maturity'.

I use compression gloves that help with the Rheumatoid Arthritis in my hands. I take a steroid tablet once a day, my doctor doesnt like that but my Consultant advised it against taking Methotrexate that put a family member in hospital for 2 weeks! I also use Biofreeze gel which helps! Some things work but some do not. Just try everything advised & hopefully will find one right for you!

Regular acupuncture works me and eases arthritis elsewhere as well as my hands, but I recognise it is expensive and not everyone can afford it.

Sadly my GP is the “what do you expect at your age” type 🤨
I’ve got arthritis in both thumbs and several fingers, I tend to wear compression gloves a lot of the time (though wish the open finger type would come up higher to my first knuckles). If it’s just my thumbs playing me up I wear a silicone thumb /wrist support, which aren’t quite as obvious as the gloves (well for Caucasian skin tone I don’t know if you can get them in other skin tones) Another form of relief I use is a hot wax hand bath, with care as it is really hot

I have also got really painful arthritis in my thumbs. My rheumatologist recommended turmeric with black pepper. She had heard great reports on them from her patients (especially with hand problems). I use high dosage capsules and have had dramatic pain relief as a result.
As with anything new , it would be wise to speak to your doctor before taking them.

i have had arthritic thumbs for several years so, after getting relief from arthritic knees, decided to go down the steroid injection route. so i havecan injection every four months into one thumb. while it doesn't take the pain away, it does help relieve it somewhat - enough to get my bra on in the morning and to open jars and bottles (and other things).
my gp had a chat last time whether an operation would benefit me but we decided that as long as the injection is giving me relief we'll stick with them.
obviously the injections aren't for everyone but i had great benefit from them before i had my knee replacement operations so i knew they would help with my thumbs.

Thank you, it's so helpful to hear how others are coping. I had no idea how much I used my thumbs until now! 😁

Mine have recently started to play up too, the left hand , I had a little accident while cleaning a really heavy marble chopping board, it slipped and knocked/ banged my thumb but I think my right hand is coming out in sympathy😂. I have been taking ibuprofen and rubbing a pain relief gel .
Mine seem worse at night, whether it because I don't move them, but I have been waking up and have to stop myself shouting out in pain while I massage it to get it moving again. I have just bought a splint today,to wear when I am sitting down but if it is no better by next week, I will contact my GP.

Mizuna I'm sorry this is hurting you and I feel your pain as I have very arthritic hands now. I would suggest have a look at the Versus Arthritis website where you can find lots of helpful information and exercises.

I garden a lot and pruning can set off pain around my thumb joint in my right hand .
The cold weather seems to aggravate it .
I take Codeine and massage the joint with Ibuprofen and wear gloves .
I stop pruning !

Thank you so much for all the suggestions/info; lots of food for thought. Interestingly my grip hasn't been affected and also I can still play my guitar, but maybe that 'exercise' is good for it. I think I'll self-refer to our surgery's physiotherapist. Last time I saw her for a sore shoulder she was creatively helpful.

I have used the homeopathic cream Rhus Tox & Ruta Cream by Helios since 2014 and it's been brilliant. My thumbs were excruciatingly painful so I bought tubes originally (available Amazon and also from Helios in London and Tunbridge Wells), but now that I also use it on my back and knees, I buy it in 500 g. tubs because it works out cheaper.

I believe you can buy 10% Ibuprofen gel over the counter.

I wasn't aware of that, thanks.

My ibruprofen usage needs monitored, because of my COPD, so my GP needs to be aware of it. I can't take it orally.
Thats probably why my FP prescribes it.

Mizuna

In a dash as granddaughter about to arrive so will respond more when she's settled with her sewing/slime-making/baking.

😂😂😂
Sounds great - have fun!

In a dash as granddaughter about to arrive so will respond more when she's settled with her sewing/slime-making/baking.

I believe you can buy 10% Ibuprofen gel over the counter.
Hope you can find a solution to your problem. I spoke to a lady who said she wears bamboo gloves which give her some relief ,but I think that sometimes what is successful for one person doesn't work for someone else.All the best.

Thanks everyone! I am a total overdoer of everything so probably lugging and building a flat pack desk recently hasn't helped. Duh. 😁

Good morning, Mizuna. When my right thumb and index finger get particularly sore and swollen I can usually link it to some activity I've been overdoing e.g. tapping away on my tablet or pruning with secateurs.

Have you been doing anything different recently that might have triggered a flare up? I hope things improve soon.

The surgery physio recommended a splint to wear at night which helps a little. One thumb was particularly painful and becoming a trigger thumb. A steroid injection at the surgery has reduced pain by 50%, movement is much easier too.

Advice was next step, because of the trigger element and difficulty I have gripping, is referral to a surgeon. Trying to avoid that if I can. There is a cold gel (got mine from Boots) which I find helpful to ease discomfort for a while. Also a friend suggested the capsicum cream, doesn’t work for me but does for her. It’s a real nuisance for sure Mizuna, sadly I don’t think an easy fix. Good luck.