Thumb osteoarthritis

It is unclear what exactly causes osteoarthritis to start in joints. In the majority of cases it is unlikely that this occurs due to how you have used the joint. It is believed that there could be a genetic cause of arthritis for many people, however, this has not yet been proven.

Because osteoarthritis causes pain in the joint it will often cause a change in how the muscles that surround the joint function. If the muscles surrounding the joint weaken it will cause excess force to be put through the joint structure which can cause further changes.

The first option to try is to complete the below home exercise program and advice. Achieving more movement and re-strengthening around the joint can often cause a marked improvement in your symptoms.

Non-steroid anti-inflammatory gels (a topical NSAIDs) can be used to relive pain and reduce inflammation.

Thumb splints and braces can provide relief whilst doing certain activities. These can be found online by searching "thumb support splint" and are often available in pharmacies also.

Make sure that you are not wearing the splint all day, as this can cause the thumb to lose some of its natural strength.

Changing how you grip small items can also help to protect the joint.Try to avoid pinching items between your thumb and index finger. Grasping items in this way puts the most stress through your thumb joint which can cause pain. 

Instead use a "tripod" type grip grasping with the thumb, index and middle finger.

You can also think about ways you can change your activities so that you are putting less strain through the thumb, such as:

• supporting a mug of tea with two hands
• when carrying large items, "hug" them close to your body
• think "shift not lift", for example you can slide a jug of water to the kettle and only use as much as you need rather than fill the kettle at the tap