Arthritis In Thumb: Hand Splints Or Surgery?

Arthritis in the thumb is more commonly found with women than with men. As many people know, arthritis is a state wherein our joints become irritated and damaged. There are actually several types of arthritis that could affect our thumb and two most common are basal joint arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Basal Joint Arthritis

Females are largely the ones who have been diagnosed to have this disorder, for the reason that they employ too much strain on their thumb joints. In general, it could be acquired by just the regular use of our hands. There are also cases wherein heredity is a major factor - so having  a family member who has a record of flawed cartilage or joint ligament slackness may increase the possibility of other members having the problem too.

The joint that is found at the base of our thumb permits us to make swiveling and pivoting motions for our thumbs. In medical jargons it is known as the thumb carpormetacarpal (CMC) joint or just basal joint. Due to its structure, its probability of being worn down is high.

As soon as the joint reaches its worn-out condition, the discomfort is immediately felt at the base of the thumb, specifically when the patient is grasping or pinching. It also gives rise to the feebleness of the patient's grasp.

Alleviating Basal Joint Arthritis

If you decide to seek the assistance of a therapist, he can offer you a diverse number of hand splints that would hold up your thumb. In addition, the therapist can also help you determine the activities that exacerbate your condition and probably propose some other options that would still allow you to perform the said tasks. If you're already in a sensitive condition he can apply some heat or perhaps ice on the swollen area so as to temporarily ease the pain.

Sidebar: The next article is on arthritis trigger finger.

Doctors are also helpful in diagnosing your condition and they could also provide you with a prescription of a concentrated non-steroidal anti inflammatory medication (NSAID). When your case is really serious,  then he might give you a shot of cortisone in the painful area.

If help is not readily avilable, what you can possibly do is to apply some ice on the inflamed area for approximately five to fifteen minutes. You may also take some over the counter medication like Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen or aspirin. Putting some splint or just any kind of support or brace on your thumb also helps. 

Surgical Alternatives

There are some persons who prefer to undergo an operation, so as to permanently get rid of the discomfort brought about by their condition. One of the most frequently used operation type is the total joint reconstruction which includes three principal phases:

As a first phase the trapezium bone is taken away because it is this particular bone that is connected to three other distinct bones which in time might generate arthritis.

The following phase to alleviate arthritis in the thumb involves the creation of a link between the neighboring edges of the patient's index finger and his thumb. What's used to connect them is a tendon graft and it may actually be accomplished via several methods.

The last step in the operation of the arthritis in the thumb involves the crafting of a cushion that would pad the interval between the area where the patient's trapezium bone used to be located and his other bones. As a whole, the cushion is made of the patient's own body tissue which nests the swollen joint.