Thumb Base Arthritis

The symptoms of thumb base arthritis vary from person to person and range from mild to severe. You may have symptoms all the time, or at certain times, such as in the morning, or when doing certain tasks or activities. 

Common symptoms of thumb base arthritis include: 

• pain at the base of your thumb, especially during movements such as pinching, gripping, opening jars, or turning a key in a lock

• swelling or tenderness around the base of your thumb 

• stiffness in your thumb joint and difficulty extending your thumb away from your hand 

• reduced strength in your thumb

• difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as undoing or doing up buttons 

• a bony bump at the base of your thumb or a change in the shape of the base of your thumb

Our thumbs are important for most tasks where we use our hands, and as such are at risk of wear and tear, which can lead to inflammation in the thumb joint. 

Other causes include previous thumb injuries and overuse or repetitive strain. 

You may have a higher risk of developing thumb base arthritis if you have a family history of osteoarthritis. The condition is more common in people over 50 and women, especially after menopause.

At your first appointment, you’ll see a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who will ask you about your symptoms, general health, family and medical history, and any medications you take regularly. They’ll also perform a physical examination of your hand and thumb. 

You’ll probably need to have an X-ray of your thumb joint to confirm your diagnosis.

Thumb base arthritis can’t always be prevented, but you can reduce your risk of developing the condition by: 

• avoiding movements that repeatedly put stress on your thumb joint, such as forceful pinching or gripping

• avoiding or limiting activities that involve repetitive movements of your thumb joint, such as knitting, texting, or typing 

• taking regular breaks from activities involving stress or repetitive movements of your thumb joint 

• sliding, rather than lifting heavy objects, where possible

• protecting your hands from injury

• doing exercises to strengthen your thumbs and maintain flexibility

Thumb base arthritis is common and, in most cases, treatable, but in rare cases, untreated thumb base arthritis can lead to long-term complications. 

These may include: 

• long-term inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness

• reduced grip strength

• limited ability to move your thumb 

• deformity of your thumb joint 

• the thumb joint becomes unstable and collapses inwards or extends further than usual 

• difficulty performing daily tasks like driving, using keys, cooking, or pouring a kettle, leading to loss of independence and reduced quality of life 

• emotional and psychological effects of long-term pain and inability to carry out day-to-day tasks, such as anxiety and depression

There are several treatments available for thumb base arthritis, including nonsurgical and surgical options. 

Nonsurgical treatments are usually tried first, and surgery is normally only considered when more conservative treatments have not been successful. 

Your consultant will recommend the best treatment for you based on your symptoms, general health and any treatments you have tried previously. 

Common treatments for thumb base arthritis include: 

• medication – including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and painkillers 

• activity modification – avoiding or limiting activities that trigger or worsen your symptoms 

• splints – to support your thumb and wrist and reduce pain. These can be bought over the counter or custom-made by a hand therapist

• steroid injections – are given directly into your thumb joint to reduce inflammation and can improve your symptoms for up to 6 months

• trapeziectomy – a surgical procedure to remove the worn trapezium (a bone at the base of your thumb) and possibly reconstruct one of the ligaments in the base of your thumb 

• thumb replacement – an operation to replace your damaged thumb joint with an artificial one

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.