Diagnosis
Pain that occurs in the thumb should be clarified by a physician. Specialists in this field are orthopedic specialists. In order to make a correct diagnosis, the patient’s history (anamnesis) must first be taken in detail.
In the anamnesis, the exact location and intensity of the pain is asked for and evaluated by the attending physician. After the anamnesis, the thumb is examined. Thus, it makes a diagnostic difference whether the pain occurs when the thumb is pressed and/or during certain movements or activities.
Finally, imaging tests can also provide information about the cause of the thumb pain. Changes in the bone, such as those found in osteoarthritis, can be easily observed, especially on X-rays. If ligaments and joints of the thumb need to be examined more closely, an ultrasound examination or an MRI diagnosis can also help to find the cause of the pain.
Therapy
The therapy of pain in the thumb joint depends on the individual cause of the pain. In the case of injuries, it should be clarified which structures are affected and whether these need to be treated surgically. There are various treatment methods available for osteoarthritis.
The most important thing is an early diagnosis of the disease. In addition to conservative therapies without surgery, surgery may also be necessary in some cases to treat arthrosis. Conservative treatment options include the use of painkillers, physical therapies, and injections of cortisone. Surgically, two different methods are available.On the one hand, the so-called resection arthroplasty and the resection of the trapezium. In addition, a complete stiffening of the joint can be carried out so that the affected person is free of pain.
Prognosis
The prognosis for thumb joint pain depends on the cause of the pain. For most diseases, an early diagnosis and thus an early start of therapy can significantly improve the individual prognosis. For example, arthrosis in early stages can still be treated very well with conservative therapy measures, whereas arthrosis in a late stage is associated with a rather poor prognosis in terms of joint mobility and freedom from pain.
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