Thumb Pain: Causes, Treatment & Help

Without thumbs, people are not able to use their hand properly, because the inconspicuous finger plays a hidden main role. However, this is only noticed when the thumb no longer works as it should. One reason for this can be thumb pain, caused by injury or joint wear.

What is thumb pain?

Thumb pain usually refers to all those painful symptoms that occur in the area of the fingers and thumbs. Thumb pain: this is a broad term, as it includes all painful conditions in the thumb area. Usually the symptoms are localized and there is swelling, tenderness or pulling pain. The thumb’s range of motion is limited and there are problems grasping and holding objects. Other symptoms include neck tension, back pain, hands falling asleep and forearm pain. Most often, thumb pain results from injury or inflammation of tendons, muscles, bones, ligaments or joints.

Causes

The causes of thumb pain are complex. In most cases, various conditions trigger the discomfort. These range from fractures, colloquially also called breaks, to sprains, torn ligaments, inflammations and nerve disorders. But chronic diseases of the bones and joints can also be a trigger for thumb pain. As different as the causes can be, as different are the respective symptoms. Since the thumb is always in use, it is not uncommon for ligament tears, fractures and sprains to occur. This happens in connection with accidents, falls or when the thumb has been subjected to increased force. The result is swelling, redness severe pain and limited mobility of the finger or the entire hand. Another cause of thumb pain is joint disease, such as osteoarthritis. Joint wear and tear can certainly also occur in the hand and lead to pain and restricted movement. Similar in terms of pain are thumb pain triggered by acute inflammation of the joints. Chronic polyarthritis and reactive arthritis are examples of this. Both are caused by bacterial infections of the intestinal and urinary tract that have already subsided and by fungi or bacteria. These enter the bloodstream via open wounds and from there into the joints. In addition to pain, inflammation can cause redness, swelling and heating of the affected area. A known cause of thumb pain is also gout – a metabolic disease in which uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints. This disease affects the mobility of the joints and causes pain. Also common is tendinitis, an irritation of the tendons in the thumb muscles. The trigger for this condition is usually simply overuse. Small lumps in the hand area, known as ganglions, can press on surrounding muscles, nerves and ligaments and also cause pain in the thumb.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Bone fracture
  • Sprain
  • Torn ligament
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Polyarthritis
  • Reactive arthritis
  • Gout
  • Tendonitis
  • Ganglion (ganglion)
  • Menopause
  • Finger osteoarthritis
  • Finger dislocation
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatism
  • Finger fracture

Complications

Thumb pain can lead to a variety of complications that begin with pain and continue with therapy. Without the full functionality of the thumbs, everyday hand movements and procedures become a real challenge. All grasping processes and thus almost everything that is done with the hands takes place only with the support of the thumbs. If this does not function as usual, thumb pain feels like a disability. After all, even normal eating, drinking or personal hygiene is no longer possible without the thumbs. Those affected often feel helpless and frustrated. Irritability increases and psychological complications arise in the first place. As a result of the fact that those affected are already overburdened with everyday things, their zest for life decreases. It is not uncommon for sufferers to lapse into depression. In most cases, however, thumb pain is a temporary complaint that can be remedied with therapies and treatments.A feeling of relief follows. Complications can also involve medications taken for pain relief. These can bring side effects such as headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal problems.

When should you see a doctor?

Because the thumb is such an important part of the body, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible if thumb pain is prolonged. Especially after accidents or falls, a visit to the family doctor is advisable. If necessary, he or she will refer the patient to a surgeon, orthopedist or sports physician. To relieve the pain, tablets are prescribed that require a prescription. A visit to the doctor is important, also to rule out secondary conditions. If fractures, torn ligaments, joint disease or tendonitis are not examined and treated, they can lead to deformities or permanent limitations of the limb.

Diagnosis

If the symptoms can be well described, an initial diagnosis for possible causes of thumb pain is possible early on. Thumb pain can be pulling, stabbing, shooting in or drilling. Some sufferers experience the pain all the time, others with small movements such as grasping or stretching. Swelling usually indicates torn ligaments, fractures or sprains. Imaging is usually used to confirm suspicions and make a finding. These primarily include x-rays and ultrasound. These examination methods are also used when joint disease is suspected. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, or computed tomography, or CT, can also help in making a diagnosis. MRI and CT also detect bone diseases and tumors. If tendonitis is suspected, an exact diagnosis can be made via ultrasound. If inflammation, gout or arthritis could be possible causes of thumb pain, blood tests will help. Laboratory tests of the blood can detect levels of inflammation in the blood. Elevated uric acid levels, which can lead to gout, can also be detected by a blood test.

Treatment and therapy

The therapy and treatment of thumb pain depends on its cause. If the thumb pain comes from a fracture, a torn ligament, tendonitis or a sprain, the hand is primarily immobilized. This is usually done with a splint or a cast. In the case of fractures, it is usually necessary to straighten the bone so that it can grow back together normally. Physiotherapy often follows accidents and acute injuries. This involves special exercises that are performed with the hand and especially the thumb. This ensures that functionality and mobility are fully restored. In the case of torn ligaments that cannot grow back together properly, surgery is usually performed. The treating physicians also prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicine and cooling compresses to relieve the pain. If joint disease is more advanced, it is not uncommon for the joint to be replaced with joint prostheses. Naturopathy is also a therapeutic option. Alternative treatments such as osteopathy, massage, acupuncture or Rolfing can correct discomfort in ligaments and muscles and relieve pain. Rolfing is a specific type of manual bodywork that focuses on the fascial network. For arthritis, gout or rheumatism, fasting, balancing the body’s acid-base balance and Schuessler salts are often advised. However, natural remedies are usually not a panacea and should rather find their use accompanying the current therapy and treatment.

Outlook and prognosis

Thumb pain is usually short-lived and occurs only temporarily. Often, they do not even need to be treated. In most cases, immobilization of the thumb, rest and cooling in case of pain is then sufficient. If more serious diseases or inflammations are the trigger for the thumb pain, a doctor should examine the finger more closely. This also applies to thumb pain that occurs over a longer period of time or if the pain becomes unbearable. In these cases, self-healing is more likely out of the question, and the pain may even get worse. It is imperative that they receive medical treatment and therapy in order to prevent secondary diseases.Often women suffer from thumb pain during menopause. However, this is quite normal and the symptom usually disappears on its own after menopause. In the case of osteoarthritis, inflammation-related pain in the thumb or even fractures, torn ligaments and the like, comprehensive treatment should be sought from a doctor. Otherwise, it may lead to more serious complications.

Prevention

There is no preventive measure against thumb pain in the sense. If pain occurs, a doctor should be visited so that the causes can be found and treated as soon as possible. In the case of thumb pain, injuries or overstraining are often the cause of the complaints. It is best to avoid activities that strain the wrists or at least limit them. Healthy eating can also promote health in general, and this also applies to joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. In order to protect joints and prevent thumb pain from occurring in the first place, finger gymnastics can be done. You can try anything that stretches your fingers and gives your hands a change of pace. In everyday life, heavy loads should be distributed evenly on both hands. People tend to do everything with one hand, depending on whether they are right- or left-handed. The best way to carry heavy loads is with a firm grip rather than with outstretched fingers. In fact, daily cell phone and smartphone use can also damage the joints in the thumb. As a preventive measure, the device should be put aside from time to time during the day. So-called tapes, applied to the thumb, can limit the mobility of the thumb joint and thus protect it.

This is what you can do yourself

In everyday life, people often perform the same movements over and over again. Be it when working in the office, in the household or even when typing and wiping on the smartphone. In addition, the movements are usually quite fast and the thumb is overused every day. The movements are one-sided and damage the joints. But one-sided and fast movements also cause muscles and fasciae to become permanently stuck together. They become stiff, unyielding and overstretched. Mobility is restricted and thumb pain can occur. Affected persons can integrate special exercises into their daily routine to stretch the shortened fascia and muscle strands. Such exercises are known to the treating physician, or they are shown and taught in physiotherapy. Many helpful tips and exercises can also be found on the Internet. In general, care should be taken not to put too much strain on the thumbs in everyday life. This is certainly difficult at first, but it also develops a different body feeling. Those who suffer from thumb pain can also use tapes. These have both a preventive and therapeutic effect.