The type of joint in your thumb is called a saddle joint, which makes your thumb more likely to develop arthritis as you age than other types of joints. It’s common to develop thumb arthritis over time because as your cartilage wears away, it stops protecting your bones from rubbing against each other. This can be painful to live with. You may be able to manage your thumb arthritis with pain relievers or splints, or your doctor may recommend surgery.
What Is a Saddle Joint?
Your thumb is a saddle joint, which means one bone sits in the other bone like a saddle. This is different from the ball-and-socket joint you have in your knee or elbow. This saddle joint is what gives you opposable thumbs. It also affects the way that your thumbs move, which is different from your ball-and-socket joints.
This type of joint can wear down faster, which makes your thumbs more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
What is thumb arthritis?
Thumb arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in the saddle joint of your thumb. Arthritis irritates your joints.
Osteoarthritis, also known as “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is a type of degenerative arthritis.
Degenerative arthritis means that your cartilage wears down as you age. In the hand, it most often affects the thumb — making it the most common type of thumb arthritis and the second most common type in the hand overall. Other conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause your joints to break down.
If your saddle joint doesn’t let your thumb pivot, swivel, or grip things anymore, you might be developing arthritis. Previous injuries or fractures to your thumb can also cause arthritis to develop.
What Are the Symptoms of Thumb Arthritis?
You may begin to notice that your thumb doesn’t have the same range of motion it used to. As your ligaments start to wear down, the saddle joint loosens. This can cause it to fall out of place. As your cartilage wears away, you lose the cushion for your bones. This can cause a lot of pain and damage to your thumb joint. You may stop using your thumb the same way you used to without realizing it. This could be an effort to help relieve some of the pain.
As thumb arthritis advances, you may have trouble with tasks like opening doors or jars.
Other symptoms include:
- Swelling, stiffness, and tenderness at the base of your thumb
- Lesser strength when pinching or gripping objects
- An enlarged or bony appearance of the joint at your thumb base
Women over 50 are 10-20 times more likely to have thumb arthritis than men. There’s no exact reason for this. However, there are steps you can take to preserve your thumb cartilage.
How Is Thumb Arthritis Diagnosed?
When you notice the symptoms of thumb arthritis, you should contact your doctor. They’ll help you diagnose the problem by asking you about your pain, prior injuries, or what makes your thumb pain flare up.
In some cases, you may need an X-ray to assess joint damage or check for bone spurs. A bone spur is a bony projection that forms along the edge of your bone.
How to Treat Thumb Arthritis
Treatment for thumb arthritis will depend on how severe the joint damage is and how much pain or dysfunction it is causing.
How to relieve thumb joint pain
Once you’ve been diagnosed with thumb arthritis, your doctor may suggest nonsurgical treatment. This is most likely for cases of early-stage arthritis. These management techniques include:
- Icing your joint for 5-15 minutes several times each day
- Anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen
- A supportive splint to reduce thumb movement
- A steroid injection, depending on how advanced your arthritis is
Thumb arthritis surgery
If your thumb arthritis worsens and the management plans aren’t working, you might need surgery. Your doctor can discuss different options and help you decide which one is right for you.
Bone fusion. Your doctor may suggest fusing the bones of your joint together. This will greatly limit how freely your thumb can move.
Partial joint removal. You may have to get part of your joint removed and have it rebuilt. Your doctor will do this by using a part of your tendon or an artificial option.
You’ll want to take note of your range of movement and pain level. This will help your doctor decide the next steps in your arthritis management plan.
Thumb arthritis tends to worsen with age as it wears down your joints. If caught early, you can start treatment quickly, which may help reduce pain and limit the thumb stiffness you experience later.
Takeaways
Your thumb’s unique saddle joint lets you pivot and grip, but it’s also prone to “wear-and-tear” arthritis as the cartilage thins over time. When that smooth padding breaks down, bones start rubbing together, leading to pain and swelling; you also might notice loss of strength and range of motion. Treatments such as splints, ice, anti-inflammatories, or injections can help ease discomfort and keep your thumb working smoothly for longer. Sometimes, surgery may be necessary.
Thumb Arthritis FAQs
What is the best exercise for thumb arthritis?
There are several exercises you can do to keep your thumbs nimble. Your doctor or a physical therapist can recommend the best exercises specifically for your thumb arthritis.
Should you massage thumb arthritis?
Massaging the fleshy part below your thumb can help relieve arthritis pain and loosen your joint to be able to do daily activities or thumb exercises.
Is squeezing a ball good for thumb arthritis?
Pinching and gripping can worsen the arthritis pain at the base of your thumb. So, squeezing a ball is not a good exercise for your thumb arthritis.
How long should you wear a thumb brace for arthritis?
A thumb brace or splint supports your joint by limiting movement and resting the joint. Most people only need to wear the brace at night, but others may benefit from wearing one for longer periods. Talk to your doctor to see if a thumb splint is right for you.
