Many people who suffer from thumb joint pain are experiencing something we refer to as "Skier's Thumb." This is the name given when the ulnar collateral ligament of the MP joint of the thumb ruptures. The most common occurrence of this is when you fall and land with an outstretched thumb that is bent so far as to tear the ligament apart that holds the bones together at the base of the joint. When this injury occurs, it is sometimes when a skier falls, but may occur during any type of fall. Our hand doctors diagnose this when your MP joint deviates 45 degrees or more radial-ward or 15 degrees more than the other thumb. One end of the torn ligament can recoil over the extensor hood. This Stener lesion will require defined surgical repair of the ligament in order to achieve a stable joint that does not chronically dislocate. It takes four to five weeks for the ligament to heal, at which time, postoperative therapy is needed to restore your range of motion.

When dealing with thumb joint pain, our hand specialist will tell you that a delay in treatment may require a tendon graft for reconstruction of the ligament. When left untreated, this thumb joint pain can lead to degenerative arthritis, which is an unstable and eventually worn out joint with hand pain and loss of motion. Ultimately, this could lead to requiring the patient have a total joint replacement or fusion.

Thumb joint pain can also be a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have thumb joint pain and tingling in your thumb and other fingers, you should seek out assistance from Brown Hand Center for a diagnosis. Call us today if you have questions about your thumb joint pain. We have your hands and your health in mind.

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Thumb joint pain

[Posted on Nov 28]

Every day, our thumbs get a lot of use. Whether it’s from gripping objects in our hand or using a computer or cell phone, wear and tear on the thumb joints is pretty common. Over time, this excessive use can cause thumb joint pain. If you’ve ever experienced this, then you know just how debilitating that it can be. This kind of pain can make it really hard for you to do anything that requires the use of your thumbs.

If you are dealing with joint pain in your thumb, then you’re going to want to get an evaluation as soon as possible. If you can determine just what is causing the problem, then you can figure out what your options are going to be for dealing with it. You may be able to deal with it by modifying the way that you use your thumb or just using topical analgesics. You may also want to try using a brace or a splint, but it’s best to consult with some hand doctors before deciding on a course of action.

One of the ways that you may choose to deal with thumb joint pain is by having surgery. This is, however, something that you should not just choose lightly. Surgery, even if it is on a tiny place like your thumb can still be risky, so you need to make sure that it is the right move for your to make. If you choose the Brown Hand Center to help you deal with this pain, then you can be sure that you will learn as much as possible about this treatment option before you make a decision. Our hand surgeons will talk you through this option and give you expert advice on what to do.

When surgery is required to treat thumb joint pain, you will want to know that you can really trust the doctors who are performing the procedure. If you choose the Brown Hand Center to help you get rid of the pain in your thumb joints, then you will have no problem when it comes to trust. Our surgeons take the time to get to know all of their patients, so that patients will feel comfortable throughout the procedure. For the best patient care that will get you through your surgery, choose the Brown Hand Center.