Anyone else have arthritis in your basal (carpometacarpal) joint? (thumbs)

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Skye

Skye

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So, in yet another way my body is trying to betray me, I'm having all the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the joint at the base of my thumb on both hands. Hurts to pinch things, twist while pinching, lift while pinching (beer is still not too heavy lol), hell even sleeping and putting my hands on the bed wrong bothers me. So, obviously, this don't bode well for woodturning so I'm going to have to get treatment of some sort soon. Anyone else deal with this or have any suggestions?

I plan on getting Xrays and starting out with cortisone injections first but it's degenerative so eventually it'll lead to surgery and hopefully not fusion but if it comes down to it it comes down to it.
 
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Yeah, I have that problem with my right thumb. I just thought it was from a few falls and the last time I broke my wrist . . . after the first surgery I started having problems. Still have problems and can feel what I had decided was a bone spur at that joint base of my thumb.

It isn't as severe as yours sounds - cause I'm not going to tell my doc about it anymore.

I wish you all the best.
 
So that is what that joint is called.:biggrin: I have pain in both of mine also, my left one is worse. I was told by my therapist working on my new shoulder that it is from my carpal tunnel surgery and they should both be redone-NOT A CHANCE. Yesterday was my birthday and I thought that I would turn a pen for me but after 5 minutes I quit and figured maybe another day. I will have to ask about the cortisone shots.:frown:
 
I have the problem in my left hand. My doctor said cortisone won't work on that area, so I put up with it. The pain really doesn't get worse when I turn. Doc said it won't get worse with use. Sleeping can be a problem. but I can usually find a comfortable position. One of the joys of aging!
 
I had the same problem about 6 years ago. I had surgery to take part of the tendon from my arm to wrap around the joint. Best thing I ever did. My grip is a little weaker but no pain. It has not stoped me from doing anthing. Just do everything the OT tech tells you to do.

Good luck

Tom

PS Cortisone made things worse.
 
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i am way too young for this but does it hurt to just let it sit or just when pressure is applied to the base of your thumbs??
idk what i did but mine just hurt when i tried to open a new jar or unscrew a locked in bolt or something and i usually have a pretty tough grip but it screwed that up for a while

i had that for about a month but it went away after that...

get well soon then get back to that lathe real fast!!

good luck
 
Well I'll be on the lathe hell or high water, it's just a matter of if I'll be curled up in the fetal position or not afterwards.

When pressure is applied at the base it's not really painful, it's just when I twist things with my thumbs, or I push the button of a car door with my thumb, or when I sling a backpack over my shoulder. Good grief that one gets me every time.

I really don't want to have tendons moved around to different spots in my body, lets hope it don't come to that!

Any doc that says it's carpal tunnel without doing an xray and looking for arthritic bone is a quack.

Cortisone made it worse? Motherf......... man don't tell me that. I'm hoping to buy me some time with that lol
 
I have arthritis in a lot of joints, left knee, right hip, neck, shoulders and both hands. (Oh the joy of being extremely active in my youth.)

I go to a pain management group that knows how different drugs will work with each other to alleviate pain. You might want to try one of those places.
 
Skye, I've got the same thing...I can pick up anything....doesn't matter how heavy, it's the motion of bringing your thumb and forefinger together. It'll hit me out of the blue when I least expect it....Like you said I can turn it the wrong way at night and it'll wake me up. When it hits it seems like there's no way to move your hand or even your arm to get relief. I was driving down the road one day and picked up a hamburger, squeezing the burger between thumb and forefinger almost sent me off the road!
It's not carpal tunnel, you're right about that....I'd had carpal tunnel and I know what it feels like!
I do find that a good hand brace that immobilizes your thumb helps greatly. I wear it if I even think about going in the shop. Leaves the last joint free to move so picking up things isn't a problem. It rides low on the rest of your hand so it doesn't interfer with most things. It's helped me alot. Worth a try BTW I found the brace at Walgreens. Here's a link to what to look for
http://www.muellersportsmed.com/Specialty_Thumb_Stabilizer.htm
I think they have this one and a black one. I liked the way the black one fit better. It's around 15-17 bucks
Hope this helps!
 
My wife is in the 12th week of recovery for surgery replacing her thumb joint for that very reason....Next summer the other hand.
 
Geeez, let's hope I can just get by with the brace, lol Good idea there.

Man, 12th week of recovery? That's some recovery period. How's she doing?
 
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