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Thumb Pain

(15 discussions)

For the last four weeks I have been having the worst thumb pain. The pain is on my right thumb left side from the bottom of the nail to the first joint. The joint bends without pain but the slighest pressure to the side of the thumb sends searing pain up and down the side of the thumb. I can not even put my right hand into my pants pocket because that little amount of pressure will cause the pain. The pain feels like a nerve because of the way it travels and it is also like the same type of pain felt when hitting your “funny bone.” My doctor is not sure of what is causing it and he does not seem to be of much help he says to give it time. I need help! Thanks

15 comments

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    9 10

    I just went to the doctor for thumb pain & left with my hand in a cast!! I have tenosynovitis. It’s the tendon that runs down your thumb to your wrist. The most pain is basically where the bone of your thumb meets the bone of your hand (but, not bone pain, right above that). This is the aggressive treatment, coupled with anti-inflammatory med.

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    9 10

    I also have right thumb pain and my doctor took and x-ray and found that I have a bone spur. this is also in conncection with tendonitis in the thumb so I was given medication and a thymb spika splint to wear for two weeks and if that does not help she will get more agressive and send me to a specialist. hope this helps you.

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      9 10

      Lately, I feel pain in both thumbs at their base. Pressing with the finger sends pain, I cannot hold, in one hand, a pitcher filled with water . I have to hold it with both hands. Forcing to hold it in the left hand sends searing pain in the thumb joint,to the point that would make me drop the pitcher. I never had so far (turn 70 in May) any such pain in other joints (Is there any help available? Many thanks for your help . THOMAS

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    9 10

    i have felt the same kind of pain for about the last week or so. it has only seemed to get worse. it does feel like hitting the funny bone. I have no idea what is causeing it but it hurts a lot. if you hear anything else on what it may be please let me know, [email protected] thanks

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    9 10

    I HAVE PAIN WHEN I GRAB THINGS A SERTIAN WAY.IT FEEL LIKE MY THUMB IS BEING PULLED OUT OF PLACE RIGHT WERE THE AND PUMB REACHS THAT BONE THAT REACHES THE PUMB AND MEET.IT REAL HURTS AND IS TENER WHEN PUSH ON THE PUMB.MY FINGER GET STFIFFE THEY HURT WHEN I CUT UP MEAT. I HAVE A HISTORY OF CARPAL TUNNEL SY. AND I DID HAVE SURGERY ON RIGHT HAND BACK IN 95. AND THAT MY WORST HAND BUT MY LEFT THUMB HURTS TO JUST HAS MUCH SENT IM RIGHT HANDED. [email protected]

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    9 10

    Ask your orthopedic surgeon if it could be Tendonitis. If you do something repetitively, like typing, or if you have one or more chidren that you frequently pick up/hold/feed, you may have tendonitis (repetitive strain). Things to do to ease the pain: contrast baths, ice, massage, anti-infamitory medication, and other anti-inflamitory remedies.

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    9 10

    I also have been experiencing several weeks of thumbpain although my pain radiates on the inside of thethumb on my left hand. I cannot pull on my clothing,unbutton clothing or pinch – it is very, very sensitive. I have seen all types of treatmentsmentioned on the net – but if anything I wouldchoose steroidal (cortisone) treatment. Any updatesin information pls adv.

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    9 10

    For months now, I have thumb pain in both my hands only when I do the pincer grip. The pain is felt exactly around the insertion of adductor pollicis muscle. How can this pain be relieved so that I can do the pincer grip without problem? Thanks a lot.

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    9 10

    I have had similar pain. I saw a hand specialist and he says that it may be a glomus tumor. I have been researching this just starting today. Thought it might help you. Sounds like it is misdiagnosed a lot. It’s kinda rare, enough that a lot of doctors don’t think about it. Hope this helps.

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    9 10

    i too have been having the same pain like you…my dr ordered xrays and they turned out normal..my blood work isnt back in yet…have you found out what is causing your pain yet?

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    9 10

    I have pain in my thumbs as well and it has been diagnosed as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Some of the posts here sound like they could be de Quervain’s, while others do not. Here is a test to see if it might be de Quervain’s: make a fist with your thumb on the inside of the fist (ie. clench your fingers around your thumb). Then bend your wrist towards your pinky, without letting the thumb free. If the tendon on the thumb side hurts, it is possibly de Quervain’s. Ask your doctor. As far as I know, there are several things you can do. You can treat this inflamation of the tendon with anti-inflamatory meds, and try a cold pack, to reduce swelling. Also, rest the thumb as much as possible. This condition is caused by repetitive movements, just like carpal tunnel, but of a grasping nature. It is not uncommonnly seen in pregnant women and new mothers (that’s how I got it…opening jars and picking up babies and cradling them against the thumb aggravates it.) You can also get a themb spika splint which stabilizes the thumb, which helps enforce its rest. They have compfortable ones at Walgreens, or your doctor will have one. If it’s really bad and rest does not help, your doctor may want to put you in a cast to force the area to rest, or give you cortisone shots to help reduce inflamation. Mine tried the cortisone shots and it worked for a while in my left hand, but my right one never got better, so my left one got bad again when it overcompensated. They will probably limit the number of shots they will give as cortisone breaks down tissue and will eventually make things worse. Plus, there are other potential side-effects you might not like. A last resort is surgery, which I am avoiding. I think I’ll just deal with the pain for a while and try praying a lot. Best of luck to you all!

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    9 10

    For 3-4 yrs I’ve had developing pain in my left thumb, where it intersects with the wrist. I’ve had several cortisone injections. They help for a while, but not long. I’ve seen 3 orthos. One said, “live with it; you’re past 70”. The other two said surgery. Both believe there’s a small bone, the trapezium bone, which lies in this intersection, and it’s missing completely, allowing two larger bones to rub and produce pain. It probably just wore out from years of use. The surgery involves taking tissue from my other arm and placing it in the intersection as a cushion. I would be helpless for some weeks, perhaps eight. As pain gets worse I’m trying to find a surgeon who will leave my right arm and hand free of involvement. You can imagine the helplessness without ONE arm and hand. Thought I’d challenge you folks with some info that you might use in discussing your cases.Elleswood

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    9 10

    For the last five weeks I have been having thumb pain. The pain is on my right thumb. I cannnot grasp anything because my finger is crooked. When I try to straight it up it cracks at all joints with searing pain. I had an X-ray taken and it came out fine. My doctor is not sure what is causing it. He recommended me to see an specialist. As my thumb swells especially in the morning, I tighten a piece of cloth around my hand at night. It relieves the pain; the inflammation also dissapears.

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    9 10

    :i have had pain in my thumb joint for a few days and it hurts to put pressure on it and I cannot remember knocking it I play a lot of golf and I had an iburfen pill which has eased it. can you help? thanks

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    9 10

    The pain in my first joint from the top can be excruciating. Sometimes it feels like it’s popping into place. Usually there’s a kind of popping that goes off twice. The joint is not swollen and I received this pain after I had an accident. I fell down some rocks. The middle finger was put into a splint, but nothing was done with the top thumb joint. It usually hurts worse in the morning. Sometimes the pain, usually a mild soreness, goes down to the base of the thumb, but primarily the pain is in the top joint.

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