Severe pain in my thumb and wrist
Discussion
For some time now I've been getting a severe, to the point of agony, occasional pain in my left (dominant hand) thumb and wrist.
During the day it can be painless, then in the evening, minding my own business a severe ache will start. Ibuprofen help, but I don't want to be dependent on them if it's masking something else.
Chopping potatoes will trigger it, with a sharp pain from my thumb knuckle up the inside of my arm towards my elbow and around my wrist, I have had it happen when pulling a wheeled suitcase, where I've literally with no warning, let it go.
Anyway, I thought it could be Carpel Tunnel but it's always in the same place, none of my other fingers or hand are affected, and it's not all the time. Then I thought perhaps Tendonitis, but I'm not doing anything repetitive that would trigger it. Obviously something is swelling thouigh, because the Ibuprofen definitely help.
I already take Alopurinol (sp?) for gout, and apparently I'm borderline for Rheumatoid Arthritis. But there is no visible swelling to my thumb, wrist or hand.
Any ideas folks?
During the day it can be painless, then in the evening, minding my own business a severe ache will start. Ibuprofen help, but I don't want to be dependent on them if it's masking something else.
Chopping potatoes will trigger it, with a sharp pain from my thumb knuckle up the inside of my arm towards my elbow and around my wrist, I have had it happen when pulling a wheeled suitcase, where I've literally with no warning, let it go.
Anyway, I thought it could be Carpel Tunnel but it's always in the same place, none of my other fingers or hand are affected, and it's not all the time. Then I thought perhaps Tendonitis, but I'm not doing anything repetitive that would trigger it. Obviously something is swelling thouigh, because the Ibuprofen definitely help.
I already take Alopurinol (sp?) for gout, and apparently I'm borderline for Rheumatoid Arthritis. But there is no visible swelling to my thumb, wrist or hand.
Any ideas folks?
Not quite the same but it may give some ideas.
My loft hatch smacked down onto the knuckle of my thumb back in December, lots of pain, swelling, bruising. The pain continued and like you sharp inconsistent pain.
Roll forward 3 months after repeated visits to the Docs they eventually think I've broken something, I go private and low and behold I've cracked a bit of bone off the knuckle of the thumb, but the outside ligament is attached which is why it isn't healing.
I get a brace and go and see Brian Simpson in Ipswich, have laser treatment 3 weeks ago and it's fixed. He was explaining that there are several ligaments that control the thumb, if you haven't impacted your thumb it might not be obvious, but it could be ligament I guess???
Get a thumb brace and keep it on for a few weeks to see if that restriction of movement helps, there's always the docs though.
My loft hatch smacked down onto the knuckle of my thumb back in December, lots of pain, swelling, bruising. The pain continued and like you sharp inconsistent pain.
Roll forward 3 months after repeated visits to the Docs they eventually think I've broken something, I go private and low and behold I've cracked a bit of bone off the knuckle of the thumb, but the outside ligament is attached which is why it isn't healing.
I get a brace and go and see Brian Simpson in Ipswich, have laser treatment 3 weeks ago and it's fixed. He was explaining that there are several ligaments that control the thumb, if you haven't impacted your thumb it might not be obvious, but it could be ligament I guess???
Get a thumb brace and keep it on for a few weeks to see if that restriction of movement helps, there's always the docs though.
Thanks. Scapho-trapezium-trapezoid (STT) joint arthritis is pretty common but only in older age groups (60+). How old are you? This would fit with the area of pain and a wrist X-ray would give the answer.
Other than that there are quite a few things that could cause the pain. I presume there has been no traumatic injury? What about overuse due to your job or sport?
Other than that there are quite a few things that could cause the pain. I presume there has been no traumatic injury? What about overuse due to your job or sport?
I'm 53, did an awful lot of sailing in my youth in all weathers. No damage due to my job (I run a taxi company, but don't drive much) or sport. I find holding a pen and writing causes pain after a short time - thank heavens for laptops!
I'll ring my GP, you could well be bang on the money as my last blood test said I was borderline for arthritis.
I'll ring my GP, you could well be bang on the money as my last blood test said I was borderline for arthritis.
Tyre Smoke said:
I'm 53, did an awful lot of sailing in my youth in all weathers. No damage due to my job (I run a taxi company, but don't drive much) or sport. I find holding a pen and writing causes pain after a short time - thank heavens for laptops!
I'll ring my GP, you could well be bang on the money as my last blood test said I was borderline for arthritis.
STT joint osteoarthritis would be quite high on my list of differentials. Wouldn’t be too uncommon at your age, especially if that joint has potentially been overused due to the sailing as a youth. I'll ring my GP, you could well be bang on the money as my last blood test said I was borderline for arthritis.
I have an ongoing STT arthritis issue. This problem sounds similar. I too have spent a lot of time sailing! Mine first properly kicked off after i did up an old boat and spent a lot of time splicing new dyneema control lines. Fortunatley its my non dominent hand, but unfortunately i use my non dominent hand all day at work!
I’d say currently its less of a problem than it was 2 years ago, one of my work pals is an upper limb orthopod, he offered me a steroid injection, but said it probably wouldnt last for ever, alternatively the joint could be fused or take bone out, both of which were not ideal whilst still needing both good flexibily and optimum grip strength. On balance so long as nsaids work thats my plan, and as i said its better now than it was, but i still get a tweak after a busy week.
Probably best to get it looked at, but dont necessarily rush to interventional treatment
I’d say currently its less of a problem than it was 2 years ago, one of my work pals is an upper limb orthopod, he offered me a steroid injection, but said it probably wouldnt last for ever, alternatively the joint could be fused or take bone out, both of which were not ideal whilst still needing both good flexibily and optimum grip strength. On balance so long as nsaids work thats my plan, and as i said its better now than it was, but i still get a tweak after a busy week.
Probably best to get it looked at, but dont necessarily rush to interventional treatment
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