Arthritis in your thumb happens when the protective cartilage that cushions your thumb joints starts to wear out and deteriorate (osteoarthritis).
Osteoarthritis in your thumb usually develops in the carpometacarpal (CMC or basal) joint. This is the joint near your wrist at the fleshy part of your thumb. It helps your thumb move around in different directions so you can grip things in your hand. Healthcare providers may use the term CMC arthritis for arthritis in your thumb.
Thumb arthritis is the second-most common kind of arthritis that affects your hand, after arthritis in the last joint in your fingers.
CMC arthritis symptoms may include:
Arthritis in your thumb happens when the cartilage that cushions your thumb joints breaks down (degenerate). Cartilage helps your bones to glide easily in your joints. Age and use can make cartilage break down. That can cause your bones to rub against each other, which causes friction and damage.
Thumb arthritis risk factors include:
A healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms. They may ask if your thumb hurts all the time or if certain activities cause pain. They’ll ask if you’ve ever injured your thumb.
They’ll examine your hand and thumb. They may see what happens when you move your thumb. They do that by holding your thumb joint while moving your thumb.
Thumb arthritis treatment varies based on the severity of your symptoms. If you have mild symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend at-home treatments like:
Your provider may recommend steroid injections if your symptoms are severe or get worse. They’ll inject a steroid solution into your thumb joint. This typically provides pain relief for several months. But injections become less effective over time. At that point, your provider may recommend surgery.
Options for surgery include: