Arthritis In The Thumb – Symptoms, Causes And Remedies For Relief

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints by irritating or even destroying them. There are many different types of arthritis, and the most common arthritis in the thumb is osteoarthritis caused by the wear and tear of the joint.

Arthritis of the thumb usually appears at the joint at the base of the thumb, right where the thumb meets the wrist. This joint is called the carpometacarpal and it is needed for gripping and pinching movements. Thumb arthritis is more common in women and the risk will increase with age.

Symptoms of arthritis in thumb

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons lists the most common symptoms of arthritis in the thumb on their website. The symptoms include:

* Pain, especially when doing activities that involve gripping or pinching like turning a key

* Swelling and slight tenderness

* After prolonged use, there will be an aching discomfort

* Loss of strength

* Enlarged appearance of the joint

* Bony prominence or bump will develop over the joint

* Limited motion

Causes of arthritis in the thumb

There are many possible causes of arthritis in the thumb; often, they are related to old age increasing the wear and tear. Thumb arthritis is very common because it is hard to prevent wear and tear to the thumb, because of the various tasks we use it for. Thus, many ordinary tasks will cause pressure to the joint and can then develop into arthritis.

It is often more common in people who suffer from osteoarthritis in other joints as well. It can also be caused by an injury or a trauma to the thumb.

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