Arthritis in Thumb - Symptoms, Causes, Natural Remedies and Treatment

What is arthritis in thumb? Most people know at least one person whose thumb ‘skips’ or ‘jumps’ when they move it. The thing is, though, this is not a party trick, but likely rather the onset of this condition.

This type of arthritis, which most commonly affects the CMC joint - the one located at the base of the thumb - causes the joint to catch when moved. This early sign of arthritis of the thumb is also often accompanied or followed by thumb pain, problems gripping things, and swelling around the base or knuckle of the thumbs.

Sufferers of arthritis in thumb make up a large part of the population suffering from arthritis, and this is mostly due to the fact that thumbs and fingers get a lot of everyday use. Wear and tear, after all, is one of the most common reasons for arthritis, with injury and family history trailing behind.

Treating arthritis in thumb is tricky because you use the thumbs so often that it’s almost impossible to avoid further ‘wear and tear’, yet too much rest or immobilizing of the thumb joints will lead to stiffness and inflammation, which may only makes the condition worse.

(Click here to read about finger arthritis, or click here to read about hand arthritis.)

The most commonly recommended conventional treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medications and the use of thumb splints. Some people who find no relief from these often resort to surgery to correct the problem, but these popular treatments do also have their downside as well, with overuse of anti-inflammatory medications causing stomach upset and even ulcers, while splint use may weaken the thumb over time, resulting in a loss of range of motion.

Natural treatments for dealing with arthritis in thumb may be a great option for those who either cannot take anti-inflammatory medications for some reason, or for those who simply want a treatment option without side effects.

Also, because these medications only offer relief while you’re using them, they provide only a temporary fix as opposed to a long term solution. The key to treating arthritis is finding an option that works to improve your range of motion and strength, while also helping to cut back on your pain or cure it completely; this is something which no pill can do.

You may want to look into physical therapy, because the specific goal of physical therapy is to improve functionality, range of motion and manage pain. Through specific movements, a physical therapist will teach you what you need to do to fix the problem, as opposed to simply masking it for a few hours a day using drugs. You’ll be given the tools needed to rebuild your strength and get your thumb functioning properly again.

There are some herbal anti-inflammatories available as well that have been helping people treat arthritis in thumb and other conditions for centuries. Turmeric is a strong and all-natural anti-inflammatory that has long been used to cure pain and swelling. Ginger extract is another natural option for those looking for a safe and effective way to treat arthritis.

Finally, one old tried and true method for dealing with the pain of arthritis in thumb is the use of heat and cold. The heat helps with stiffness and improves the range of motion, while the cold is a great way to reduce inflammation naturally.

Alternating between the two works wonders in improving circulation, and is something easily done at home without any special items except for an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies and a hot water bottle; hot and cold therapy can also be carried out in the shower. Treatment options should be simple, and it just doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Click here to read about finger arthritis, or click here to read about hand arthritis.

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