Thumb pain causes, diseases and treatment

Pain on the thumb

Thumb pain can be a significant impairment in everyday life, as the thumb assumes a special function when gripping. Its special position is also reflected in the particular mobility of the thumb and the enlarged compared to other fingers brain area, which is responsible for the coordination and sensory of the thumb.

contents

• Pain on the thumb
• definition
• Pain on the thumb: symptoms
• Diseases as the cause of a sore thumb
• Sprains, fractures and torn ligaments
• Pain in the thumb due to joint disease
• Thumb pain due to tendonitis
• Overbites and other causes of thumb pain
• diagnosis
• Treatment of pain in the thumb
• Naturopathy with a thumb pain

definition

Thumb pain generally describes all painful complaints in the area between the thumb saddle joint and the thumb tip. However, this article focuses on thumb pain resulting from injury and disease of the bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments, or joints. Superficial injuries, such as burns or cuts, are not included here.

For example, thumb pain may be perceived as punctate pain in the area of ​​the thumb saddle joint or as a sharp pull throughout the entire finger. (Image: Adiano / fotolia.com)

Pain on the thumb: symptoms

For example, thumb pain can manifest as punctate pain in the joint, painful swelling with marked pressure pain, or pulling pain, which may even extend to the forearm. Often, moreover, the mobility of the thumb is limited and those affected have problems accessing. For example, bottles and glasses are difficult to hold, and even a screw cap causes considerable difficulties.

Depending on the causes of the symptoms, for example, increased falling asleep in the hands, forearm pain, neck tension or back pain may occur as concomitant symptoms.

Diseases as the cause of a sore thumb

The possible causes of pain on the thumb range from fractures and torn ligaments on acute inflammation and nerve disorders to chronic joint and bone diseases. According to the different triggers of the complaints, the symptoms can also differ significantly.

Sprains, fractures and torn ligaments

Accidents or other increased forces can crush or break the bones of the fingers and fingers, resulting in painful swelling and limited mobility. Fractures that cause a pain in the thumb are fractures in the immediate area of ​​the thumb, for example, so-called Bennett fractures. This fracture at the base of the first metacarpal bone usually causes a pulling pain to the thumb saddle joint.

In a scaphoid fracture, access is usually also associated with considerable pain and the mobility of the thumb significantly limited. Most sufferers have difficulty joining index fingers and thumbs. In the face of pain, some even manage this simple movement.

As a result of a scaphoid fracture usually severe pain and limited mobility of the thumb occur. (Image: bilderzwerg / fotolia.com)

A rupture of the lateral ligament on the thumb (ski thumb) can cause swelling and massive pain in the area of ​​the thumb. Most of this ligament tear occurs in a fall on the hand. The thumb is spread too much by the load and the sideband travels. Occasionally, the rupture is accompanied by the splintering of a small bone fragment.

Pain in the thumb due to joint disease

Various diseases can lead to joint pain in the area of ​​the thumb. Here is the first to call the arthritis. If the joint wear affects the thumb saddle joint, this is called Rhizarthrose. The affected persons feel deep-seated thumb pain in the area of ​​the joint during certain movements.

Similar pain causes acute inflammation of the joints, such as reactive arthritis or chronic polyarthritis. As a rule, reactive arthritis is based on an already overcome bacterial infectious disease of the intestinal or urinary tract. The reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's disease or Reiter's disease, follows after the actual infection.

Accompanying the pain in the thumb, further complaints such as conjunctivitis and / or urethritis can be observed in such cases. The affected joints appear - as with the other arthritis forms - reddened, warmed and swollen.

Chronic polyarthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis) is one of the most common inflammatory joint diseases. In the course of the disease, the chronic arthritis leads to irreversible destruction of the joint. The basic joints of the fingers and carpal bones appear distinctly displaced and the joints ache massively.

In general, arthritis can also be triggered by bacteria and fungi that enter the joint via open wounds or the bloodstream. In the worst case, as a result of bacterial or mycogenic joint inflammation threatens blood poisoning, which is why urgent therapeutic countermeasures are required here.

Gout is actually a metabolic disease and not an immediate joint disease. However, as uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints in the course of gout, the latter are significantly impaired in their function and cause pain during exercise. The remaining damage to the organism as a result of gout is usually relatively painless, so that the joint pain is considered the leading symptom of the disease.

Gout can appear as an acute attack or assume a chronic course. Suddenly, without apparent cause of joint pain, accompanied by redness and swelling of the joints, are a possible indication of an acute attack of gout. Fever can appear as a concomitant symptom.

A tendonitis of the thumb is usually caused by overload of the hands and constantly recurring, monotonous movements. (Image: structuresxx / fotolia.com)

Thumb pain due to tendonitis

Special forms of tendonitis may also trigger the discomfort. The so-called Quervain disease (Tendovaginitis de Quervain) describes an irritation of the tendons of the thumb muscles (abductor pollicis longus muscle and the extensor pollicis brevis muscle). In most cases, an overload due to frequent exercise causes the thumb pain.

The plant-related disease Tendovaginitis stenosans, in which the flexor muscles or tendons of the thumb are impaired in their function, may in rare cases also be associated with pain in the thumb.

Overbites and other causes of thumb pain

If an over-leg forms near the thumb, it can press on the surrounding ligaments, muscles and nerves, causing pain in the thumb.

In rare cases Repetitive Strain Injury Syndrome (so-called mouse arm) leads to a painful tingling in the thumb area. The constant repetition of certain movements leads to complaints that can range from the fingers to the shoulder, neck and back. If the supplying nerves of the thumb muscles become trapped, for example in the course of a carpal tunnel syndrome, this can also cause sensory disturbances in the area of ​​the thumb, which are sometimes perceived painfully.

Another possible cause is the aseptic bone necrosis Morbus Preiser, in which the navicular bone is slowly destroyed. In rare cases, the thumb pain is due to an enchondroma (benign tumor from cartilage tissue).

diagnosis

On the basis of the description of the symptoms, conclusions about the possible causes of the symptoms of a thumb can usually already be drawn. Sprains, fractures, and torn ligaments are suspected due to the significant large swelling in the thumb and hand area, but there is a need to control the findings using imaging techniques (ultrasound or X-rays) to narrow the diagnosis.

The imaging test methods are also used to examine suspected joint disease, with magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography also playing an important role here. Peiser's disease and possibly existing ganglionis or enchodromes are also visualized using diagnostic imaging techniques. In case of doubt, a tendonitis can be clearly determined with the help of sonography (ultrasound).

A laboratory examination of blood samples can provide further important information for the diagnosis. For example, a blood test for gout can be used to detect an elevated uric acid level in the blood, and in the case of arthritis, markedly elevated levels of inflammation in the blood can be detected.

The thumb pain can be successfully treated in most cases with the help of physiotherapy. (Image: apops / fotolia.com)

Treatment of pain in the thumb

If the pain in the fingers is due to a sprain, fracture or torn ligament, restraint with the aid of a plaster or orthosis or splint is required. Broken bones may need to be adjusted beforehand so that they can grow together again properly. If the acute injury has healed, physiotherapy is recommended for a complete rehabilitation. However, in the event of a rupture, the ligaments may not re-grow properly, so if in doubt, surgery is required to repair a lateral ligament rupture on the thumb.

Similar to a tendonitis in a rhizarthrosis is usually initially an immobilization, to allow a decay of the inflammatory processes. Cooling compresses as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs should also contribute to the relief. If the rhizarthrosis does not decrease in the course of conventional treatment, there is the possibility of surgery, for example, the joint can be directed or replaced by the implantation of a joint prosthesis.

Arthritis resulting from a bacterial infection also requires surgery to remove the affected tissue to prevent blood poisoning. The treatment of chronic polyarthritis is usually medicated with analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs. If the damage to the joints progresses too far, an operation with correction or replacement of the joint is also possible here.

An acute attack of gout is usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs such as cortisol or NSAIDs. In order to avoid a worsening of the symptoms and the development of a chronic gout, many therapists advise a concomitant conversion of the diet to purinarme diet. Also, drugs for the inhibition of uric acid production (uricostatic) can be used.

Naturopathy with a thumb pain

As an alternative treatment for thumb pain, manual therapy is mainly concerned with osteopathy and rolfing. These procedures not only look at the thumb and the surrounding tissue, but, according to their holistic approach, also address other ailments that may be related to the pain. These include, for example, neck tension, back pain or shoulder problems. Massages and acupuncture can relieve the pain of the thumb, especially with underlying discomfort of the muscles and ligaments.

Acupuncture treatment can help relieve pain in the thumb. (Image: Alfred Wekelo / fotolia.com)

In joint diseases such as osteoarthritis or arthritis different naturopathic treatment approaches are available, which include not only the manual therapies but also herbal medicine treatments based on extracts or mother tinctures of devil's claw, stinging nettles and willow. Furthermore, a possibly existing hyperacidity of the body should be remedied or the acid-base balance should be compensated.

Therapeutic fasting is an extremely effective method of relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Schüssler salts and homeopathic remedies can be used supplements to reduce inflammatory processes in the body. (fp, nr, last updated on 24.5.2017)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)