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Quennell Hand & Wrist 01632 960 718 Book
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Where it is: Base of the thumb

Thumb base arthritis

Also called: basal thumb arthritis

The joint at the root of your thumb moves in more directions than any other joint in the hand, and it wears. The ache comes with pinching, twisting and gripping.

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A drawing of a left hand and wrist, palm up, with the bones and joints shown faintly beneath the skin, and a small detail drawing of the elbow. A violet surgical marker dot sits on the base of the thumb.
Plate 1 Base of the thumb

What it feels like

  • An ache at the root of the thumb when you turn a key or open a jar
  • A bump at the base of the thumb
  • Weakness pinching small things

What we look for

We feel the joint, test your pinch and grip, and look at an X-ray taken in the building.

What usually helps

  1. A made-to-measure thumb splint and ways of gripping that rest the joint
  2. An injection in clinic for flare-ups
  3. Day surgery to rebuild the joint when nothing else is enough

A typical recovery

  1. Weeks 1 to 4Splint on, therapy begins
  2. Month 3Pinch strength returning
  3. Month 6Most people pain-free with daily tasks

Illustrative timeline, not a promise: every hand heals at its own pace.