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Did you know... Women over the age of forty have a higher chance of developing thumb arthritis.
Causes
In a normal basal joint, cartilage covers the ends of the bones, acting as a cushion and allowing bones to glide smoothly against each other. With thumb arthritis, the cartilage deteriorates and the smooth surface roughens. The bones then rub against each other, resulting in friction and joint damage.
The exact cause of thumb arthritis isn't known. Researchers suspect that it may be a combination of factors, including age, being overweight, joint injury, heredity, and muscle weakness.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain at the base of your thumb
- Swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of the thumb
- Decreased strength when pinching or grasping objects
- Enlarged or bony appearance of the joint at the base of the thumb
- Decreased range of motion
Treatments
Treatments focuse on helping to reduce pain, maintain or improve join movement, and on minimizing disability. Treatments may include splints, medication or corticosteroid injections. In severe cases, a patient may need surgery to treat thumb arthritis.
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