Wanna know what really sets us humans apart from other creatures in the animal kingdom?
Sure, our highly developed brains have certainly helped us succeed and thrive—but it’s our thumbs that really tipped the scales in our favor as a species.
Our thumbs evolved to be opposable, meaning they can flex, abduct, rotate, and—crucially—come into direct contact with the hand’s other digits.
Why is this range of motion so important?
Because it’s what allows us to grip, grasp, hold, and manipulate objects in ways animals with non-opposable thumbs in a fixed position cannot.
Think about it—your dog may be smart and savvy, but he can’t hold a hammer or use scissors. That’s because dogs have non-opposable thumbs.
Unlike your favorite furry companion, your thumbs grant you the ability to perform a wide variety of fine motor activities that allow us humans to use tools and perform complex, intricate tasks. And this ability is everything when you look back at our evolution as a species.
Your thumbs have a big, important role in your life. They’re involved in almost everything you do on a daily basis.
If you experience thumb pain or reduced range of motion, it can really mess with your entire life.
Thankfully, you’ve got all the expert guidance and support you need at your fingertips when you follow Virtual Hand Care! That’s why I created it—to be your one-stop shop for all things hand health and wellness.
In this helpful article, I’ll unpack everything you need to know about thumb arthritis. Ready to unlock the thumb arthritis relief you deserve? Then read on, my friend!
What causes thumb arthritis?
Thumb arthritis is a real pain. Not only does it hurt, but it can really put a damper on your daily life. From work to hobbies, thumb arthritis gets in the way of everything you do.
So, how come you might get thumb arthritis while others don’t? Before you just count yourself unlucky, I want to share some common causes of thumb arthritis with you.
Like any kind of arthritis, thumb arthritis happens when degeneration in a joint leads to swelling and tenderness. This degeneration and swelling causes stiffness that can impede range of motion and cause pain.
Thumb arthritis pain is typically felt at the base of your thumb. This is the site of an important thumb joint (known as your basal joint).
Thumb arthritis happens when your cartilage at this joint wears down.
See, it’s your thumb cartilage’s job to cushion and protect your thumb joint and all the important movement and work it does. When this happens, your joint is exposed to wear and tear. As a result, the joint starts to deteriorate.
That’s thumb arthritis in a nutshell, my friend!
Common symptoms of thumb arthritis include:
- Aching and discomfort in your thumb, especially at the base when it meets your hand
- Reduced thumb strength and range of motion
- Stiffness, tenderness, and swelling at the base of your thumb
- Increased pain when performing activities that involve pinching, gripping, and grasping
- A noticeably bigger thumb joint
These symptoms may come and go, but often intensify when you use your thumbs for long periods.
Some folks are more at risk of developing thumb arthritis than others. This comes down to a mixed bag of both lifestyle factors and genetics.
Those most at risk for thumb arthritis include:
- Folks who use their hands for their professions
- Musicians, crafters, knitters
- Women
- People over the age of 40
- People who’ve previously injured or broken their thumb
- Folks with joint-impacting conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and those predisposed to osteoarthritis.
Now that you’ve got a handle on what causes thumb arthritis, let’s take a look at how you can get some thumb arthritis symptom relief and prevent it from ruining your day.
Thumb arthritis relief and prevention
When you have thumb arthritis, you may turn to the internet to find support, advice, and solutions to get relief from your symptoms.
The internet is awesome—but it can also be a source of confusion, overwhelm, and misinformation. This can not only feel frustrating, but it can also potentially slow down or even harm your healing process.
As a Certified Hand Therapist and Occupational Therapist, I’ve made it my mission to help folks find relief from thumb arthritis pain. I wanted to provide a go-to source of trustworthy information, support, and guidance to folks proactively dealing with common hand issues like thumb arthritis.
If you struggle with thumb arthritis, you don’t need to suffer in silence—and there are ways to find relief.
In fact, I’ve created an entire course focused on helping people recover and finally show those thumb arthritis symptoms who’s boss!
I’ve got something for you.
I call it 30-Day Thumbs, and I’m so proud that it’s helped hundreds of students achieve the thumb arthritis relief they were seeking.
If you’re ready to recover and get your thumbs back to their happy, pain-free selves, I’d love to welcome you to enroll.
➡️ The best thing about my program is that it’s available anytime you want to get started with thumb arthritis relief. I also offer a live version regularly throughout the year if you prefer to get direct, hands-on support from me.
With this program, I’ve been honored to help many people not only get relief from thumb arthritis symptoms, but prevent their thumb arthritis from worsening.
I left no stone unturned in creating a comprehensive program that transformed my years of hands-on knowledge, education, and expertise into an actionable method. The result is a proven approach to stop the progression and relieve thumb arthritis signs and symptoms.
I’m pretty proud of it—but I’m even more proud of the enrollees who’ve followed my lessons and achieved and exceeded the results they deserve. These folks are the true heroes. They’re not about to let thumb arthritis hold them back from living their life on their terms.
If your thumbs deserve the best, learn more about my 30 day thumb arthritis training program here.
Next up, I’ll reveal my go-to favorite products and resources to help you get relief from thumb arthritis pain and stiffness.
Michelle’s favorite thumb arthritis relief tools and recovery resources
As always, I’m here to make it easy for you to understand and recover from the hand issues that threaten to hold you back.
Thumb arthritis can throw a monkey wrench in your day and plans, but it doesn’t have to. I’ve laid out my top approaches to thumb arthritis relief, so you can pick and choose which ones work best for you.
Full disclosure: I am a proud affiliate for many of these products, and I may get a commission if you purchase one through the links I share. But, I only rep brands and products that get my full seal of approval, so you know anything I share has been fully vetted by me. No pressure to buy! My goal is simply to offer you guidance and options so you can choose what’s best for you.
External supports
External supports offer the help and assistance your thumbs need to perform and complete day to day activities.
They can include home modifications, assistive devices, technology, adaptive equipment, and mobility aids.
When it comes to finding thumb arthritis relief, sometimes all you need is the right support in your corner to help you get the job done. External supports can provide the boost you need.
External support favorites
My favorite external supports for thumb arthritis relief include:
Braces
Braces can offer enhanced support and stability to your thumb joint. This can help you get a handle on pesky pain and inflammation by reducing unnecessary movements.
You’ll find two of my favorite thumb brace options right on my Amazon storefront.
➡️ The Comfort Cool Thumb CMC Restriction Splint
➡️ And the PUSH MetaGrip CMC Thumb Brace (you can also check it out on their site and use my affiliate code).
Want to see these two braces in action to find the right option for you? Check out my helpful video, where I compare them.
Kinesiology tape
Sometimes, braces can get in the way or impede your thumb movement too much when you need it. In this case, you may prefer to opt for taping as your thumb pain relief companion.
I’ve got a couple of my fav options on my Amazon store (here and here), and you can also find many others through your own searching.
Strengthening equipment
Thumb arthritis isn’t just a pain—it can also sap your strength and reduce your range of motion. Push back against this effect with strengthening equipment.
I’m here to help you cut through the fog and choose the right strengthening equipment and exercises to promote recovery without risk for further injury.
Strengthening equipment favorites
A great way to start off your thumb recovery is by using a firm ball. They help support all the joints in your thumb and hand while offering isometric strengthening. This is great for thumb arthritis because it promotes muscle movement and strengthening without putting added stress and strain on your joint.
Here are my go-to therapy balls for thumb arthritis strengthening. And check out my helpful follow-along video where I share my five fav thumb strengthening exercises with you!
Moist heat
Moist heat is a forever fav when it comes to relieving arthritis pain. It increases blood flow, promotes circulation, and delivers oxygen and nutrients to promote relaxation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. I love it!
Moist heat favorites
If you’ve been following along with my Favorite Things series, you know I’m a big fan of these mitten-style hot packs from SunnyBay.
Not only do they help with thumb arthritis relief—they’re also super cute and fun to wear!
Handy gadgets
I’m a total gadget girl, and I love finding and recommending tools to help folks on their thumb arthritis recovery journeys.
Gadgets can help you find relief, give your thumbs a much-needed break, and help you complete daily tasks that would be difficult—especially when you’re having a flare-up.
Favorite gadgets
There are SO many handy gadgets out there today! Sometimes, the key is to reverse engineer the search and instead search for a gadget that’s designed to support the activity you need help with.
For example, you can snag this handy tool to help you deftly manage cutting and prepping food. No more standing over the carrots, shaking your hand every few chops to relieve your thumb pain!
Uh oh! You just looked down and realized your toenails are looking like claws at the moment. It happens—especially when a combo of sore thumbs and older feet make it much harder to complete this self-care task. Try this kit to help make toenail trimming a painless cinch!
Are you more of a one-stop shopper? No problem! I created my Amazon storefront so that folks can easily find everything they need to recover from a wide range of hand, arm, wrist, and shoulder issues. I’ve even curated it so you can easily search for products designed to help with thumb arthritis relief.
I hope this thumb arthritis relief kit has given you actionable ideas and helpful advice. You now have everything you need to start your path to recovery and relief from thumb pain and arthritis symptoms!
If you’re interested, be sure to check out my 30-Day Thumb Arthritis Training Program for expert support and guidance. You can begin the course anytime or hop on the waitlist for the next time I go live. I hope to see you there!
Be sure to stop by Virtual Hand Care regularly for up-to-date info, resources, and tools to support your hand health and wellness! Reach out anytime with questions—I’m here for you!
