Pain in the thumbLearn about the conditions

A nagging thumb when you try to open a jar. A wrist that feels stiff in the morning. A finger that no longer does what you want it to. Hand problems are frustrating, because you use your hands all day - for work, for hobbies, for the simplest things. On this page we explain what causes pain in your hand, wrist and thumb most often.

Common causes of thumb pain

Thumb pain comes in many shapes and forms. We have put the most common conditions together to help you understand the causes and treatments.

CMC Arthritis (thumb base osteoarthritis)

Wear of the joint at the base of your thumb. Develops gradually with age and use, and causes pain when pinching, gripping or turning.

Thumb Arthritis

Inflammation of the thumb joint, usually part of an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Causes swelling, warmth and morning stiffness.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A chronic autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your joints. Often starts in the hands, with morning stiffness, swelling and symmetrical pain in both hands.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)

A group of inherited connective tissue disorders that make joints unstable. In the hands, this causes hypermobility, frequent subluxations and pain that's out of proportion to the activity.

Less pain, without the operation.

When you visit a doctor with hand pain, you'll often receive one of three types of advice: rest and painkillers, an injection, or in persistent cases, surgery. What many people don't know is that there's an intermediate step that is often skipped: a custom brace.

Learn more about braces

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