Arthritis in Thumb -Thumb Joint Pain Specialist

Specialists in Thumb Joint Pain and Arthritis in Valencia

I am Dr Miguel Alfonso Porcar, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and traumatologist.

At Regenerat Traumatology Clinic, we specialise in diagnosing and treating rhizarthrosis, thumb osteoarthritis and hand osteoarthritis.

For hand osteoarthritis treatment, we utilise bioregenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma, growth factors and autologous cytokine-rich serum.

Our objective is to:

• Determine the cause of your thumb arhritis. 
• Perform appropriate diagnostic tests to assess the extent of your condition.
• Apply regenerative traumatology treatment or orthopedic surgeryto alleviate your pain and help you regain well-being as quickly as possible

We want to help you using the safest, most successful and least invasive treatments possible!

What is thumb joint pain or thumb arthritis?

Rhizarthrosis is osteoarthritis affecting the base of the thumb, i.e. the progressive destruction of the articular cartilage between the trapezium and the first metacarpal.

It occurs frequently, especially in women, and usually begins around the age of 50. It can also be the result of a blow or a fracture.

Very sharp thumb joint pain

This osteoarthritis may be well tolerated in certain cases, or it may cause pain that constitutes an impediment to daily activities and is associated with a Z-shaped deformity of the thumb.

Mild cases of pain can be corrected with self-care and rest. In cases of severe rhizarthrosis, physiotherapy treatments , regenerative medicine and orthopedic surgery may be necessary.

What are the causes of thumb arthritis?

Thumb arthritis usually affects people over 45 years of age, and is more common in people with a family history or people with previous hand and wrist injuries.

In addition, traumatic injuries, fractures and joint dislocation make you more susceptible to developing osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis has varying degrees of functional limitation and effects on quality of life.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not affect everyone as they age and does not necessarily worsen with age.

Osteoarthritis causes joint pain and you may lose the ability to freely move and bend a joint.

When severe, the joint may lose all movement, causing disability.

What are the symptoms of joint pain in thumb?

The most common symptom of rhizarthrosis is pain at the base of the thumb.

Pain may be aggravated by activities that require pinching, such as opening jars, turning doorknobs or keys, and writing.

Severity may also progress to pain at rest and nocturnal pain.

In severe cases, progressive destruction and misalignment of the joint occurs, and a protrusion develops at the base of the thumb as the metacarpal moves out of the saddle joint.

This displacement of the joint can cause limited motion and weakness, making pinching difficult.

The next joint above the CMC can compensate by loosening, causing it to bend further backward (hyperextension).

Risk factors for thumb osteoarthritis

Some risk factors cannot be changed – such as genetics – while others, such as obesity and daily activities, can be modified or eliminated. 

• Trauma to the hand: a broken bone, dislocation, or previous surgery can cause damage that leads to rhizarthrosis. Symptoms may not appear until many years after the trauma.
• Joint misalignment: if the bones of the fingers and/or wrists are not aligned properly, there may be excess joint friction leading to increased wear and tear on the cartilage. Joint misalignment can exist for years before arthritis develops and becomes painful.
• Repetitive movements: people whose jobs require repetitive hand movements are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Being a woman: women are more likely to develop hand osteoarthritis than men.

Hand or wrist pain causes

Some of the most common causes of hand and wrist pain that a hand specialist can treat are sprains and strains.

A sprain refers to an injury to a ligament, while a strain refers to a muscle injury. Sprains and strains occur due to excessive force applied during a stretching, twisting or pushing action.

Other causes of pain in the hands and/or wrists include:

• Hand osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease that is the most common type of arthritis affecting older people. It causes the cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of the bones in a joint, to wear away, resulting in painful bone-on-bone contact.
• Thumb osteoarthritis: Arthritis affecting the base of the thumb, i.e. the progressive destruction of the articular cartilage between the trapezium and the first metacarpal.
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: Also called radial tenosynovitis, this is a painful condition affecting the tendons of the first extensor compartment, producing pain at the level of the anatomical snuffbox.
• Trigger finger injection: For a condition in which the finger locks or catches if you try to straighten or bend it.
• Carpal tunnel surgery: For a condition characterized by numbness or pain in the thumb and first three fingers. It occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. It is usually a common complaint in people who use their hands for prolonged periodsin particular occupations, such as computer work.