Dealing With Thumb Arthritis

If turning doorknobs or opening jars is painful, it could be thumb arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the type most common type of arthritis affecting the thumb. It's degenerative and breaks down the cushioning cartilage of the joint where the base of the thumb meets the wrist. It occurs most often in women over age 60.

According to Clayton Alexander, M.D., a Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in The Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Center at Mercy, it's most common in women for several reasons. Women have very subtle anatomical differences in their thumbs and slightly looser ligaments than men. This leads to more wear and tear.

"For thumb arthritis, there are non-operative treatments and operative treatments; you can take pain medication; bracing therapy injections and many different kinds of surgeries that have been developed over time to treat this," Dr. Alexander said.

There is no cure, but Dr. Alexander says treatments are effective.

To view Mercy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Clayton Alexander’s interview regarding thumb arthritis, click here.