How to deal with trigger thumb? I am trying different methods. The pain starts bothering me in the early to middle of the afternoon. It throbs and I can’t concentrate on what I am doing.
I went to physical therapy for a while, but it is noisy and crowded, and you are put on a bed in the middle of the room. I feel like I am providing entertainment for the rest of the office.
You may be busy during the day, chauffeuring kids to school, dealing with a grueling commute, and fixing meals the family will enjoy. Who has time to rest hands that are constantly in use?
Resting your hands can improve inflamed tissues. Thankfully, alternative medical treatments can be done at home to control pain and inflammation from trigger thumb:
Eliminate Sports During the Healing Process
During the healing process, sports such as baseball and basketball may need to be eliminated or curtailed.
Splinting your thumb for several weeks keeps the joint straight, and allows it to rest. Wearing your splint overnight keeps you from curling your fingers into a ball, and waking up with a painful thumb that doesn’t want to move.
They can be bulky and uncomfortable, but you can get used to them. Typing with a thumb splint can be challenging, but you can still work and keep your pain under control.
Use Ice for Inflammation
Ice therapy reduces inflammation and is the best choice for new injuries. Heat relaxes your muscles, so it shouldn’t be used for at least 48 hours after you hurt your finger. For best results, wrap an ice bag in a thin towel and apply to your thumb for up to 20 minutes. Repeat every 1-2 hours for three days.
Soak in Warm Water to Keep Thumb Loose
Take five to ten minutes in the morning, and try soaking your affected hand in warm water. This may keep your thumb from locking when you try to move it.
I use Hot Warmers. They are little heat packs that can be applied to your palms or stuffed into a pocket for warm hands on the go. I like to use these because I can move around better and heat my hands while on the computer, watching television, or running errands.
These sleeves fit over your fingers and thumbs and provide compression that can relieve the pain of thumb arthritis. Put them carefully on and pull them down over your knuckles. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day, and your fingers will thank you. I can feel the difference when I take them off and my fingers feel much better.
Get a Steroid Injection
If you haven’t experienced enough pain relief from conservative measures, ask your doctor about a steroid injection. Receiving this injection near or into the tendon sheath may reduce swelling and allow the tendon to glide freely again. You may experience relief for more than a year, or you may need more than one injection.
Summary
There is no cure for arthritis but you don’t have to suffer from arthritis pain. Here are some ideas to get you started. Research different ways to deal with the pain and take advantage of arthritis aids that can make your life easier.
You need your hands for so many things, so don’t let a trigger thumb stand in your way. Work with your doctor or physical therapist to relieve pain now and in the future.
