I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the thumb area. This pain has been slowly creaping up on me for the past 3 years. The pain has now gotten to the point I can barely pick up anything without horrific pain. My Rheumatologist had me do physical theraphy last year which did nothing. I recently started on 15mg of Meloxicam and Lidocaine patches which have done nothing. I am also wearing a splint. Is there any other meds out there that may help me like Cymbalta etc... I was thinking of getting Cortisone injections to atleast try and see if they work. I have been told they are very painful but if they work I would be willig to try.I am 53 and this is starting to interfere with everything I do. I just don't know what step I should take next. I in no way want surgery. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Hi I've got it in both knees I'm 39yrs old. The doctor gave me a cream called capsaicin it works great
I have osteoarthritis quite bad in my right thumb and i have been getting small twinges in my left so i know its on its way. I too have pain picking things up, even moving my thumb is pretty painful. Im waiting to see a specialist. My mum had it bad in both hands and she had the injections which didn't work. I have had the injections in my feet as i have arthritis and plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately it only works for a few days and the pain is back. So in my experience i would't have steroid injections again because in the long run they could do more damage as ive had 4 in my heel and the pain worstens every time it came back. I know everyone is different and there may be someone out there who this has worked for. I hope you find something that works for you. All the best
Thank You Kim! I will stop on my way home today and picks up the cream. Take Care!
Sorry Kim! I meant to say thank you for your input on the injections. I think I will pass on them for now. Please post after you see the Specialist. Good luck!
Thank You Katrina! I will try the cream. Best of luck to you.
I've got OA in both in knee's. Was off work for 6 months some morning's I could barely walk to the toilet it was so painful. Got loads of calf pain, cramps, general aches. Went to see another gp at my practice and asked if he thought I might have Fibromyalgia but I was only showing certain symptoms. He put me on 60 mg of cymbalta to see what happened. After 6 weeks he upped this to 90mg. Definitely helped with the cramps, calf pain and aches. It's also a good anti depressant which helped my head space. Year later I'm still on the same dose. Although I'm still in pain I can control this with other painkillers. It's not a miracle cure but certainly helps get you through. Good luck xx
I had the injection in my right thumb base, it was extremely painful and unfortunately did very little good I'm afraid. I am now waiting to have it done again under Xray so that they will ensure it goes in the right spot.
I don't really know what to advise you, but I decided to go for it as I was so limited as to what I could do. Good luck x
Surgery is the way to go ..... why?...... meds have their own problems, creams like capiscan and voltraol work for a while, steroid injections don't last long and are very painful..... had surgery twice now onfingers and pain free...... go for it to be pain free, what's stopping you the pain will only get worse as you get more bone on bone
Hi Samantha,i also suffer with osteoarthritis in the fingers and thumbs and wear splints but do nothing for the pain,i also went for physiotherapy but did nothing and gave me exercises to do which were too painful to do,i'm afraid there is only pain killers and ibuprofen gel which don't do much good ,i had to give up my job as i couldn't carry on as too painfull i was a domestic in a emi nursing home and was going home in so much pain so i'm afraid can't give you any advice and would also appreciate any advice as what else we can do .
I just had a cortisone injection in my knee and it did not hurt at all. I don't know about the thumbs but it would probably be worth it. I know I will need a TKR soon but the cortisone really helped. I go in two weeks for another one and I and the pain is starting to return, although not anywhere llike it was before the shot.
Thank you Sukes! Let us know how the 2nd injection does for you. Good Luck!
Thank You Sandra! Good luck on your second shot.
wknight I know you are right. Being out of work for weeks will be difficult for me. Decisions, decisions!!
It's only 2 wks off work and worth it considering all the pain you are suffering
Sorry to hear of your pain samantha. I too have OA in both thumb joints. At times it is really horrific as you say. I had an injection which was horrendously painful and really rather ineffective so I wouldnt recommend them. I have issues with many pain meds, totally unable to take any opiates and anti inflamms either dont work or cause terrible stomach problems. I am presently trying curcumin (its the active ingredient in turmeric) I buy high dose curcumin capsules from the health food shop. Not sure yet if it's really effective but the pain has definitely lessened a little but not gone away. One thing that has helped a lot is ginger. The fresh root rather than powdered. You can either buy the fresh root, peel and grate it or you can buy fresh grated ginger paste in indian stores - make sure its the one without too many added ingredients. I mix it with hand cream and slap it on, put on some thin cotton gloves (got them from Boots the Chemist) and leave it for a couple of hours. The pain relief is tangible - really lowers the inflammation. I also drink ginger tea (there's a good one with lemon which is delicate flavoured). I'm trying to avoid surgery as I have friends in the USA who've had it done and the recovery time is very long and painful. Hope you find something to help.
Thank you Loxie! I will try the ginger to see if it helps. I am willing to try just about anything.
Hello samantha. Im 45 and also have osteoarthritis in both hands. I saw a doctor at the hand clinic last week and he bluntly said im heading for surgery for my right thumb as the arthritis is so bad he said that he usually sees this much deterioration in someone over 60 and in his opinion its beyond treatment. I am waiting to be fitted with splints until i have the surgery. I know how you feel with the pain as even picking a pen up is excruciating for me. I hope you find something that works for you.
Kim, I am so sorry you have to have surgery. I know I am heading in that direction too. My doctor just injected cortisone in my right thumb. I'm still in pain but nothing like before. He gave me a prescription for Celebrex which I have not started yet. I wish I had gotten the cortisone shot a long time ago. Everyone commented how painful those shots are so I held off. My doctor numbed the area by freezing it with a spray of some sort and I felt absolutely nothing. I know this is only temporary and surgery is next but I'm trying to hold off because of the down time. Please keep us posted on your progress. You are so young to have arthritis that severe. I guess arthritis has no age limit. I see people in their late 80's that have no pain in their hands. I just don't get it. I guess we can blame it on bad genes😭. Good luck Kim!
Hi samantha i went to see the hand surgeon and was told i have oa and de quervains tenosynovitis in both hands. The right hand being more painful. I had a cortisone injection for the de quervains earlier and if that doesn't settle i will have an operation to relieve the pain then a further op for the arthritis as xrays have shown bone spurs in both hands, ive got a long way to go but im slowly getting answers and treatment. Will post future results