Condition
Hand and finger osteoarthritis, including thumb-base osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can affect the fingers and the joint at the base of the thumb, also called rhizarthrosis. Treatment aims to ease pain and help you use your hand in daily life. An abnormal X-ray alone does not determine which treatment you need.
What changes in the hand?
Osteoarthritis affects the whole joint, including cartilage and nearby bone. The end and middle finger joints and the thumb-base joint are commonly affected. Pain, stiffness and bony enlargements may develop, with varying severity.
Thumb-base osteoarthritis often hurts during strong gripping and twisting. A bony enlargement or an imaging finding does not necessarily mean persistent severe pain. Tingling and loss of sensation need separate assessment.
How is the diagnosis assessed?
We examine which joints are affected, their movement and tenderness, and which tasks are difficult. Duration, swelling and morning stiffness also matter. Existing reports are considered alongside the examination.
X-rays may help when needed. Marked inflammatory signs or an unusual course may require further investigation. Osteoarthritis does not explain every painful or swollen hand.
What may help in everyday life?
Balancing activity with rest, suitable hand exercises and assistive devices may support function. An appropriate thumb splint may help with thumb-base osteoarthritis. Occupational therapy can help adapt demanding tasks without keeping the hand permanently still.
When medication is appropriate, options include anti-inflammatory pain relief applied to the skin. Tablets require an individual assessment of possible side effects. Injections are not an automatic standard treatment. If pain remains substantial despite suitable treatment, a hand-surgery consultation may be appropriate. Decisions depend on symptoms and function, not the X-ray alone.
Which changes need prompt assessment?
Rapidly increasing swelling with warmth, particularly with fever, needs urgent assessment. A newly cold, pale or blue hand, or a serious injury, requires immediate help. In an emergency, call 112.
