Can thumb splints help arthritis? Dr Mark Porter has the answer
A Saga Magazine reader asks Dr Mark the best way to deal with thumb arthritis
Image credit: Getty/Gonzalo Calle Asprilla
A Saga Magazine reader asks Dr Mark the best way to deal with thumb arthritis
I have come across thumb splints online. Are they worth trying?
Osteoarthritis of the joint at the base of the thumb is very common, affecting at least one in four people over 45 to some degree, mostly women.
Splints can provide some relief but need to be rigid to work well and that will hinder use of your hands. Flexible neoprene ones are easier to wear but not that helpful in my experience.
If splints don’t work, a steroid injection is the next step, but this is best done by a hand surgeon, so you will need a referral from your GP.
Surgery on the joint or replacement is another option, but reserved for the most severe cases.
The British Society for Surgery of the Hand has more information about Basal thumb arthritis.
Charity Versus Arthritis explains that there are two types of thumb splints.
The charity advises not to wear a splint all the time as the joints may become stiff.
This article appeared in the July 2024 edition of Saga Magazine.
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