What are the stages of thumb arthritis? (2023)

What is stage 4 arthritis of the thumb?

Stage IV: All the components of stage III along with destruction of the scaphotrapezial joint. At this stage the CMC joint is usually fixed and some patients may have little to no pain. Treatment: In early stages, stage I and sometimes stage II, con- servative treatment should be considered.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Ice the joint for 5 to 15 minutes several times a day. Take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to help reduce inflammation and swelling. Wear a supportive splint to limit the movement of your thumb, and allow the joint to rest and heal.

Even though thumb arthritis will advance with time, the symptoms do not always get worse, and in some people the symptoms will decrease significantly. Nonoperative treatment for thumb arthritis can involve: Anti-inflammatory medications (consult your doctor first) The use of heat or ice.

Swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of your thumb. Decreased strength when pinching or grasping objects. Decreased range of motion. Enlarged or bony appearance of the joint at the base of your thumb.

If you don't respond to other treatments or if you're barely able to bend and twist your thumb, your doctor might recommend surgery. Options include: Joint fusion (arthrodesis). The bones in the affected joint are permanently fused.

In use for more than 40 years, LRTI is the most commonly performed surgery for thumb arthritis. The damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with a cushion of tissue that keeps the bones separated. To accomplish this, surgeons remove all or part of the trapezium bone in the wrist at the base of the thumb.

The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.

For basal joint arthritis, the first line of treatment is generally anti-inflammatory medications and bracing. A brace leaves your wrist free but immobilizes the bottom of your thumb, only allowing the last joint in your thumb to move.

The cartilage cushions the two bones, preventing any friction during movement. In people with thumb arthritis, the cartilage wears away. Without this barrier between them, the two bones rub together. As the bones rub together, they create friction and damage the joint, causing pain, inflammation, and other symptoms.

A thumb brace can help alleviate pain, increase stability, and take the stress off the joint. People with arthritis may wear a thumb brace if this area of the hand has become affected.

Does thumb arthritis show up on xray?

An imaging study such as an X-ray can help your doctor confirm the diagnosis. The bone-on-bone grinding of end-stage osteoarthritis produces small growths on the bones called bone spurs or osteophytes. These bone spurs will also show up on an X-ray and support the diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

An arthritic joint will demonstrate narrowing of the space between the bones as the cartilage thins, bone spurs or calcium deposits on the edges of the joint, small cysts within the bone, and sometimes deformity of the joint, causing it to look crooked.

Appearance. The thumb may appear swollen, especially at its base, and you may develop a bony bump. Overall, the base of the thumb can take on an enlarged appearance. One alarming sign of thumb arthritis is improper alignment of the joint as it shifts from its normal positioning.

When to go to the ER for a Sprained or Broken Thumb. Seek emergency care if signs of a Grade 3 sprain or a fracture are visible through the skin and/or if you've lost your range of motion. A bone fracture will need to be realigned and immobilized by a cast, while a torn ligament will require surgery for reattachment.

Following surgery, the thumb is padded and a splint is applied to promote healing. You may experience some discomfort and swelling. Your doctor will recommend some pain medication to help. Keeping the hand elevated above your heart can also help relieve the symptoms.

Recovering the early movement takes six to eight weeks, but increasing the strength of the thumb pinch can take six months. After surgery, your hand will be painful. Take pain relief medication for the first 48 hours and thereafter, as necessary.

Thumb surgical reconstruction can be painful. You will receive a prescription for narcotic pain medicine. For the first 2-3 days, take the pain medication around the clock to stay on top of the pain control. After 3 days, take the medicine only if you need it.

Does Vicks VapoRub help arthritis pain?

Vicks VapoRub is said to provide relief when your joints ache from overuse, injury or arthritis. The camphor does the hard work here as an analgesic that soothes nerve endings and relieves joint pain. You simply massage it directly into the skin around the joints that are causing discomfort.

Do not wear splint for longer than two hours at a time, as this may weaken your hand muscles. The 'push' brace is designed to support the base of your thumb in a good functional position.

Can I wear the brace while I sleep? Yes! The thumb brace can be worn while you sleep.

It's best not to wear your splint all the time, otherwise your joints may become stiff. And you shouldn't wear a working splint overnight unless you've been advised to by your therapist or nurse.

Arthritis, by definition, means inflammation within a joint or directly around it. Tendonitis, in contrast, is inflammation of a tendon, which is a flexible, rope-like cord that connects muscle to bone. Arthritis can occur wherever you have joints.

Arthritis affects a person's overall function and mobility, which can result in activity and other limitations. It is a leading cause of work disability among US adults.

How is arthritis diagnosed? Doctors usually diagnose arthritis using the patient's medical history, physical examination, X-rays, and blood tests. It is possible to have more than one form of arthritis at the same time.

Osteoarthritis could lead to chondrolysis, which is a complete breakdown of the cartilage, leading to loose joint tissue material. Osteonecrosis, which is bone death, is another possible issue. Repeated stress or injury could cause stress fractures, which are hairline cracks in the bone near the affected joint.

Treatment: For stage 4 OA, treatment often involves surgery, such as joint fusion or, more commonly, joint replacement surgery. Steroid or HA injections may provide temporary symptom relief for patients awaiting surgery, or can help manage symptoms longer term for those who decide against or cannot have surgery.

Is stage 4 osteoarthritis serious?

Stage 4 OA is considered severe. People in stage 4 OA of the knee experience great pain and discomfort when they walk or move the joint. That's because the joint space between bones is dramatically reduced. The cartilage is almost completely gone, leaving the joint stiff and possibly immobile.

During stage 4, the best treatment recommended by your doctor may be bone realignment surgery, also known as an osteotomy. This procedure will essentially shift the weight of your body away from the points with greater bone spur growth and damage.

For basal joint arthritis, the first line of treatment is generally anti-inflammatory medications and bracing. A brace leaves your wrist free but immobilizes the bottom of your thumb, only allowing the last joint in your thumb to move.

Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may come and go. Some may stay about the same for years, but symptoms can also progress and get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, difficulty performing daily activities and make walking and climbing stairs painful and grueling.

The more joints that are painful and swollen, the more severe the disease may be, says Dr. Cush. Joint pain and swelling are characteristic signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatologists consider this a very important way to measure disease severity.

Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape.

The amount of time it takes to reach an advanced stage of OA varies. For some people, the disease worsens slowly and may take years to reach stage four, but others may see it progress quickly within several months. The main stages of OA are: Stage 0 (pre-osteoarthritis)

End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.

Get Physical

Physical activity is the best available treatment for OA. It's also one of the best ways to keep joints healthy in the first place. As little as 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise five times a week helps joints stay limber and strengthens the muscles that support and stabilize your hips and knees.

What is considered advanced arthritis?

At this stage there is very little cartilage left and there are very large bald patches (i.e. the tyre is bald). Symptoms: Constant ache/pain often severe affecting the whole knee or hip. The area may be swollen, thickened, stiff and there is often pain on weight bearing.

RA is symmetrical, where a patient feels symptoms in the same spot on both sides of the body, often in the joints in the feet and hands. Osteoarthritis, in contrast, begins in an isolated joint, often in the knee, fingers, hands, spine and hips. While both sides may hurt, one side is more painful.

The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.

The cartilage cushions the two bones, preventing any friction during movement. In people with thumb arthritis, the cartilage wears away. Without this barrier between them, the two bones rub together. As the bones rub together, they create friction and damage the joint, causing pain, inflammation, and other symptoms.