Pain In Thumb At Base In One Hand

[ganesh]

Had a lot of pain when unscrewing jars, carrying shopping etc in the big fleshy bit at the base of the thumb. Also have a random stingy shooting pain in the next finger at base. The doctor just said its probably osteo-arthritis, admits to not knowing what the stinging pain is, and has said just exercise it to build up the muscle and have some physio if it doesn't get any better. He said it isn't worth an x-ray and that cortisone injections are painful and don't usually work. I am 57 and must say thought this sort of thing happened later in life.
Anyone suffering similar and would recommend a cure? Glucosamine? Hyaluronic Acid? Anything dietary? and should I just accept that diagnosis? I'ts all very sudden and very painful!

[boxtops]

Ganesh, they are - every surgery has to complete a patient satifaction survery annually these days, it's part of their monitoring and inspection processes.....

[ganesh]

crazy... hate to sound old (like my arthritic hands-lol) but I just wish we could go back to the days when your GP knew you, knew your family and medical history and would diagnose you and treat you or if it was serious or they weren't sure they would refer you to a specialist. Just when did it all turn into a 'business'?

[Sqad]

ganesh....I agree entirely with your post.

[gness]

Oh, Ganesh....so do I... :-( ...Good luck.