Pain At Base Of Right Thumb

[MWG14]

My wife has pain at the base of her right thumb. It is noticeably swollen and has only developed over the past couple of months. She has arthritis in seven of her fingers which has never been a particular problem except that they have been distorted and swollen for many years but not painful.

Does anybody know if there are painkilling injections available which would help her with the pain in her thumb? She does't particularly like taking over the counter painkillers.

[Sqad]

Yes there are pain killing injections which are based on steroids and do relieve and suppress the inflammation and hence pain.
This does sound like a rheumatoid arthritic problem which may well respond to the above injections .

[MWG14]

Thank you very much.

[teacher1]

I had a third injection 3 weeks ago ....... pain went within one hour ...... but the injections seem to only last a few months.

[MWG14]

That was quick relief. Now the problem is actually getting a face to face consultation at our local health centre. My wife will try anyway.

[teacher1]

Yes, unfortunately ...... there is a long wait. I had the last injection on November 6 ....... the one previous to that was in October 2019 ! I had 4 cancellations because of Covid !

[Barsel]

One of the GP's at the practice I go to, was trained up to do steroid injections and so he holds clinics every so often for this. I've been planning to find out when he can fit me in for one as I have the same problem with my left thumb at the moment. MWG14 it might be worth phoning to see if any of your wife's doctors do this.

[AuntPollyGrey]

mwg14 I think you will find the steroid injections can only be done by a doctor. Has she been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? If so, she should be able to contact her specialist nurse.

[Barsel]

teacher1 Sometimes the injections don't work at all.I had one in my knee before last Christmas and one in July, neither worked, so I've now been referred to the orthopaedic surgeon.

[Barsel]

APG I saw my Rheumatology specialist nurse in October, but the guy
( who isn't a doctor) who gives the injections at the hospital, wasn't doing them when I asked. I'm pretty sure he isn't a doctor because everyone calls him by his first name, but I am told he is very good at doing this.

[teacher1]

They seem to work for me. The November one was in my left hand, and I now have an appointment December 11 for my right hand. I queried why I couldn't have both at the same time ..... the answer was we only allow one injection to each appointment !

[jourdain2]

Yes, have much the same problem. ~~Steroid injections tend to ache for a few days afterwards, but then you have about 3 months free.

[Barsel]

teacher1 I'm pleased they have worked for you, I think it depends how severe the condition is. The last 2 I've had in my knee haven't worked because it seems ( according to the nurse) there are severe degenerative changes since my x ray last year and this is why I've been referred to the surgeon, but I'm hoping one in my hand might work. I hope Mrs MWG14 manages to get one and that it will work for her.