This sounds silly

[annadomino]

but important to me.
I do a lot of needlework, the finer the better, lately - the area between base of thumb, and the next joint up is incredibly painful. Any ideas?

[sandyRoe]

It doesn't sound silly at all. Sounds like a sprain.

[WyckedNite]

there is a thumb gadget that massage therapists use b/c their thumb joints get overworked & they get the same type of pain you are talking about.
So you could try buying one of those and see if it works?
Here's a link to what I'm talking about:
http://www.amazon.com...l-SMALL/dp/B000BNGM5I

hope it helps!

[nungate]

Could it be arthritis? I have it in my hands and it makes needlework difficult for me but as I enjoy my stitching I persevere. It also is worse on wet, rainy days and with the weather we've been having today that might be the cause today, the thumb on my left hand has been giving me billy-oh all afternoon, and as a lefty no stitching! (couldn't swear the right hand has been any better either)

[Sqad]

This is a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) also known as De Quervain's disease or Blackberry Thumb (due to texting) or Skiers Thumb........take your pick....it is a tenosynovitis of the thumb, due in your case to unaccustomed needlework as suggested by the lovely sandRoe above.

Ease up on the needlework for a couple of days and take Ibuprofen for the pain.

A bit of further, useless information......de Quervain was a Swiss surgeon, popular with the women in French Society......;-)

[sandyRoe]

How did this Lothario, De Quervain, come to give his name to an injury of the finger, and which finger was it?

[albaqwerty]

oh Sandy, you had to go and ask............

[Sqad]

sandy...LOL....he also gave his name to a disorder of the thyroid gland.

Bit of a boy was our "de Quervain" when doctors were characters.....not like now, boring academics ;-)

[annadomino]

Thanks, I will lay off for a day or two.

[grange]

I also do alot of needlework and get this too. I have a spray called 'Mobigel' 'Paineze' which I find helps alot. A friend gave me mine as she suffers too and found this helped her as well.