Remedies for swollen thumb: Bump on thumb joint along with swelling. Any thoughts on what to do about it. It very painful using a pen.
There are several people who suffer from thumb problems, like a swollen thumb or a sore thumb joint, which could be caused by several factors. While most people tend to ignore a swelling in the thumb, it could lead to a lot of pain and discomfort and could even interfere with a person’s day to day activities. At times, a swelling in the thumb goes away on its own, within a short time, but sometimes, swollen thumb treatment may be required, in order to deal with the condition. However, before using any form of swollen thumb treatment, be it medical of a home remedy, it is best to know what the causes of the sore thumb joint or swollen thumb are. Hence it is best to visit a doctor, as soon as the swollen thumb symptoms become evident, in order to identify the cause, as well as the appropriate treatment.
Swollen thumb joint symptoms
Apart from the swelling, which is usually visible, there may be other symptoms that accompany a swollen and sore thumb joint. These symptoms could include, pain, stiffness and redness in the thumb. At times, a bony lump on the thumb joint may also be visible. You have difficulty in moving your thumb around, which could make it difficult for you to perform even the easiest tasks. In case of a swollen thumb joint caused by gout, the pain is generally excruciating enough to wake a person up from deep sleep. Symptoms like the lump on the thumb joint and excruciating pain are quite serious and should not be left unchecked.
Swollen thumb causes
There could be several factors that lead to thumb soreness as well as sudden swelling in the thumb. Some of the most common causes of thumb swelling and soreness include:
- Animal bites or insect stings
- Tissue damage
- A fracture or a cracked bone
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis or any other form of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis or gout
- Certain medical conditions, like diabetes
- Playing an instrument, for an extended period of time, like the violin or the guitar
- Menopause in women
- Sustaining a minor injury on the thumb, like a joint sprain
- Using the thumb excessively for a certain activity, like sending text messages
Bowling thumb swelling is also quite common, even though there is no injury that has been sustained. This is also possible with other sporting activities, where the thumb is used a lot.
Swollen thumb joint treatment
In order to treat a swollen thumb joint, it is important to know what is causing the pain and swelling, as the treatment required for each cause is different. In case the thumb swelling and pain has been caused by a cracked or a broken bone, it requires immediate medical attention. A doctor needs to set the bone back, in the right way and then bandage it securely. At times, over the counter or prescription medication may also be required, to reduce the pain and swelling in the thumb joint. A doctor may suggest oral or topical medicines for this purpose. If the pain and swelling in the thumb is accompanied by pus or an infection, then antibiotics may be prescribed by the doctor too. Since many of the thumb-swelling up causes include serious conditions, it is quite likely that the treatment administered by the doctor is aimed at controlling the underlying disease. However, there are many remedies that you can use at home, to reduce the thumb-selling and pain. While these home remedies may not eliminate the cause of the problem, they can be quite effective if you want to reduce swelling in the thumb.
Given below are some of the most commonly used home remedies, which can help reduce deal with a swollen thumb:
- Cold compresses: The application of ice is excellent for reducing the swelling in almost any part of the body. Since ice turns the area numb, it also gets rid of the pain to a great extent. Ice cubes can be applied directly to the thumb for maximum effectiveness. Alternately, some people use an ice pack or wrap a few cubes of ice in a towel before applying it to the swollen thumb. Cold compresses should be applied to the thumb at least 3 or 4 times a day.
- Heat pressure: Heat can be as effective as the cold, in reducing pain and swelling in several areas of the body. There are heating pads that can be applied to the affected swelling thumb joint. Alternately, you could also dip a clean piece of cloth in hot water and wring out the excess water, before wrapping it around the thumb. Heat therapy can be used around 3 or 4 times in the day, for a period of 10 minutes, each time.
- Alternate heat and cold pressure: In order to maximize the benefits of heat and cold therapy, some doctors advise that both should be used at the same time. Take two towels and dip one of them in ice cold water, before wrapping it around the swollen thumb pad or joint, for around 3 minutes. Then, dip the other towel in hot water and wrap it around the swollen thumb for at least 7 minutes. This exercise is great for improving the supply of blood to the area, which expedites healing, in case of a swollen thumb infection. For maximum benefit, this exercise should be repeated at least 3 or 4 times a day.
- Splint: Even if the swelling in the thumb, knuckle and joint is not caused by a broken or cracked bone, it advisable to wear a splint for a day or two, so that the thumb is not aggravated by any unnecessary or sudden movement. In addition to a splint, you could also tie a bandage around your swollen thumb to reduce the swelling and to keep it stead. However, the bandage should be changed regularly, in order to avoid a swollen thumb infection.
The home remedies for a swollen thumb listed above are relatively safe for everybody. However, it is best to check with a doctor, before using any of them, especially, if you are suffering from any preexisting medical condition.
You have not mentioned how this swelling began. Any number of factors could have caused your thumb joint to swell. If this is the result of some injury, it may only take a day or two for the swelling to go down. Minor trauma to the thumb might have simply damaged some tissues and blood vessels. No real treatment is necessary for this kind of minor injury, but regular application of an ice pack will certainly help. This can be done in whatever way you find convenient – you can directly apply an ice cube on your thumb, or else you can wrap a few cubes of ice in a towel or in a plastic bag, and hold this ice pack against your thumb for a few minutes, . The ice will reduce both the pain and the swelling, and over the next couple of days the thumb should heal on its own.
However, a serious injury could have resulted in more damage, such as a fracture. If you think that this may be the case, you should consult a doctor immediately. It is not always easy to identify a fracture, and if there is even a tiny chance that bones may be broken, you should take an x-ray. Apart from a fracture, other serious injuries are also possible, such as torn ligaments. Such injuries require prompt medical treatment if they are to heal properly – delaying treatment or further straining a damaged digit could interfere with healing and result in lifelong weakness or restricted movement in the thumb.
These are of course not the only possible reasons for the swelling in your thumb. An infection could also be the cause of the swelling, and if this is the cause, it is quite likely to be a serious infection. It is difficult to say what could have caused the infection, since you have not provided any details, but medical treatment is essential, and may include antibiotics.
Another possibility is that you have developed what is known as “trigger thumb”. No one knows why this condition develops, but it usually involves some swelling and stiffness of the affected digit. If you have difficulty straightening your thumb after bending it, you most probably have trigger thumb. Unfortunately, there is no home remedy for this problem, and no universally effective medical treatment either. Your doctor will probably use corticosteroids, and if these do not work, a minor surgical procedure may be necessary.
