What it is
The joint at the base of the thumb, the carpometacarpal or CMC joint, takes a lot of load and commonly wears with age. It can make pinching, gripping, opening jars, and turning keys painful.
Common symptoms
- Pain at the base of the thumb with pinching or gripping
- Weakness or difficulty with jars, keys, and door handles
- Swelling or tenderness at the thumb base
- An aching thumb after use
What can help
- A thumb splint (a spica), especially for activities and at night
- Hand therapy and thumb-strengthening exercises
- Topical anti-inflammatories
- Joint-protection strategies and adapted tools
Where an injection fits
A corticosteroid injection into the thumb-base joint can settle pain, though the benefit is often short-lived and the evidence is modest. It can be a useful step alongside a splint and hand therapy. For thumb bases that stay painful despite these measures, surgery is an option.
Home exercise program after your injection
!When to seek urgent care. See a doctor promptly if you notice a hot, red, swollen joint with fever; sudden severe pain or loss of thumb use; numbness or tingling spreading into the fingers.
This is general information, not medical advice. Your assessment and plan depend on your own situation, and your clinician will guide you.
