What should you know about hand and thumb pain?

Pain at the thumb side of the wrist that worsens when gripping, lifting a child, opening a jar, or moving the thumb may reflect irritation of the thumb tendons. De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is one condition that presents with this pattern, but pain does not by itself establish that diagnosis. Pain in a thumb joint may relate to sprain, wear, or inflammation. Tingling or numbness suggests that a nerve may also need checking.

Notice whether symptoms affect one or both hands, began after a particular task or injury, and occur with weakness, clicking, stiffness, or swelling. These details help separate tendon pain from joint, nerve, and traumatic causes.

For a mild new problem, reduce repeated gripping and pinching, keep the thumb moving gently within comfort, and avoid testing the painful motion again and again. A clinician may suggest a temporary support, activity changes, or exercises after examining the hand. Do not tightly strap the thumb if it causes colour change, increasing tingling, or pressure pain. If the pain continues or interferes with work, sleep, or daily tasks, arrange an assessment.

Seek prompt care after a fall, crush injury, deformity, rapidly increasing swelling, or inability to move the thumb. Urgent assessment is also appropriate when the finger or thumb becomes pale, blue, cold, or numb. Ongoing pain with loss of grip strength, repeated clicking, or night symptoms deserves a clinical examination even when there was no clear injury.

Which structure seems to be causing my pain: tendon, joint, nerve, or ligament? Should I use a support, and for which activities? What thumb movements should I practise? What changes would mean I need a review?