thumbs

ELAINE55555

Hi All,
Does anyone know why painful base of thumb joints are always deemed to be OA rather than RA?

stickywicket

I don't really know but, having started with RA in my fingers, maybe it's because the thumb base is quite a large joint and RA would most likely have attacked all the other finger joints too. This is only a guess. It might also be to do with blood tests, inflammation levels, tenderness, fatigue etc.

ELAINE55555

Hi Sticky,
I have RA too, which is in my wrists. I also have very painful thumb joints which rhummy always insists is OA. Just wondered why they do not class it as RA.

stickywicket

X-rays can tell but, after years of RA, OA can set in too as I discovered when offered new knees. I said I thought only people with OA got new knees and the consultant said "Oh you've got that too. Once the synovial fluid's all gone, OA sets in." Great And the moral is - take the RA meds as prescribed. I didn't have the option :roll:

villier

Elaine I don't have RA but I do have OA in my thumb joints so I cant really answer sorry............Marie x

Michelle63

Interestingly in my pre op group talk there was only one man compared to about 12 women!!!!!!!!! Wonder what that signifies? Too much flipping washing up and ironing I think.
Jesting with you all. I suspect that it is to do with overuse. I actually broke my scaphoid which is next to the Trapezium bone which may have contributed. I have also had carpal tunnel decompression, ridden motorcycles and coached gymnastics and trampolining for years as well as having 3 children, putting up double pushchairs, carrying them, putting them in car seats. It is only now after my trapeziectomy that I fully realise just how much we use our thumbs. Have a go at some everyday tasks without using your thumbs, makes for an interesting experiment. This would explain why when someone loses their thumb in an accident they often transplant the index finger in its place.