thumb tendonitis

[Special K]

Has anyone here ever had thumb tendonitis? I suspect I got it from lifting. If I hold my right hand out as if to shake someone's hand, then gently press the base of my thumb down toward the middle of my palm, I feel soreness at the base of my thumb. Additionally, it is also sore if I press down at the base of my wrist where the thumb bones connect to it.

It doesn't seem to cause any problems when I workout.

Are there stretches and/or foam/lacrosse ball rollings I can do to fix this? Every other incidence of tendonitis I have ever had I have been able to fix by using stretches and/or rolling.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Has anyone here ever had thumb tendonitis? I suspect I got it from lifting. If I hold my right hand out as if to shake someone's hand, then gently press the base of my thumb down toward the middle of my palm, I feel soreness at the base of my thumb. Additionally, it is also sore if I press down at the base of my wrist where the thumb bones connect to it.

It doesn't seem to cause any problems when I workout.

Are there stretches and/or foam/lacrosse ball rollings I can do to fix this? Every other incidence of tendonitis I have ever had I have been able to fix by using stretches and/or rolling.

Firstly, you'll have to pause the aggravating factor for a little bit (lifting). It probably won't be too long of a break - you may still be able to do pressing movements as you aren't really gripping the bar against gravity. Pulling movements will likely be more aggravating (pullups, deadlifts, rows, curls). You can do some light stretches into the discomfort (like 3-4/10 on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being the worst pain). Is it that very base of the thumb that bothers you - the fleshy little muscle bulk? If so, you can very easily do some self massage or roll it with a lacrosse ball.

All this is assuming you haven't sprained it and it isn't the joint actually causing pain. Working in physical therapy, I use my hands quite a bit and I have to work on my hands every once in a while to prevent aches/pains there.

 

[Special K]

Is it that very base of the thumb that bothers you - the fleshy little muscle bulk? If so, you can very easily do some self massage or roll it with a lacrosse ball.

The soreness is all on the top side of my hand (i.e. not the palm side) and seems to be concentrated on either end of the metacarpal bone. There is no soreness on the fleshy muscle bulk on the inside of my thumb. Where would be the best place to roll? Should I roll the small area on the top of my hand between the thumb and index finger? Would it help to roll the top of my forearm?

You can do some light stretches into the discomfort (like 3-4/10 on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being the worst pain).

Which stretches would be best?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

The soreness is all on the top side of my hand (i.e. not the palm side) and seems to be concentrated on either end of the metacarpal bone. There is no soreness on the fleshy muscle bulk on the inside of my thumb. Where would be the best place to roll? Should I roll the small area on the top of my hand between the thumb and index finger? Would it help to roll the top of my forearm?

Which stretches would be best?

A picture with an arrow where you're feeling the discomfort would be ideal. Can't really tell you if/where to roll if I don't know where it's hurting.

 

[Special K]

A picture with an arrow where you're feeling the discomfort would be ideal. Can't really tell you if/where to roll if I don't know where it's hurting.

Location 1 is sore if I press my thumb down into my palm from that spot.

Location 2 is sore if I apply direct pressure to it. It's not as sore as location 1.

 

[Grim281]

I have this as well. I'm pretty sure there is a tendon there that gets inflamed and irritated. I'm not a "natural" remedy nut, but I started taking Curcumin ( Turmeric ) with some black pepper extract and the pain has pretty much gone away. I used to take advil almost every day for it. The curcumin has some anti-inflammatory effects and the black pepper helps it get absorbed by your body.

 

[spinejam]

Sounds like it might be a case of De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis. I'd suggest ice massage (5x/day) and decrease your ADL's on the affected extremity for 5-7 days.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Sounds like it might be a case of De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis. I'd suggest ice massage (5x/day) and decrease your ADL's on the affected extremity for 5-7 days.

Pain would not be localized to two separate areas - it would be continuous along the lateral thumb where the extensor and abductor pollicis longus tendons run.

 

[Special K]

Pain would not be localized to two separate areas - it would be continuous along the lateral thumb where the extensor and abductor pollicis longus tendons run.

Given my picture above, do you have any recommendations for specific stretches, foam/ball rolls, and/or other exercises for the affected area(s)?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Given my picture above, do you have any recommendations for specific stretches, foam/ball rolls, and/or other exercises for the affected area(s)?

Yeah, sorry for the post earlier - was running out the door and couldn't elaborate. The areas you're pointing too are the 1st carpometacarpal and 1st metacarpophalangeal joints. There are quite a few reasons you may have pain there - could be that you're hypermobile, hypomobile, or have the beginning of osteoarthritis. Could even just be a ligament sprain. However, that area is a lot harder to give you information about because there are quite a few differential diagnoses. All in all, you should probably see a physical therapist for a formal evaluation if it continues to bother you.

If it was your thumb pad, there are very few other things it could be and would thus be easier to help you out. In this case, I can't really recommend treatment that could be wrong.