Please anyone know if this arthritis in my thumb

[crankit]

My thumb has always ached on and off, injured it years ago when I fell over and fell backwards into it, so it bent back towards my wrist, didn't think it was anything serious but it bloody hurt and I couldn't use it properly for a few days and it swelled up.
Since then when it's cold usually and I've used it too much with certain activities my thumb and my wrist really ache.
I was using the cordless Hoover today and it's really aggravated it, it hurts so much even when just resting. It especially hurts if I move my thumb downwards, so towards my palm if that makes sense. It's the base of the thumb that hurts, and the big fleshy part, it barely hurts if I move it from side to side but towards my palm is awful.
Is this arthritis ? I'm only early thirties !

It does sound like it could be. Age has little to do with it, I developed arthritis at 14.
I suggest getting some tight fitting arthritis gloves and just put one on before activity that aggravates it. If it helps then great, if not, trip to the doctor.
(Gloves are about £8.00 from Amazon)

Could be osteoarthritis perhaps? Often aggravated when doing repetitive tasks. Best to check with your Dr of course.

Sounds like it. I have quite it quite badly in both my thumbs and what you have described sounds pretty much like what I experience.

You can get a wrist and thumb support which will help, look for a thumb spica. I’d ask for a scan and possibly a steroid injection in it to see if that settles it.

My dm has had this in both thumbs. See your GP who can arrange an X-ray.
Once diagnosed dm had steroid injections and then surgery. She had one thumb operated on a few years ago and is now on the waiting list for her other one.

It sounds like it. I have the beginnings of arthritis in my fingers and I periodically use small compression bandages to ease the pain in my joints successfully

Could also be this:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Quervain_syndrome
which I have in both thumbs
either way - GP first and if necessary a referral to a hand clinic

It sounds like my arthritis symptoms.

Does it ease off with ibuprofen gel on it?

If it is, one thing that will help massively is wearing something warm on your hand night and day during the winter. Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355047120296?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=peseox48twu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ktju5anhtwq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Yeah I do have a wrist/thumb support from hand physio (what a load of crap that was) and I'll definitely be wearing it today !!

I can't believe how much it's hurting, all from hoovering ! It honestly feels like it's broken or something
Pregnant atm so don't think I'll bother with the gp yet as nothing they can do

not sure how pregnancy affects steroid injections etc. so can understand your reluctance to do anything yet... if it is arthritis - take regular doses of vitamin D

I have had it on and off sine I wa a baby! Very much on at the moment!

Been in bloody agony again, wearing the splint which does help a little but I can't keep it on constantly as I have chores etc !
I know the gp will say it's carpal tunnel syndrome but I'm not convinced, I have no numbness or tingling, just pure pain ! It's constant

Okay, can carpel tunnel cause pain shooting up and down the arm, even as far up to the shoulder ? I want to chop my arm off, worst night ever, which isn't great anyways being pregnant but this pain is not helping !!
I don't have any numbness though just pain !

Why are you not going to the GP and then asking for a reference to a Hand Clinic? My wife is a hand surgeon and would I am sure be able to help - but you need to be referred by your GP.

I had shooting referred pain from the arthritis in my thumb. It is unlikely to be carpal tunnel. However, if you can get a referral to a surgeon mine treats both conditions so it doesn't really matter what the gp thinks as long as they refer you.

@cezannesapple Thank you. I am not convinced it's carpal tunnel either, I've been using a splint (ordered a decent one off Amazon) and it does help as long as I'm not using my hand, which with a 1 year old and general life stuff isn't possible !
It's really getting me down now, even at rest it is constantly aching

I just can't see them doing it, it will be "it's just a pregnancy thing, use a splint" which I am! I might have to do it though because I can't go on like this it's becoming unbearable

It really hurts if I grip/pinch things and also I get several clicks in my wrist when I rotate it, would arthritis cause that ?

They messed up my carpal tunnel as it was left so long the nerve is still squashed flat. I’ve had the surgery and it’s better but not completely gone. The pain from the CT is quite different from the arthritis in the base of my thumb, which is very localised, very painful turning anything, twisting or lifting, so I can imagine it is difficult with a small child. The surgeon keeps putting me off having it operated on as he says it is quite a long recovery time so I get offered steroid injections. They used to work quite well but not so much any more. I also got trigger thumb after the CT surgery. All a bit of a mess and it is my right hand too. I’d definitely ask for a referral to a hand clinic as PP suggested or, at the very least, an ultrasound scan with an injection if needed. If they really think it is carpal tunnel they should refer you for some nerve conduction tests where they put electrodes on your fingers and arms to test whether your nerves are working properly. Not pleasant but not awful and at least it rules CT in or out.