Snapping thumb - painful - is it arthritis?

[ILoveJoeBrown]

Over last 2 weeks my right thumb seems to be seizing up. If I straighten it, the tendons seem to snap across the knuckle and it's very sore to touch at the bottom. The 'main' knuckles of my right fingers seen a little stiff too but not sore.

I couldn't unscrew a bottle of wine at a xmas do (sad!) and had to get a friend to do it. I can't flush the loo with my right hand without some discomfort and work loos have those horrible big push button flushes and I now have to use 2 hands to push the button in iyswim.

Is this the start of arthritis? I am 56, but my younger sister 53, has suffered from it for some years now. My Mum has bad arthritis too. Looks like it's just my turn?

It could be Trigger Finger? The tendon sheath gets inflamed. Try anti-inflammatories for a few days.

Sorry loveyoutothemoon - didn't respond! Went to GP who diagnosed trigger finger [just in my thumb] - since then I have been wearing a splint in bed occasionally as I often wake up yelling in pain when I knock it [even gently] against a pillow for example, and it bends to 90 degrees, resulting in an agonising pain and the next pain is when I pluck up the courage to straighten it back out!

I can't tear open little plastic sachets or anything where I have to pinch something, but most of the time I manage by using my middle finger and thumb to pinch, as I can keep my thumb straighter than if I pinch using forefinger. If I forget, I get a painful reminder, so learning fast!

I've just been out on my bike for the first time in months and can't actually change gear, as I have to use my thumb! The levers are too stiff. I'm selling the bike now as I also have an e-bike, with push button / lever to change gear up / down, but they don't take much effort to use.

It could be tendonitis, that restricts use of the hand. I get recurring tendonitis on the inside of the thumb and when it flares I have severely restricted movement. Using an NSAID like ibuprofen can work but sometimes you need prescription strength.