Do you have thumb pain from rhizarthrosis? If yes, you are not alone. Many people have this, and it can make everyday tasks like opening a jar or writing hard.
But good news. Recent research shows hyaluronic acid injections may help lower pain and swelling in the thumb joint.
Here are three key points from the study:
- The injections work best when guided with ultrasound.
- Pain drops as early as two weeks after starting.
- Some benefits last for at least six months.
Want to learn more about how this treatment works? Let us explain.
What is covered in this article?
What is rhizarthrosis?
Rhizarthrosis is another name for thumb arthritis. It happens when the joint at the base of your thumb, the trapeziometacarpal joint, wears out over time. Your cartilage, which is a cushion between bones, can break down. This causes pain and makes it hard to move your thumb.
How does hyaluronic acid help?
You may be wondering, what exactly is hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is a substance that naturally occurs in your body. It helps keep your joints lubricated. Think of it like oil for a creaky door hinge, it reduces friction and makes movement smoother.
In this treatment, a special high quality version of HA is injected into the thumb joint. It is not swallowed like a pill. Doctors use ultrasound, a machine that makes pictures from sound, to guide the injection right to the hurting joint. This helps the HA go exactly where it is needed most.
What did the study find?
Here is where it gets interesting. Researchers tested HA injections on 32 thumb joints in 16 people. They gave each person three shots over three weeks, one every week.
So what happened? Here are the key findings from the study:
- The people in the study felt less pain just two weeks after starting the treatments. This was measured with a visual analog scale, which is a simple tool to rate pain levels on a scale from 0 to 10.
- Even after 24 weeks (about six months), the pain relief was still there, though not as strong as it was after the first few weeks.
- Doctors also checked for swelling inside the thumb joint. They used ultrasound to see if the swelling decreased. They noticed there was less blood flow to the swollen area after the treatment, which is a good sign that inflammation went down. However, by week 24, the improvement was less noticeable.
- A tool called the Dreiser’s index was used to track how easy it was for patients to use their hands. The scores showed steady improvement over time, and the better function lasted six months.
The study shows that HA injections can really help reduce pain and make it easier to move your thumb. But keep in mind, not all the benefits lasted long term. This means you might continue monitoring this treatment over time or combine it with other methods to see even better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a hyaluronic acid injection?
It is a procedure where doctors inject a lubricating fluid (hyaluronic acid) to help joints move more smoothly and hurt less.
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Does it hurt to get these injections?
Doctors use a machine called an ultrasound to guide where to inject the liquid. This helps make the procedure safe and accurate, which can reduce discomfort.
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Will my pain go away forever after this treatment?
Not forever, but the study found that pain decreased significantly for about six months after treatment.
Final thoughts
Thumb pain can be hard. Treatments like hyaluronic acid injections may give relief. Studies show they can reduce pain, ease inflammation, and help you use your hands more comfortably.
If you think about this treatment, talk with your doctor about options. Each person is different, so results may vary. Using this treatment with other care options might help more.
Look at our site for more easy to understand content about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We make scientific studies easy to understand so you can make good health choices.
Disclaimer
This article is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always talk to a health care provider about your treatment options.
Source
Ingegnoli, F.; Soldi, A.; Meroni, P. L., 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23204768