Can Injections Help My Thumb Arthritis Pain Go Away?

If you have pain at the base of your thumb, you are not alone. Many people suffer from thumb arthritis, which doctors call rhizarthrosis or osteoarthritis of the thumb joint. This kind of arthritis affects the joint where your thumb meets your wrist. It can make simple things like opening a jar or holding a pen very painful.

Researchers have studied a treatment that might help you. They looked at special injections called hyaluronic acid injections. These injections go right into the painful thumb joint. The study followed people for a whole year to see if the injections really worked.

Here are three important things you should know:

• The injections helped reduce pain during everyday activities.
• People felt better and could do more with their hands after treatment.
• The treatment was safe, with no serious side effects reported.

In this article:

• What Is Thumb Arthritis and Why Does It Hurt?
• What Did This Study Find?
• How Does the Treatment Work?
• What Did the Results Show?
• Is This Treatment Safe?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What Does This Mean for You?
• Important Information
• Study Source

What Is Thumb Arthritis and Why Does It Hurt?

Thumb arthritis happens when the cartilage in your thumb joint wears away. Cartilage is the smooth cushion that helps bones move easily against each other. When this cushion gets thin or damaged, your bones rub together. This rubbing causes pain, swelling, and stiffness.

You may be wondering why this matters. This joint is one of the most used joints in your body. Every time you grip something, write, or use your phone, this joint is working. When arthritis affects this joint, even small tasks become painful.

What Did This Study Find?

Researchers wanted to see if a special kind of injection could help people with thumb arthritis. They studied 29 patients who had painful thumb arthritis. Each patient received five injections over five weeks. The doctors then watched how the patients felt for 12 months.

Here is where it gets interesting. The injections contained a substance called hyaluronic acid. This is a natural gel that acts like a cushion and lubricant inside your joint. Think of it like adding oil to a squeaky door hinge.

Who Was in the Study?

The study included 29 people with trapezio-metacarpal joint osteoarthritis. That means they all had arthritis in the thumb joint. All of these patients finished the five injection sessions. They came back for checkups at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the last injection. A total of 15 patients stayed in the study for the full year.

How Does the Treatment Work?

The treatment uses something called intra-articular injections. That is a medical term that means the injection goes directly into the joint. The doctors used a needle to put hyaluronic acid right where it was needed most, inside the painful thumb joint.

Each patient received five injections. They got one injection each week for five weeks in a row. Each injection contained 20 mg of hyaluronic acid in 2 mL of liquid. The hyaluronic acid used was a specific size, between 500 and 750 KDa, which is a measure of how big the molecules are.

What Did the Results Show?

According to this study, the injections helped in several important ways. Let us look closer at what improved.

Pain Levels Dropped

Research shows that patients felt less pain after the injections. The study measured two kinds of pain. First, spontaneous pain. This is pain that you feel even when you are not using your thumb. Second, provoked pain. This is pain that happens when you use your thumb or press on the joint.

Both types of pain got better over time. The improvement lasted for the whole 12 month follow up period. This means the relief was not just temporary. It kept working for a full year.

Hand Function Got Better

The researchers also measured how well patients could use their hands. They tested two things. First, pinch strength. This is how hard you can pinch something between your thumb and fingers. Second, grip strength. This is how hard you can squeeze something with your whole hand.

Medical evidence suggests that these measurements improved after treatment. This means patients could grip and pinch with more strength and less pain.

Quality of Life Improved

The study looked at how thumb arthritis affected daily life. The researchers used two questionnaires. One was called the quick-DASH. This asks questions about how hard it is to do everyday tasks with your hands. The other was the SF-12. This asks general questions about your health and wellbeing.

Studies indicate that scores on these questionnaires got better. This means patients felt they could do more activities and felt better overall.

Is This Treatment Safe?

Safety is very important when considering any treatment. According to medical evidence from this research, the injections were safe. No severe systemic adverse events were reported. That means no serious problems happened that affected the whole body.

Some patients might have minor reactions at the injection site. These can include temporary soreness, redness, or swelling where the needle went in. But the study did not report any major safety concerns.

What Does This Mean?

The treatment appears to be a safe option for people with thumb arthritis. All 29 patients completed the five injection sessions. This suggests that the treatment was well tolerated. People were willing and able to finish the treatment plan.

About This Site

We created this site to help people like you understand medical research about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published scientific articles and explain them in plain language. Every article we share is based on real research from medical journals. We never make up facts or offer medical advice. Our goal is to give you clear information so you can talk with your doctor and make informed choices. We invite you to explore more articles on our site to learn about other treatments and studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for hyaluronic acid injections to work?

According to this study, patients were evaluated at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the last injection. Pain relief and improved function were observed throughout the follow up period. Many people may start feeling better within the first few weeks, and the benefits can last up to a year.

How many injections do I need?

Research shows that patients in this study received five injections total. They got one injection per week for five weeks in a row. This treatment schedule was used to deliver the full course of hyaluronic acid therapy.

Will the injections cure my thumb arthritis?

Medical evidence suggests that hyaluronic acid injections help reduce pain and improve function, but they do not cure arthritis. Arthritis is a condition where the cartilage in the joint wears away. The injections help cushion and lubricate the joint, which reduces symptoms. However, they do not restore the damaged cartilage.

Are there any side effects I should know about?

Studies indicate that no severe systemic adverse events were reported in this research. This means no serious problems affecting the whole body occurred. Some people might experience minor soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Always talk to your doctor about potential risks and side effects.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you are living with painful thumb arthritis, this research offers hope. According to medical evidence, intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections can help reduce pain and improve your ability to use your hand. The treatment was safe in this study, and the benefits lasted for up to 12 months.

This does not mean the treatment is right for everyone. Every person is different. Your doctor can help you decide if this treatment is a good choice for your specific situation. They will consider how severe your arthritis is, what other treatments you have tried, and your overall health.

The most important step is to talk with your healthcare provider. Bring your questions. Share how thumb pain affects your daily life. Together, you can explore your options and find the best path forward.

Important Information

This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult your doctor before starting any new treatment. Only your doctor can diagnose your condition and recommend the right treatment for you.

Study Source

This article is based on research published by Agostini, Francesco; Bressanin, Elena; de Sire, Alessandro; Finamore, Nikolaos; Alviti, Federica; Santilli, Valter; Bernetti, Andrea; Paoloni, Marco; Mangone, Massimiliano in the Journal of Personalized Medicine (2024).

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14080806