If your thumb hurts when you grip, pinch, or open a jar, you are not alone. Many people experience thumb pain at the base of the thumb. This pain often comes from a type of arthritis called rhizarthrosis. Researchers have studied a treatment that uses a single injection to help reduce pain and improve how your thumb works. This article explains what they found in a simple way.
Key Findings at a Glance
- According to research published in Open Access Rheumatology, a single injection of hyaluronic acid reduced thumb pain by nearly 28% over six months.
- Studies indicate that patients saw pain improvement as early as one month after treatment.
- Research shows that thumb function improved, including better grip strength and movement.
- The treatment was well tolerated, with only minor injection site reactions in about 11% of patients.
- No serious or allergic reactions were reported during the study.
Here are three key points from this study:
- One injection helped reduce pain for up to six months.
- Most people had fewer problems using their thumb after treatment.
- The treatment was safe with very few side effects.
In this article:
- What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt?
- What did the researchers study?
- Who was in the study?
- What happened to the pain?
- What else got better?
- Were there any side effects?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Important Disclaimer
- Study Citation
What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt?
When this joint wears down, the cartilage that cushions the bones gets thinner. This means the bones rub against each other. That rubbing causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. You may notice it when you try to grip something, write, or turn a key.
This condition is common and has a big impact on your daily life. Simple tasks can become difficult and frustrating. You may be wondering if there is a treatment that can help without major surgery.
What did the researchers study?
Researchers wanted to see if a special injection could help people with thumb arthritis. The injection contains a substance called hyaluronic acid. This is a natural material that helps cushion joints. The version used in this study is called NASHA, which stands for nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid. The brand name is Durolane.
Here is where it gets interesting. Instead of taking pills every day or having surgery, patients in this study received just one injection into the painful thumb joint. The researchers then followed these patients for six months to see if their pain got better and if their thumb worked better.
This was a prospective study, which means researchers planned it ahead of time and watched what happened over time. It was also an open label study, meaning both the doctors and patients knew what treatment was being given. The study included multiple medical centers.
Who was in the study?
The study included 35 people who had rhizarthrosis in one thumb. To join the study, they needed to have a certain level of arthritis. Doctors use a grading system called Eaton Littler to measure how bad the arthritis is. Patients in this study had grade II or III arthritis, which means moderate to more advanced wear in the joint.
They also needed to have pain. Researchers measured pain using something called a visual analog scale, or VAS. This is simply a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain possible. To join the study, patients needed to have a pain score of at least 4.
Let us look closer at who these patients were:
| Patient Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Patients | 35 |
| Average Age | 60.8 years |
| Gender | 85.7% female |
Most of the patients were women around age 60. This makes sense because thumb arthritis is more common in women and often appears around this age.
What happened to the pain?
According to this study, the most important question was whether the injection reduced pain. The answer is yes. Pain scores went down significantly.
Research shows that over the six month period, the average pain score dropped by 2 points on the 0 to 10 scale. That means a reduction of 27.8%. This may not sound like a huge number, but for someone living with daily thumb pain, even a 2 point drop can make everyday tasks much easier.
You may be wondering how quickly the pain got better. Studies indicate that patients felt relief as early as one month after the injection. At the one month mark, pain had already dropped by 26.5%. The improvement continued gradually over the full six months.
This tells us that the treatment does not just give short term relief. The benefit lasted throughout the entire follow up period.
What else got better besides pain?
Pain is important, but what really matters is whether you can use your thumb better in daily life. The researchers measured several other things to see if function improved.
Disability scores improved
Researchers used a tool called QuickDASH. This stands for the shortened version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand. It is a questionnaire that asks about how hard it is to do everyday tasks. According to research published in this study, QuickDASH scores improved, meaning patients found it easier to do daily activities.
Thumb movement got better
Doctors measured how well patients could move their thumbs in different ways. They used tests like the Kapandji thumb opposition test, which checks how well you can touch your thumb to your other fingers. They also measured radial abduction, which is how far you can move your thumb away from your hand to the side.
Another measurement was MCP joint flexion. The MCP joint is the knuckle at the base of your thumb. Flexion means bending. Most of these movement measurements showed statistically significant improvements. That means the improvements were real and not just due to chance.
Grip strength increased
Pinch strength, also called clamp strength, is how hard you can squeeze something between your thumb and fingers. This is really important for tasks like opening bottles, holding a pen, or buttoning clothes. Research shows that pinch strength improved after the injection.
Were there any side effects?
Safety is always important when trying any treatment. According to this study, the injection was well tolerated. That means most people had no problems.
There were five adverse events reported. An adverse event is any unwanted effect from a treatment. All five events were injection site reactions. This means some redness, swelling, or discomfort right where the needle went in. These reactions happened in four patients, which is about 11.4% of the people in the study.
Here is the really good news. There were no serious reactions. There were also no allergic reactions. This suggests the treatment is quite safe for most people.
About This Site
This website simplifies medical science for people dealing with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We use only published scientific articles to give you clear, accurate information. You will not find exaggerated claims here, just honest explanations of what research shows. We invite you to explore more articles and learn about the options available for managing your thumb arthritis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the injection take to work?
According to research published in Open Access Rheumatology, patients began to feel pain relief as early as one month after receiving the injection. Pain decreased by about 26.5% at the one month mark and continued to improve over six months.
Is this injection painful?
The study reported that about 11% of patients experienced mild injection site reactions such as redness or swelling at the place where the needle went in. These were minor and temporary. No serious side effects or allergic reactions occurred in the study.
How long does the treatment last?
Studies indicate that the single injection of hyaluronic acid provided pain relief and improved thumb function throughout the entire six month follow up period. Some patients may need repeat injections after this time, but the study did not measure beyond six months.
Can this treatment help me avoid surgery?
Research shows that this injection can reduce pain and improve how your thumb works. It may be a good option if you are not responding well to other treatments like pain medication or splints. However, every person is different. Talk to your doctor about whether this treatment is right for your situation.
Conclusion
Living with thumb arthritis can be frustrating and painful. Simple tasks become challenges. This study suggests that a single injection of hyaluronic acid can help reduce pain and improve how your thumb works. The treatment was safe and well tolerated in this research.
According to this study, pain dropped by nearly 28% over six months. Movement improved. Grip strength got better. These changes can make a real difference in your daily life.
If you are dealing with thumb pain, talk to your doctor about all your options. This injection may be one choice to consider, especially if other treatments have not helped enough. Remember that every person is different, and what works for one person may not work the same way for another.
You deserve to have less pain and more freedom to do the things you love. Keep learning about your condition and stay hopeful. There are options available to help you feel better.
Important Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment. Your doctor knows your specific situation and can help you make the best choice for your health.
Study Citation
Velasco, E., Ribera, M. V., & Pi, J. (2017). Single-arm open-label study of Durolane (NASHA nonanimal hyaluronic acid) for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the thumb. Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews.