What Causes Muscle Spasms In Thumb?

Posted on Sat, 15 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 Answered on

Sat, 12 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I woke up this am with something wrong with my hand. My thumb was pulling to the inside of my hand. it was like a XXXXXXX horse but didn't hurt at all. It's like a bit of paralysis. Moving a bit better but not anywhere like my other thumb. I do have a lot of gout problems and sometimes is in my wrist but I have no pain. Was going to go to ER but not sure it was bad enough. Have been using ice but not much change.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I suspect your gout itself to be the main cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Based on your symptoms, I should actually tell you that there is no way to say accurately what the cause is without an x-ray of the affected region.

But let me tell you this for sure, there can be no paralysis of one particular finger, so the only cause that comes to my mind is gout which you mentioned. As you must know, with gout there can be extra growth of the bony part, especially seen in joints of the fingers.

So with a possible growth, there could have been a restriction of your movements in that region resulting in the presentation you have described. So the best way to diagnose and treat your presentation is to start off with an x-ray.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (42 minutes later)

If there is no pain at all really makes me wonder about gout. Have had numerous attacks of gout and know how extremely painful it is but not having any pain whatsoever. I also have arthritis in my hand. My knuckle on this thumb is pretty big. And again don't have pain. Not trying to be argumentative but just seems a bit strange and trying to figure out if I should go to ER for an X-ray. Thank you for your help.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I agree, but it would be best if we rule out/confirm gout first

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Oh please do not worry about being argumentative; this is a two-way discussion and I would appreciate it if you would provide me with as much of a discussion and your honest opinion, we are here to work on this together. :)

As for the part about pain, yes it is absolutely true that in majority of cases there has to be pain. But there have been exceptions and so I would only feel it best to go ahead with an x-ray at the earliest. Once an x-ray is conducted, we can safely confirm or rule out gout and then move on to other causes we haven't suspected yet.

It is always best to rule out or confirm the cause in mind, your thoughts?

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Thank you. Will probably go to the ER in the morning if still having this difficulty.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sure ma'am, if you do, then get the following

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Sure, please get an x-ray of the affected region, serum uric acid levels, ESR and CRP levels.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar