What Causes Soreness And Stiffness In Right Thumb?

Posted on Thu, 9 Apr 2015

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

Thu, 9 Apr 2015 Answered on

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been experiencing soreness and stiffness in my right thumb for about six weeks. My doctor is out of the office due to a surgery so I went to a walk-in clinic about 4 weeks ago and was told they believed it was gout. I was given high dosage of an anti-inflammatory medication to take for 10 days. Within a few hours of starting the medication I felt somewhat better for about five days then it started hurting again. My thumb now will not extend fully outward and I have no control when I try to pick something up it hurts so bad I drop what I'm reaching for. Unfortunately within the last two weeks my left knee has started with the same symptoms. I have difficulty going up or down stairs, walking, and when it is extended there is severe pain behind the knee. Do you have any suggestions please. My primary doctor is going to be out due to complications from surgery for about another month.

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Osteoarthritis

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well the sort of symptoms you are describing fit in more with Osteoarthritis of the Thumb and the knee joint than the Gout.Gout is a more of a male problem than the females and it is very unlikely for gout to occur straight in the thumb joint. The usual pattern is the foot joint( Great toe) before it progresses to any other joint.Secondly, we dont expect the gout attack to last so long. It is usually a self limiting disease and subsides within 2-3 days.

The knee pain you are describing which is more on climbing stairs looks like an Early onset of osteoarthritis. And the same goes with your thumb( Carpometacarpal joint), which is a very common site for Osteoarthritis.

I would like to clear a few facts here as well..

1. At present, dont go for Zycolchine as it is to be taken on long term basis for gout prophylaxsis. I very much have my doubts about the diagnosis

2. As it is osteoarthritis, i would suggest dont take too strong pain killers on long term basis. You can take it for a couple of days, but preferably stick to Tylenol or Ultracet.

3. There is not much role of prednisolone either in your case.

4. Measuring uric acid during acute attacks of gout wont give us any clue either as the uric acid is usually low during the attacks.

My suggestions: Take tylenol or ultracet for now. If the pain is too much you can try some diclofenac for a couple of days. Put your hands in the hot water morning and evening for 5-10 minutes. You need to start some quadriceps exercises as well to build up the muscles over the knees

Hope the information has been useful

DO let me know for more queries.

REgards
Dr NAval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D