The Hand Patient: First Carpo-metacarpal Osteo-Arthrosis

Abstract

RE: YOUR PATIENTWITH PAIN AT THE BASE OF HER LEFT THUMB Thank you for your referral of Mrs F C M, a 56 year old right dominant secretary, who has been complaining of pain in the base of her left thumb for the past, year. She cannot pick up any files or other objects at her work and in fact has dropped number of plates and dishes at home because of pain and weakness in the thumb. She has also noticed a swelling, which developed at the base of the thumb which, is tender on pressure. Some nights she wakes up due to pain in the thumb. Heat alleviates this pain. According to your letter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories have been tried with great success initially. However, she feels that these tablets have little effect on her pain and starts to upset her stomach.