Hi Jason,
I too have joint pain in three fingers of my right hand, though not the thumb, which is osteoarthritis due to repetitive stress, mainly from tuning. I don't know anything about splints, but for pain relief, I can recommend Voltaren.
Voltaren is a gel whose active ingredient is diclofenac, an NSAID which targets arthritis, and both relieves pain and reduces inflammation and swelling. It absorbs and works quickly, is non-greasy, and has very low odor.
It's available over the counter in a 1% concentration. There are stronger formulas of 2.3% and 3%, but getting these is somewhat tricky. I get the 2.3% from Canada (via a friend) where it's otc and cheaper (at about $35) than the 1% that's available otc in the states. I got a prescription from my doc for 3%, but my insurance refused to cover any part of it, and I was offered the "opportunity" to buy it cash for $1,200! Um, no thanks ... (muttering about highway robbery) ...
Anyway, it does work well, and IHTH.
Mark Schecter, RPT
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Original Message:
Sent: 3/15/2023 3:42:00 PM
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Thumb pain
Greetings all.
I'm starting to have to deal with arthritis. Last year I got a titanium hip, which is working very nicely, but now my right thumb, the joint at the base of the thumb (Carpometacarpal CMC Joint), is starting to complain frequently. (RIP David Andersen)
My doc just suggested wearing some kind of "thumb spica splint" to help manage flashes of pain. I googled this. My immediate reaction is that I think it would be a hindrance because I use my hands, both of them, all the time, when I play or tune or repair as well as all the normal uses of my right thumb. Do any of you use some kind of hand brace for arthritic thumb pain?
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Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
(425) 830-1561
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