Thumb Splint

The thumb is a more complex (not to mention convenient) part of the body than its size might suggest. As a result, there are several thumb problems where the thumb is injured or may disrupt its function. Thankfully, there are many more kinds of thumb orthoses ZSZBACE offers thumb pain treatment and healing at a low price.

Repetitive Strain Thumb Injury Treatment

A broken or stuck thumb from a direct impact is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about an injury. But there are also some RSIs that can be very painful and disrupt daily activities.

For example, one of ZSZBACE's best sellers is a splint for the trigger thumb. Common conditions trigger thumb or trigger finger cause the thumb to be annoyingly painful and weak when in a flexed position. This minimally invasive trigger thumb rest reduces pressure on the thumb that tends to get stuck in the locked position. Wearing a trigger thumb splint causes trigger thumb symptoms to decline so that the area can heal.

Unfortunately, conservative approaches are not always effective for treating trigger thumb. In this case, trigger thumb surgery may be necessary.

De Quervain Syndrome Thumb Tendinitis Treatment

Another thumb condition characterized by problems with the thumb tendon is thought to be associated with chronic overuse or repetitive motion of the wrist or hand. de Quervain syndrome. This form of tendinitis is also known as the mother's or mom's thumb because it often affects new parents, especially women, who hold their children frequently throughout the day. This causes pain and swelling around the base of the thumb and can radiate to the forearm or thumb. This makes it difficult to grab anything with your thumb.

Treatment of thumb tendonitis consists of the following steps: Rice and anti-inflammatory drugs. Of course, the rest is quite difficult for babies at home, so mom's thumb treatment also includes wearing a de Quervain splint throughout the day and night for four to six weeks.

Thumb tenosynovitis braces are good braces for immobilizing the thumb and providing support for the base of the thumb. Or for more support for the hand and wrist, an abducted thumb/wrist splint is worth a try.

In some cases, steroid injections may also be given to treat de Quervain thumb swelling. If it fails, surgery may be required.

thumb nerve injury treatment

Carpal tunnel is another thumb condition that can arise from repetitive wrist flexion, which compresses the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel. This pressure can cause symptoms such as thumb pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that worsens at night.

In very mild cases, rest and ice are sometimes sufficient to relieve symptoms. But in many cases, carpal tunnel treatment will involve pinching the thumb and wrist just at night or around the clock to give the inflammation time to subside and the thumb and wrist a chance to heal.

Bowler's thumb is another condition that affects the nerves in the wrist and thumb. "Spinning" on a bowling ball compresses the inside of the thumb, thereby compressing the ulnar nerve. This causes roughly the same symptoms as carpal tunnel, except the pain is located on the inside of the thumb and in the webbing area between the thumb and index finger.

stuck thumb treatment

Of course, there are also some thumb injuries caused by impact. Thumb jamming, for example, occurs when an impact causes the thumb to move in an undesired way, causing swelling and immediate pain in the thumb joint. Usually, this happens through the ball or other player's impact on the thumb.  It can refer to many injuries, such as tendon injuries or ligament sprains, or even fractures or dislocations near joints.

Treatment for thumb joint pain will depend on the severity of the injury. For mild-to-moderate cases that don't involve a fracture, this usually involves applying ice and lifting the thumb as soon as possible after the injury. Immobilizing the injured thumb with tape or splint can also help reduce inflammation and pain.

Hammer or hammer thumb usually refers to a blocked injury to the extensor tendon, which is located at the top joint of the thumb. Rupture of this tendon causes the tip of the thumb to bend downward. Also, this usually happens when the outstretched thumb is hit by the ball and bends excessively. Support thumb hammer thumb treatment may require and/or surgery.

Strained and Sprained Thumb Treatment

Another relatively common injury is a thumb sprain. This can happen, for example, when falling on an outstretched hand or when the thumb gets caught in the ball; there are ways to force the thumb into extreme positions.

After an injury, the thumb may become swollen and bruised in addition to pain from movement. Instability and weak grip can also be symptoms of a sprained thumb.

Several ligaments in the thumb can be sprained, the most common of which is the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). A tear or damage to the UCL is also known as the "skier's thumb" and "race manager's thumb" because it is a relatively common injury in these sports. People can also tear the radial collateral ligament, although this is much less common.

Treatment for a thumb sprain depends on the extent of the injury. In the case of a partial tear, a skier's thumb treatment or radial collateral ligament sprain treatment may require wearing a cast or splint for several weeks to give the body a chance to repair the damaged ligament.

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers following these steps can also help treat a torn thumb ligament.

But in cases where the ligament is completely torn or the sprain is accompanied by a fracture, surgery may be needed to treat the thumb sprain. In some cases, as is often the case with a caretaker's thumb, where the thumb experiences multiple hyperextensions over time, the ligaments may become stretched and hard in shape, requiring surgery as well.

After surgery, a post-operative thumb splint or cast will be required to support the thumb for a period of time while physical therapy is administered to restore the thumb's full range of motion.

Although the term "strain" is often used interchangeably with the term "sprain," the two are actually different injuries. A strain is an injury to a muscle/tendon structure. This can happen suddenly, for example, while playing sports like tennis or golf, or after throwing a baseball. Treatment for thumb strains is basically the same as for thumb sprains, including splints, rice, and surgery for ruptured muscles.

Dislocated Thumb Treatment

A dislocated thumb is another injury involving the thumb joint, in which the bone is displaced from its normal position, causing severe and/or sudden pain, swelling, inability to move the thumb, and deformity of the fingers. This can occur during contact motion or through a strong blow to the joint, as might be encountered in a car accident (this is the most common cause of a dislocated thumb).

Contrary to some concepts, thumb dislocation treatment does not involve forcing the joint back into place, as this could cause more damage to the thumb structure. Instead, people should immobilize their thumb, apply ice, and go to a medical professional's office.

The doctor may try to "reduce" the dislocated thumb, or adjust the bones to try and bring them back to their normal position. Once this is done, the next stage of treatment for thumb dislocation injuries is to splint the thumb. After that period of healing, rehabilitation exercises will be required to improve the range of motion of the thumb joint.

Surgery may be needed to repair a dislocated thumb if the soft tissue surrounding the joint is also damaged

Broken Thumb Treatment

Thumb fractures can occur anywhere on the thumb, but fractures in the joint area, especially near the wrist, are the most problematic type of thumb fracture treatment. Symptoms of a broken thumb include pain, immobility, cold or numbness, deformity, and swelling.

If the fracture of the thumb bone occurs in the middle part of the diaphysis and there is little bone displacement, treatment of the thumb fracture may only require wearing a chevron cast for a few weeks.

But if this is not the case, surgery may be required to realign the thumb bone for thumb fracture treatment. The next treatment for a fractured thumb will be wearing a cast or post-operative splint for two to six weeks, followed by physical therapy. This treatment step for a fractured thumb is necessary to restore the strength and flexibility of the thumb so that it can return to its pre-injury capabilities.

Thumb Arthritis Treatment

Unfortunately, most of these thumb injuries increase the risk of arthritis in the thumb joint. Not to mention, just the wear and tear your thumb takes over a lifetime can lead to arthritis. Thankfully, there are many arthritis thumb treatment options that can reduce the discomfort and inconvenience of this condition.

There are many medications available to reduce pain and/or inflammation. See a list of commonly used medications. Physical therapy can help improve joint function damaged by arthritis, as can wearing a splint or brace.

Using hot and cold pads on the joints can also help with thumb arthritis. You should also avoid clenching your hands as much as possible (especially when carrying things), and buy tools to take the strain off your hands when opening pots, gardening, or turning keys.

In severe cases where splints and medications are ineffective, injections or surgery may be appropriate treatment options for thumb arthritis.

There are some alternative arthritis treatment options in the thumb joint, such as acupuncture, glucosamine, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), but their effectiveness in treating arthritis of the thumb joint varies from patient to patient.

Related reading: Carpal Tunnel, Tendonitis, Arthritis: Identifying Symptoms