Pain at the Base of the Thumb
The basal thumb joint is also known as the carpometacarpal or CMC joint. This saddle-shaped joint is specialized in assisting the thumb in moving for a significant amount of motion for every activity involving grasping and pinching.
The basal thumb joint is a metacarpal bone of the thumb that meets the trapezium bone in the wrist. It affects a person’s daily activities, from writing to opening a jar to buttoning a shirt. These activities need the thumb as a support to execute them.
When the base of the thumb is in pain, there are other signs and symptoms that the condition worsens. These include swelling, stiffness, and tenderness at the base of the thumb. Several underlying factors explain why the base of the thumb is in pain. These include overuse and other conditions.
Resting the thumb, putting on an ice pack, and taking off any jewelry are ways to ease this pain in the thumb.
