I first experienced pain at the base of both thumbs when my first child was an infant. I attributed the sharp, stabbing pain I felt at the base of my thumbs to overuse. After all, I was overusing them---hoisting my "one ton son" in and out of high chairs, car seats, walkers---multiple times each day. And then came one ton sons two and three. It's no wonder I never took the time to investigate the intermittent sharp pain. It would get better eventually, I thought. Years passed, and the boys hoisted their own bodies where they needed or wanted to go. My thumb pain subsided for awhile. Then I became a teacher and spent twelve years overusing my left hand in a different way: flipping pages, toting heavy manuals, and shuffling through mountains of paper.
Eventually, the pain in my left thumb became a daily haunt. Pain avoidance was a daily challenge. First, I bought a splint for nighttime, figuring that immobilization at night would give my poor thumb a much needed rest. This did not help a whole lot. Finally, a few years later I visited a doctor and received the verdict: osteoarthritis of my carpometacarpal joint. We discussed options. I decided to try wearing a better splint while at work to try to avoid overtaxing the joint. But the damage had already been done. Here's a description by the Mayo Clinic:
"Thumb arthritis is common with aging, and occurs when cartilage wears away from the ends of the bones that form your thumb joint — also known as the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint.
Thumb arthritis can cause severe pain, swelling, and decreased strength and range of motion, making it difficult to do simple tasks, such as turning doorknobs and opening jars. Treatment generally involves a combination of medication and splints. Severe thumb arthritis might require surgery." (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016)
So, here I am, one day after surgery. I'll tell you about my journey to full recovery in upcoming posts.
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