Presentation of finger joint pains on exertion and repetitive movements in a young patient is getting more common. A full assessment has to be made to rule out the causes of joint pain:
- Full history, including family history of arthritis and autoimmune disorders,
- a detailed clinical examination,
- X-rays,
- other imaging modalities such as ultrasound or MRI scans,
- blood tests to screen for gout,
- autoimmune disorders and
- chronic inflammatory conditions.
It will be ordered accordingly based on the clinical judgment of the doctor. The treatment will then depend on the findings of these tests and investigations.
More frequently, I encounter young patients who suffer from repetitive strain injury in their hands due to chronic overuse of:
- the computer,
- mobile devices and
- gaming consoles.
It is noteworthy that repetitive strain injury is a diagnosis of exclusion, once the doctor has eliminated the rest of the causes of joint pain.
Treatment options may range from:
- simple rest,
- splinting,
- oral medication and supplementation,
- hand occupational therapy and
- invasive treatments such as injections and surgery.
For repetitive strain injuries, ergonomic work station re-organization and hand occupational therapy sessions are the mainstay of effective treatment.
The pain in the thenar eminence which is aggravated by movement may be arising from the underlying muscle, tendon, joint or bone. The cyst in the thumb may or may not be related to this. It may be a good consideration to seek an opinion from a hand and wrist specialist to address all of the problems listed above.
