Thumb-Base and Finger Osteoarthritis
Injection Therapy
Specialist assessment and injection therapy
for painful thumb-base and finger osteoarthritis in our Fareham and Gosport clinics.
What Is Thumb-Base and Finger Osteoarthritis?
Thumb-base and finger osteoarthritis can affect several of the small joints of the hand.
The thumb-base carpometacarpal joint (CMC joint) is one of the most commonly affected. This joint sits where the thumb meets the wrist and plays an important role in gripping, pinching and positioning the thumb.
Osteoarthritis can also affect the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, where the fingers meet the hand, and the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, which are the middle joints of the fingers.
Symptoms can include pain with gripping or pinching, stiffness, reduced hand strength, swelling and difficulty with activities such as opening jars, turning keys, writing, using scissors, holding a phone or gripping heavier objects.
Some people also notice enlargement or a change in the shape of the affected joint.
The amount of change seen on an X-ray does not always match the level of pain, so treatment is guided by your symptoms, function and clinical assessment as well as any imaging findings.
Want to Learn More About Thumb & Finger Osteoarthritis?
Read more about thumb-base and finger osteoarthritis, flare-ups, strengthening, splinting and wider treatment options.
Learn More About Thumb & Finger Osteoarthritis →
Understanding the Source of Your Hand Pain
Pain around the thumb, fingers and wrist can come from several different structures.
Symptoms may arise from the thumb CMC joint, MCP or PIP joints, nearby tendons, the wrist or other structures within the hand and upper limb.
Your specialist will examine the location of your pain, joint movement, stability, grip and pinch function to help identify which joint or structure is most likely contributing to your symptoms.
An X-ray can sometimes be helpful if the diagnosis is unclear or if further treatment is being considered, but imaging is not always required before treatment.
Which Injection Options Are Available?
For thumb-base and finger-joint osteoarthritis presentations, we offer corticosteroid injection and Ostenil Mini.
Corticosteroid Injection
Corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory treatment and may be considered when a joint is particularly painful or irritable and symptoms are affecting everyday hand function.
Reducing pain and irritation can make gripping, pinching and everyday activities more comfortable and may provide a useful opportunity to progress rehabilitation.
Learn About Corticosteroid Injections →
Ostenil Mini
Ostenil Mini is a hyaluronic acid injection designed for smaller synovial joints.
At Solent Specialist Physiotherapy, we use Ostenil Mini for osteoarthritis presentations affecting the:
Thumb-base CMC joint
MCP joints of the fingers
PIP joints of the fingers
Ostenil Mini may be given as a course of 1–3 injections, usually at weekly intervals. The number recommended will depend on the joint being treated and your individual presentation.
How Do Corticosteroid and Ostenil Mini Differ?
Corticosteroid and Ostenil Mini have different roles in the management of small-joint osteoarthritis.
Corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory treatment and may be particularly useful where a joint is painful, irritated or flared.
Ostenil Mini is a non-steroid hyaluronic acid treatment designed for smaller joints and may be considered where someone is looking for a non-steroid option or where this is considered the more appropriate treatment for the joint involved.
Your Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist will assess your symptoms, joint irritability, previous treatment, hand function and goals before discussing which option, if either, is most appropriate for you.
Specialist Thumb & Finger Injections in Fareham and Gosport
Assessment and injection therapy for thumb-base and selected small-joint osteoarthritis are provided at our Fareham clinic by Mike Gillingham, Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist.
Mike will assess which joint is contributing to your symptoms and discuss whether corticosteroid injection, Ostenil Mini, splinting, rehabilitation, imaging or onward referral would be the most useful next step.
Explore Our Fareham Upper Limb Injection Clinic → Explore Our Gosport Upper Limb Injection Clinic →
Treatment Beyond the Injection
Reducing pain is often only part of the picture.
Management may also include splinting, changes to aggravating activities, pacing and exercises to maintain movement, improve strength and support the hand during gripping and pinching.
The aim is to make everyday hand use easier and help you return to the activities that matter to you with greater confidence.
If symptoms remain significantly limiting despite appropriate non-surgical treatment, your specialist can also advise whether a hand-surgery opinion may be helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thumb & Finger Joint Injections
Which joints can be treated?
How many Ostenil Mini injections are needed?
What is the aim of the injection?
Which injections are available?
How long might the benefit last?
Do I need a GP referral?
Not Sure Whether an Injection Is Appropriate?
You do not need to know which injection option may be most appropriate before contacting us.
Tell us where your thumb or finger pain is, how it is affecting your hand function and what you would like help with. Your enquiry will be reviewed by our Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist, who can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
