Early arthritis in the fingers can cause dull, achy pain, stiffness, swelling, and weakness in the joints. These symptoms tend to develop slowly and worsen over time. You may notice that the symptoms are worse in the morning
Waking up with stiff hands is a relatively common problem with a variety of potential causes. Arthritis, tendon changes, and even nerve compression may be to blame for this annoying and potentially disabling concern.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis (also called de Quervain's disease) is a condition that affects tendons that attach to two muscles of the thumb—extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus.1 This condition typically develops from repetitive use of the thumb for activities such as twisting and pinching, but the cause is not always known.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) develops when inflammation narrows the tunnel and compresses the nerve.
Do you feel aches and pains specifically at the base of your thumb? Do you find that the pain becomes worse when performing certain types of pinching, grasping, or gripping? Have you been experiencing stiffness, weakness, or a loss of motion at the base of the thumb?
