Thumb Pain

How you can ease thumb pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your thumb, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

rest your thumb when you can
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your thumb for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed) - ibuprofen is not suitable for everyone, such as older people who have a higher chance of getting stomach ulcers and kidney problems
take off any jewellery if your thumb looks swollen
stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain - for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument
wear a splint to support your thumb and ease pain, especially at night - you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets
consider taping something like a lollipop stick to your thumb - this will keep it in place until you can get a splint
consider using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier - for example, to open jars or chop vegetables
keep your thumb moving with gentle exercises

Don't

do not use heat packs or have hot baths for a few days after an injury or if your thumb is swollen - this can make it worse
do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

A pharmacist can help with thumb pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the best painkiller to take
the best splint to support your thumb and ease pain - flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your thumb
if you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

the pain in your thumb is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
you have diabetes - hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if you:

have severe pain
feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
are not able to move your thumb or hold things
have a thumb that's changed shape or colour
have lost the feeling in part or all of your hand

These might be signs of a broken thumb.

Find your nearest A&E

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Common causes of thumb pain

Thumb pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your thumb.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your thumb.

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

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