Treating Thumb Arthritis (CMC Arthritis) Without Surgery

Published in The Ospina Orthopedic Blog ~ 5 min read ~ Last Updated: August 22, 2025

When Your Grip on Life is Weakened by Pain

Our thumbs are essential for countless daily tasks we often take for granted—until they start to hurt. The simple acts of opening a jar, turning a key, or gripping a pen can become sources of significant pain and frustration. For many, this discomfort stems from osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb, a condition known as carpometacarpal (CMC) or basal joint arthritis.

This common form of "wear and tear" arthritis occurs as the smooth cartilage that cushions the joint gradually wears away. While there is no definitive cure for arthritis, you do not have to let the pain control your life. A wide range of effective CMC arthritis non-surgical treatment  options are available to manage symptoms, improve strength, and restore function. This guide will walk you through the most effective strategies, from foundational care to advanced interventional procedures.

Conservative First Steps for Managing CMC Arthritis

In the early stages of thumb arthritis, a proactive, conservative approach can make a significant difference. These foundational strategies are designed to reduce stress on the joint, manage inflammation, and improve the thumb's stability.  

• Activity Modification: Simple changes can have a big impact. This includes using assistive devices like jar openers or pens with wider grips, which reduce the force required for pinching and gripping motions.  
• Splinting and Bracing: Wearing a supportive splint is a cornerstone of conservative care. A splint helps to stabilize the CMC joint and limit movements that cause pain, allowing the joint to rest and inflammation to subside. They can be worn during specific activities that trigger pain or overnight to provide continuous support.  
• Medications: For localized management, topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac gel can be applied directly to the skin over the joint. During painful flare-ups, oral anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended for short-term use.  
• Hand Therapy and Exercises: A specialized hand therapist can teach you exercises designed to strengthen the small muscles that support and stabilize the thumb joint. These exercises can help improve function and reduce pain over time by counteracting the destabilizing forces that aggravate the arthritic joint.

Interventional Approaches for More Significant Pain

Because osteoarthritis is a progressive condition, there may come a time when conservative measures are no longer enough to manage your symptoms effectively. When this happens, it is time to consider more direct, non-surgical interventions.

Corticosteroid Injections

A common next step is a corticosteroid injection directly into the CMC joint. As a powerful anti-inflammatory, a "cortisone shot" can provide significant pain reduction that often lasts for several months. This can be an excellent tool for breaking a cycle of severe pain and inflammation.

However, it is important to view these injections as a temporary bridge rather than a long-term solution. The benefits of steroid injections can diminish with each subsequent shot, a classic example of the law of diminishing returns. Furthermore, research suggests that frequent, high-dose injections may have the potential to damage the remaining cartilage and surrounding soft tissues over time. This reality often leads patients and physicians to seek alternatives that can offer more sustainable improvement.

Exploring Regenerative Options

For patients seeking a more advanced approach, the field of regenerative medicine offers procedures that utilize your body's own healing components to improve the joint environment. Instead of only masking inflammation, these treatments aim to support the health of the joint tissues.

Procedures using Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) or Bone Marrow Concentrate, which contains stem cells, are increasingly being used for joint arthritis. These treatments involve obtaining a sample of your blood or bone marrow, concentrating the platelets and other healing agents in a lab, and precisely injecting them into the arthritic CMC joint under image guidance. At practices like Ospina Medical, these are highly specialized procedures, like those from the Regenexx network, that use advanced processing to create a customized preparation of your body's healing components, designed to support your body's natural ability to repair itself.

Taking Control of Your Thumb Pain

Thumb arthritis can be a debilitating condition, but a multi-faceted, non-surgical approach provides a clear path toward managing pain and improving your ability to perform daily activities. From foundational strategies like splinting and therapy to advanced, regenerative procedures, there are numerous options to explore before considering surgery. The most effective strategy is a personalized one, created in partnership with a musculoskeletal specialist who can accurately diagnose your condition and guide you through the full range of treatments.

You don't have to let thumb pain limit your life. To receive a comprehensive evaluation and create a personalized non-surgical treatment plan for your CMC arthritis, schedule a consultation at Ospina Medical with Dr. Matthew Kohler.

A Riley Publication ~ Branded Thought Leadership by Riley Partners and Publications, Inc.

Medically Reviewed by: Matthew Kohler, MD

References

Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Injections for Hand Arthritis.

Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Thumb (Basal Joint) Arthritis: Pain, Tests & Treatment.

Erickson, J. (2024). Nonsurgical Thumb Arthritis Treatment.

Hackensack Meridian Health. (2024). Thumb Arthritis: Splints, Braces and Pain Relief.

Mayo Clinic. (2025). Thumb arthritis.

New Regeneration Orthopedics. (2025). Regenexx® Hand & CMC Joint Arthritis Treatment.

OrthoInfo by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2022). Arthritis of the Thumb.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2020). Basal thumb arthritis: Treatment strategies for managing pain.

Royal Berkshire Hospital. (2024). Osteoarthritis of the carpo-metacarpal thumb joint: conservative treatment.

StemCell ARTS. (2025). Regenexx Procedures for Hand, Wrist and Thumb Injuries and Arthritis.

The Buncke Clinic. (n.d.). Thumb CMC Arthritis.

UW Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. (n.d.). Thumb Arthritis.

Wajon, A., et al. (2005). A systematic review of the effectiveness of conservative management for osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. Journal of Hand Therapy, 18(4), 473-481.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.