Differential Diagnosis for Thumb Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Osteoarthritis: This is a common condition, especially in older adults, where the cartilage that cushions the joints wears away, leading to pain and stiffness. The thumb is a frequently affected area due to its heavy use and complex joint structure.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Trigger thumb (Stenosing tenosynovitis): This condition involves inflammation of the tendon sheath, causing pain, stiffness, and a clicking or snapping sensation when moving the thumb.
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, leading to pain and tenderness, especially when forming a fist, grasping, or turning the wrist.
- Thumb sprain: An injury to the ligaments surrounding the thumb joints, often resulting from sudden twisting or bending.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Scaphoid fracture: A break in one of the small bones of the wrist, which can be difficult to diagnose and may lead to serious complications if not properly treated.
- Infectious tenosynovitis: A bacterial infection of the tendon sheath, which can lead to severe consequences, including tendon rupture or spread of infection, if not promptly addressed.
- Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath: A rare, benign tumor that can cause pain, swelling, and decreased mobility if not diagnosed and treated.
- Rare diagnoses
- Thumb gout: A form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, which can lead to sudden, severe attacks of pain and swelling.
- Psoriatic arthritis: A type of arthritis that occurs in some people with psoriasis, causing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, including in the thumb.
- Sarcoidosis: A condition in which inflammatory cells form lumps known as granulomas in various parts of the body, including the joints, which can cause pain and stiffness in the thumb.