Hand Pain in Women: Carpometacarpal Arthritis

Key Takeaways:

• The CMC (carpometacarpal) joint is at the base of the thumb, where the 1st metacarpal bone meets the trapezium.
• The most common place women get arthritis in their hand is at the CMC joint.
• Carpometacarpal arthritis is more common amongst post-menopausal women over the age of 50.

The carpometacarpal joint (CMC) is the basal joint of the thumb, right where the 1st metacarpal bone of the finger meets the trapezium bone of the hand. However, it is also the site of one of the most common reasons for hand pain in women over 50: carpometacarpal arthritis.

What is Carpometacarpal Arthritis?

Carpometacarpal arthritis is a type of osteoarthritis of the hand resulting from either trauma or wear-and-tear that decreases the amount of cartilage in the CMC joint. While this type of arthritis can be caused by trauma, it is most often the result of normal wear-and-tear as a joint that we use daily. The CMC joint is responsible not only for connecting the bones of the thumb to the hand, but also for its movement like swiveling, pivoting, grasping, and pinching.

With this type of repetitive movement, the cartilage that lubricates the joint and keeps the bones from grinding against each other eventually wears down. The pain, inflammation, swelling, and loss of motion that result are symptoms of carpometacarpal arthritis.

How are Women Affected by Carpometacarpal Arthritis?

Studies have shown that CMC arthritis is much more prevalent in women than men. According to Brown University Health, the disease affects 15% of adults over age 30, and two-thirds of women over the age of 55. The reasons for this can be because of genetics, lifestyle factors like weight, and environmental factors like how much and in what way you use your hand.

However, there may be biometrics, or measurable body characteristics, at play. Women have flatter joint surfaces, smaller areas of cartilage contact, and higher contact pressures. This leads scientists to believe that carpometacarpal arthritis may be more common in women due to a higher risk of altered joint loaded and decreased stability.

Women also have greater ligament flexibility. As we age and our ligaments become looser, our joints suffer from greater instability. After menopause, women then have a large hormonal shift. Studies show that the reduced estrogen levels affect collagen production, which affection the resiliency of joints.

How to Treat CMC Arthritis Pain

Carpometacarpal arthritis cannot be cured, but the pain can be managed like any other form of osteoarthritis. Common treatments include:

1. Physical therapy: Strengthening the muscles of the hand and forearms can help stabilize the thumb joint and offload pressure when completing tasks.
2. Thumb splints: When used correctly, thumb splints can help support the CMC joint during arthritic flare-ups.
3. Corticosteroid injections: Injections are minimally-invasive and help to mitigate inflammation in joints affected by arthritis.

Normally, surgical intervention is not recommended unless there are special circumstances. Common surgical treatments for CMC arthritis may include joint fusions, joint replacements, or trapeziectomy (removal of the trapezium bone).

FAQs About Carpometacarpal Arthritis

1. How does CMC arthritis affect daily activities?
   1. Those affected by osteoarthritis in the thumb may notice difficulty with tasks requiring grasping, pinching, or gripping. This might be opening bottles and jars, grasping doorknobs, playing sports like golf, tennis, or pickleball, and other activities.
2. What are the symptoms of CMC arthritis?
   1. Symptoms of carpometacarpal arthritis can include pain at the CMC joint, inflammation, swelling, loss of grip strength, deformity of the joint, and loss of motion.
3. Can arthritis affect metacarpal bones?
   1. While CMC arthritis pain can feel like the bones of your hand hurt, most pain will originate from the joint itself and the point where the bones are rubbing against each other. However, arthritis can affect any joint of the body, including those associated with the metacarpal bones.

If you or someone you love suffers from arthritis pain in the Louisville, Kentucky-area, board certified sports medicine physician Dr. Stacie Grossfeld at Orthopaedic Specialists PLLC can help. Orthopaedic Specialists PLLC is accepting new patients, and same day appointments are available. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Orthopaedic Specialists PLLC today at 502-212-2663.