Pharmaceutical Treatments

• Arthritis Treatment and Relief suggest taking aspirin and ibuprofen to alleviate minor pain. You can find these under various brand names (such as Bayer) at your local pharmacy or supermarket.
  
  For more serious discomfort, ask your doctor about cortisone or steroid solution injections. Both provide pain relief that lasts from several weeks to a few months; however, as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) points out, repeated injections diminish in effectiveness over time. Also, as with any injection, there is a small chance that the doctor's needle could lead to an infection.
  
  

Physical Therapy and Home Remedies

• Treat your arthritis as you would a temporary injury. For pain relief, the AAOS suggests that you ice the joint for five to fifteen minutes several times a day. Construct a splint (or ask your doctor to build one) that limits thumb movement. Wear it overnight or intermittently throughout the day.
  
  For a long-term solution, consult a physical or occupational therapist. Arthritis Treatment and Pain Relief says that a qualified therapist will tell you how to rest your joints and apply heat to eliminate much of your discomfort. The therapist may also provide you with a special brace that can support your hand more comfortably than a splint or else demonstrate exercises that will strengthen the affected muscles. Most will recommend that you avoid activities that require repetitive and frequent hand motions, such as operating heavy machinery or driving for long periods.
  
  

Surgical Options

• If none of the above options are enough, talk to your doctor about getting a fusion operation. Arthritis Treatment and Relief describes this procedure as a method that allows multiple bones in a joint to combine into one solid bone. Often used for advanced arthritis, it is far safer and easier on the patient than a complete joint replacement.
  
  If more-serious surgery is needed, you can replace the problem joint with a prosthesis or a tendon graft. Arthritis Treatment and Relief claims that you should only choose this option as a last resort; however, if you do choose it, you stand to regain painless movement of your thumb for life.