Thumb carpometacarpal arthritis affects many patients in and around Johns Creek who struggle with gripping, pinching, opening jars, or completing simple daily tasks without pain. When non surgical treatments no longer provide meaningful relief, cmc arthroplasty becomes an effective and proven solution. Patients throughout Johns Creek and Johns Creek GA often travel to the Duluth office for specialized care, advanced imaging, and expertise in conditions affecting the hand and upper extremity. This article explains thumb CMC arthritis, common symptoms, diagnosis, and how joint replacement surgery can restore function for those dealing with severe joint pain and stiffness.
Understanding Thumb CMC Arthritis
The CMC joint sits at the base of the thumb and allows for a wide range of thumb motion used in daily life. Over time, protective cartilage that cushions the joint can wear away. When cartilage deteriorates, bone rubs against bone, causing inflammation, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness. Many patients in Johns Creek develop a noticeable bump at the thumb base or feel clicking and grinding during movement. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause, although rheumatoid arthritis, ligament injuries, and previous trauma can contribute.
Why Many Patients in Johns Creek Seek Treatment
Thumb CMC arthritis can affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Patients often report difficulty with tasks like turning keys, lifting a coffee mug, using a phone, typing, or supporting body weight during exercise. As the damaged joint worsens, symptoms may begin affecting the wrist, fingers, and even the elbow due to compensatory movement patterns. When these symptoms progress, patients in Johns Creek GA frequently look for experienced doctors or surgeons who specialize in hand surgery and advanced treatments for arthritis.
Early Symptoms and When to Seek Care
Early symptoms include pain during pinch or grip, mild swelling, and stiffness at the thumb base. Over time, patients may notice grinding sensations, weakness, decreased motion, or an inability to support force through the thumb. When symptoms begin interfering with daily life, worsening despite home care, or causing joint stiffness in the CMC joint each morning, it is time to seek evaluation.
Diagnosis and Advanced Imaging
Diagnosis begins with a focused examination of the hand, thumb, and wrist. In the Duluth office, the evaluation includes assessment of the CMC joint, movement patterns, stability, swelling, and ligament integrity. Advanced imaging such as X-rays helps determine the degree of arthritis, the presence of bone spurs, ligament injuries, or involvement of surrounding joints and tendons. These details guide the selection of treatments and ensure a personalized treatment plan that matches each patient’s anatomy and symptoms.
Non Surgical Treatments for Thumb Arthritis
Many patients with CMC arthritis improve with non surgical treatments before considering procedures or surgeries. Common options include bracing to stabilize the joint, activity modification, therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and targeted injections for pain relief. These treatments can reduce swelling, improve motion, and delay progression of arthritis. However, once the joint becomes severely damaged, these options may no longer provide significant pain relief.
When CMC Arthroplasty Becomes the Best Option
CMC arthroplasty is a type of joint replacement surgery designed to remove the damaged joint surfaces and reconstruct or replace the space with soft tissue to restore function. This procedure eliminates bone-on-bone pain, stabilizes the thumb, and helps patients regain motion. Thumb CMC arthroplasty is especially beneficial for individuals who have:
- advanced osteoarthritis
- persistent pain despite injections or bracing
- loss of strength during pinch and grip
- functional impairment that affects work or daily life
- joint stiffness that limits movement
Many patients from Johns Creek choose to undergo treatment with Dr. Neustein at the Duluth office due to the expertise in hand and upper extremity surgeries and the commitment to providing high-quality care.
How CMC Arthroplasty Works
During surgery, the damaged joint surfaces are removed, including bone spurs and worn cartilage. A ligament reconstruction is performed to stabilize the joint, allowing the thumb to move smoothly while preventing collapse. The procedure replaces the worn-out structure and restores the biomechanics of the thumb. In some cases, the surgeon may remove a small bone to create space and ensure meaningful pain relief. This surgery focuses on stabilizing the tendons, protecting the nerves, and restoring the joint to a more functional position.
Many patients benefit from a modern technique called suture button suspensionplasty. This approach uses a strong suture construct to stabilize the thumb after the damaged joint surfaces are removed, eliminating the need for tendon harvesting while maintaining excellent support for the thumb metacarpal. The all-suture device recreates the natural spacing of the CMC joint, prevents collapse, and helps restore smooth motion. This technique offers durable stability, less surgical trauma to surrounding tissues, and faster early recovery, making it a reliable option for patients seeking long-term function and pain relief.
Recovery and Healing After CMC Arthroplasty
Recovery begins with a protective splint to allow healing of the ligament reconstruction. As swelling decreases, therapy begins to restore motion, improve tendon glide, and gradually strengthen the thumb and wrist. Most patients regain excellent function over the following months. While early movement is controlled, long-term recovery brings steady improvement in motion, strength, and the ability to complete everyday life activities without pain. With consistent therapy and follow-up visits, patients experience stable healing and durable outcomes.
Everyday Life After Surgery
CMC arthroplasty offers a strong return to normal daily life. Patients typically notice decreased tenderness, improved stability, and the ability to grip objects without discomfort. Everyday activities such as cooking, typing, exercise, and household tasks become easier. Long-term results show predictable improvements in strength, comfort, and the overall ability to restore function in the thumb.
Other Conditions Evaluated in the Duluth Office
While many patients seek help for thumb CMC arthritis, the Duluth office also evaluates a full range of hand and upper extremity concerns. This includes wrist injuries, tendon conditions, tennis elbow, ligament injuries, nerve-related symptoms, and other arthritis-related problems involving the wrists, fingers, elbow, and hand. The ability to diagnose and treat these conditions in one location provides convenience for patients traveling from Johns Creek GA and surrounding areas.
Why Patients from Johns Creek Choose Dr. Neustein
Patients throughout Johns Creek and the surrounding North Georgia communities rely on the Duluth office because of the surgeon’s expertise, precise understanding of hand anatomy, and specialization in treatments for the CMC joint. Dr. Neustein specializes in hand surgery and hand and upper extremity procedures, using advanced techniques, careful diagnosis, and treatments tailored to each patient's needs. Many patients appreciate the individualized approach, the commitment to restoring comfort and function, and the consistent outcomes that help them return to normal life. This expertise draws many patients from Johns Creek to the Duluth location for evaluation, therapy, and surgical care when needed.
Schedule an Appointment at the Duluth Office
Patients in Johns Creek experiencing thumb pain, stiffness, or advanced arthritis of the CMC joint can receive specialized evaluation and treatment at the Duluth office. To explore options ranging from non surgical treatments to CMC arthroplasty, scheduling an appointment is the first step toward long-term relief and improved function.
