Understanding Stiffness and Clicking in the IP Joint
I'm a 22-year-old male. About four weeks ago, I took an elbow to the tip of my thumb while playing basketball. Initially, I didn’t notice any issues, but roughly three days later, I began to feel stiffness and a catching sensation in the interphalangeal (IP) joint of my thumb. Although there's no sharp pain, the popping sound is quite bothersome and adds to my discomfort. I've observed that the stiffness reappears each time I wake up, take a short nap, rest my hand, come into contact with cold water, or even at random times throughout the day. Whenever I attempt to move my thumb after a period of rest, it feels as if the joint is stuck and requires a pop to regain full motion. Additionally, I'm experiencing clicking sounds with any movement of the joint, and it seems to stiffen unpredictably. I suffered a distal thumb fracture back in 2016, but that injury has completely healed, and the current issue seems to have originated from the recent basketball incident. Until now, I've been prescribed Diclofenac Sodium 1% gel and Naproxen, and I recently completed a 7-day regimen of oral Prednisone (5mg). Unfortunately, none of these treatments have alleviated my symptoms. An X-ray revealed that my thumb appears normal with no evidence of arthritis, yet the stiffness and catching continue to trouble me. I’m seeking advice from anyone who might understand what could be causing this issue.
Answers (1)
7/31/2025, 6:20:38 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing persistent stiffness and clicking in your thumb joint after an injury from basketball, which can be concerning. The symptoms you describe—stiffness, catching, and clicking—indicate that there might be some underlying irritation or soft tissue involvement despite the X-ray showing no fractures or arthritis.
Explanation:
After an injury, even a slight one, the joints and surrounding tissues can respond with inflammation or irritation, leading to changes in mobility. The popping or catching can be due to tendons or ligaments moving over bony prominences or inflammation in the joint capsule.
Next Steps:
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Gentle Range of Motion Exercises: Start incorporating gentle mobility exercises for your thumb. You can try bending and straightening your thumb slowly, focusing on moving through your pain-free range. This helps maintain joint flexibility and reduces stiffness.
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Heat Therapy: Applying heat to your thumb before performing exercises can help reduce stiffness. A warm towel or a heating pad for 10-15 minutes can be effective.
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Cold Therapy Post-Activity: After activities or if you experience increased symptoms later in the day, consider using cold therapy for about 15-20 minutes to reduce any inflammation that may arise from overuse.
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Modify Activities: Temporarily avoid activities that exacerbate your symptoms—like gripping or pinching—until you notice improved movement and reduced stiffness.
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms—note when they occur, any improvements, and activities that seem to trigger them. This information can be helpful for targeted management.
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Consider a Splint: If you find that movement continues to be bothersome, using a thumb splint can provide support and limit movement, allowing time for healing while you engage in exercises.
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Follow-Up on Treatment: Since your current treatments haven’t provided relief, consider discussing your ongoing symptoms with a healthcare provider to explore additional options, such as physical therapy, which may offer tailored exercises and treatments.
Conclusion:
While it’s reassuring that your X-ray showed no significant damage, it’s essential to address these ongoing symptoms with appropriate activity modification and gentle rehabilitation. Keep monitoring how your thumb responds to the changes you're implementing, and do seek further evaluation if the symptoms don’t improve over the coming weeks. Your comfort and mobility are important, and proactive management can help you return to full function.
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