Hand Pain!

[KnottedYet]

Spokewrench-
I have instability in both my thumbs, and wore large braces for a long time to let them tighten up. There are some VERY nice little silver-ring braces that will stablize either the proximal or distal thumb joints. They need to be fitted by a hand therapist (a variety of Occupational Therapist) but they can save you a lot of trouble if they work for your kind of instability.

I considered getting the silver rings, but my thumbs tightened up on their own.

I will go look for the website now. One of the clinics where I worked had an OT who worked with the braces and rings. (she molded my braces and told me how to take care of my thumbs) She wore the ring braces herself, and i never knew they weren't jewelry until she showed them to me. They did a great job of stabilizing her joints without surgery.

Here's the website: http://www.silverringsplint.com/index.html

I use Arnica gel on some grumpy ligaments between my knuckles. maybe that would help you, too.