I have something very similar. It is actually instability of that joint area, which leads to arthritis. The instability of the tendons and ligaments around the area causes the bones to rub together when you do squeezing type movements i.e. when you use a manual can opener! There is a type of brace that I wear for stability (which actually does not work well for biking however). Advil (antiinflammatories help), not much else does. I try to avoid some of the things that really hurt my joints i.e. the manual can opener (i bought an electric); so if I avoid the stuff that hurts it that I don't have to do; it gives me less pain when I do the stuff I love, like ride mountain bikes, etc.

Sorry, I can't give you a cureall or anything of the kind, but you just have to learn what really hurts you and if you can devise a different way to do it, devise that way. There will always be something that hurts, but like I say, minimize those things you can do another way and it will allow you to minimize the pain when you do stuff you want to do but can't find any other way of doing!

If it means anything, there are others out there in the same boat! I've been having problems for at least 10 years if not more.

spoke