Anyone dealt with thumb pain in your left hand (non picking hand)? If so, what has helped? Mine is at the base of the thumb. It bothers mostly playing guitar but is starting to bother on my banjo now. I’ve tried a thumb support/brace guitar players use but it didn’t amount to diddly squat. I am 75 and I know things tend to wear out. Broke the thumb playing baseball many years ago, which might be a factor.
... recent thread on same/similar topic: https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/408938
Fwiw, a few years back I had cortisone shots at the base of my left thumb that helped. Nowadays, pain comes and goes [weeks at a time] but not debilitating enough to do anything beyond rubbing/flexing it.
If you’ve got good insurance coverage…. maybe Bill here can give you some advice; of course he makes his living on the banjo….
bluegrasstoday.com/new-thumb-j...says-yes/
Check with your doctor. Find out what's causing the pain and if anything can be done about it.
Over 10 years ago I developed pain in the tendon running from the bar of my thumb into my wrist. My doctor had me wear a brace that immobilized my thumb while sleeping. I wore it at night for about 8 weeks and I haven’t had any trouble since. Do, as Sherry said, see your doctor and see if there’s a non- surgical solution. If you have a good doctor and you tell them you’re a musician they’ll take that into account, In my case the doctor was a mandolin player. He was very empathetic.
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