*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Thumb Pain

There are many causes of thumb pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease thumb pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your thumb, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

rest your thumb when you can
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your thumb for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
take paracetamol
take off any jewellery if your thumb looks swollen
stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain - for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument
wear a splint to support your thumb and ease pain, especially at night - you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets
consider taping something like a lollipop stick to your thumb - this will keep it in place until you can get a splint
consider using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier - for example, to open jars or chop vegetables
keep your thumb moving with gentle exercises

do not use ibuprofen in the first 48 hours after an injury
do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury
do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the best painkiller to take
the best splint to support your thumb and ease pain - flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your thumb
if you need to see a GP

These might be signs of a broken thumb.

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Thumb pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your thumb.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your thumb.

Symptoms	Possible cause
Pain, swelling, bruising after an injury	Sprained thumb
Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of the thumb that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your thumb, may have a lump	Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis
Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping	Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your thumb, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger or thumb	Trigger thumb
Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury	Broken thumb

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.