Without seeing your mother's hand and doing a thorough medical history and taking tests, no-one can tell what the lump on your mother's hand is. If you haven't see a doctor, this is your best bet.

fell 4 months ago from a dock ..broke shoulder and wrist...since that time only thumb and index finger bend...hand doctor says it is just soft tissue damage & will go away with exercises...after 4 months I am about to give up...wrist hurts like crazy when I try to move those three fingers...any advice?

People who have arthritis in the base of the thumb often find it quite painful and makes it difficult to use the hand properly. Surgery is usually the last treatment for arthritis in the thumb, only done if all other treatments (medications, physiotherapy, and so on) don't help.

The hand is the most common part of the body for rheumatoid arthritis. The arthritis may affect just a joint or to in a finger, a few fingers, the wrist, or any combination of joints. The base of the thumb is one area that is particularly vulnerable because of its work load.

Trapeziometacarpal arthritis (arthritis below the base of the thumb), the second most common site for arthritis in the hand and is not only painful, but can cause great disability, impacting on quality of life. Usually, once the damage to the joint is severe enough that pain can't be managed without surgery, the options are arthroplasty (replacement) or arthrodesis (fusing the bones).

The first step in treating carpometacarpal (CMC) (thumb) joint pain is usually conservative care. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often the first line of defense. Over-the-counter products can be tried but most doctors prefer to prescribe something a little stronger for patients who have disabling pain.

Extension osteotomy of the first metacarpal is considered extra-articular (outside the joint) procedure. First refers to the thumb as the digits on the hand are numbered from one to five, starting with the thumb. The metacarpal bone is the long bone of the thumb from the base of the wrist to the first knuckle on the thumb.

Imagine not being able to use your thumb because of intense pain. Suddenly, even the simplest of daily activities becomes an agony. That's the plight of many people with osteoarthritis of the thumb. The main joint involved is the carpometacarpal (CMC). This is at the base of the thumb where the thumb meets the wrist. It's a common problem in postmenopausal women but others can be affected, too.

The best approach in rehab for surgically repaired extensor tendon injuries is still up in the air. For a long time, immobilization (no movement) was the standard treatment. Patients were splinted or casted to keep them from moving until the surgeon gave the go-ahead.

You may need to consult with both the hand therapist and your surgeon. It's possible the hand therapist can give you a modified program that is easy enough and simple enough to do quickly but still get the desired results. Perhaps this is something you can even do during your breaks at work.