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Medical Author:

Justin Strittmatter, MD

Coauthor:

Charles Preston, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Skier's Thumb Treatment

Skier's Thumb Self-Care at Home

If you suspect that you may have a skier's thumb, then home care should address the pain and swelling of the thumb. Take the following steps to minimize your pain and swelling.

• Apply ice to the thumb for 35 minutes at a time, up to four times per day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Continue to use ice until the pain stops. (A doctor should be seen as soon as possible after the injury and then follow a doctor's directions for ice therapy.)
• Avoid movement of the thumb as much as possible. The loose application of an ACE wrap or commercially available wrist brace in the neutral position will help immobilize the thumb. This will help lessen the pain.
• Take acetaminophen for pain relief or ibuprofen for anti-inflammatory action. Avoid both of these over-the-counter drugs if you have stomach problems and cannot tolerate them.
• The most important aspect of home care is to ensure that the injury is fully evaluated by an emergency doctor, orthopedic surgeon, or a primary care physician in the first few days.