Hello, One possibility may be that you have developed a tendinitis. There is a form of tendinitis in the thumb area called de Quervain s Tenosynovitis. Without examining you it is difficult to tell but certainly this could be a possibility. In the first instance, I would ice the area for about 5-10 min, 6 times a day. Taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen would certainly help. Sometimes in the case of tendinitis we would prescribe a wrist and thumb brace. This is sometimes called a thumb spica splint. Occasionally for persistent tenosynovitis I will insert a small cortisone injection into the tendon sheath, which can give significant relief. I would suggest seeing your primary care physician or an orthopaedic specialist, for a further consultation. I hope this helps. Please message me back if you have any further questions. Adrian Rawlinson, M.D.