My bother and I both have arthritis in the base of our thumbs. He plays guitar.
I use boswellia, a course of it gives me a few months clear of pain (just occasional discomfort) and the more I play the better it gets. I discovered teh Boswellia two years ago, and it hasn't been as bad as the day before I started with it since (like 24 hour toothache in my hands).
My brother has just had his thumbs x-rayed and been given cortisol injections in both. They have said that in a few years he will need to have the trapezoid bones removed. I suspect I may follow him along this route in time (I'm eight years older and m my symptoms are essentially the same).
Has anyone here had this done, and how did it affect your playing?