Welcome from Green Bay, Wisconsin. My mother had to have a wrist replacement and my father had a thumb joint replaced. Both were because of arthritis. I have the same problem in my right thumb as my dad did. While I have been diagnosed with sever arthritis in my right thumb area I have not considered surgery yet. There is a different procesure today than when my dad had his taken care of. It is a lot less invasive. I do take celebrex for my arthritis and that helps. I don't wear splints during the day but I do at night . That also helps greatly. Another thing that might help is playing the piano. Sounds strange but it does work.