Trigger points in the adductor pollicis and opponens pollicis muscles cause aching pain in your thumb, the base of the thumb, and the thumb side of your wrist. Spillover pain may include most of the thumb, webbing, and the fleshy mound at the base of the thumb on the palm.
Your thumb may also feel clumsy. Handwriting, sewing, painting, and buttoning clothes may be difficult.
The pain from adductor pollicis and opponens pollicis trigger points can be easily avoided by reducing stress at your thumb, stretching, and relaxing the muscles of your hand and forearm.
Avoid the use of the strong pincer grip (adduction and opposition) and twisting motions characteristic of weeding by hand, writing with a ballpoint pen, and other fine handwork.