When I open jars or turn the key I feel a deep aching pain at the base of the thumb

Pain at the base of the thumb, especially in women, is often caused by degenerative changes of the joint (the so called arthritis of the base of the thumb). Most common symptoms are pain, limitation of motion and deformity in advanced stages. At the beginning treatment can be conservative while in advanced cases surgery can relive pain. Many surgical procedure are available; the surgeon should help the patient in choosing the proper one for his particular condition.