Well - I do generally hate self diagnoses, but after really pampering my thumb for a week, and doing all those cute (ball squeeze etc., rubber band expansion) exercises for a week, I needed to really do some stuff in the garden. Lo and behold, it did not make things worse. Actually, using my “clicking’ thumb got gradually better when I forgot about the clicking and pain, and just used it. So - home made assessment: garden variety arthritis. By bed time thumb is nimble, pain-free, and no swelling at all. Of course, there’s tomorrow………… So now I’m open for recommendations for good topical treatments for arthritis of the thumb (as in - quickly absorbing, bc thumb is near food prep, e.g..), and also maybe some experiences with CBD stuff? Voltaren, I’ve got. Also, assorted icy-hot type ointments. Not using so far, because I have no pain at rest.