James Best as Deputy Roscoe P. Coltrane in âThe Dukes of Hazzard,â hugging Flash. James Best, whose prolific career included 83 movies and 600 TV shows but is best remembered for portraying Rosco P. Coltrane, the bumbling sheriff of Hazzard County, died late Monday in Hickory at age 88.
1 Insect bites and stings can also cause thumb swelling. Local inflammation, itching, burning and swelling can result after an insect bite, it may persist for few hours before healing on its own.  Infection of the thumb can also cause its swelling. It can be a secondary infection due to trauma and cut on the thumb.
Besides the above causes, the tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint can at times all be potential causes of thumb joint pain. Injury or trauma to the thumb such as a fracture or sprain can all lead to pain and limited function. A sprain of the ligaments surrounding the joint is referred to as a 'jammed' thumb. In extreme circumstances, the disruption to these ligaments can ultimately lead to the instability of the joint.