It is better to have EMG and nerve conduction sudies to decide further. There is possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome present along with the Wikipedia reference-linkradiculopathy. And EMG and NCS will help in better evaluating that. If there is not much involvement of nerve to much extent and muscle studies are normal, you don't have to go for surgery. Attend a good physiotherapist in your locality to get physiotherapy. There are many good trained therapists there in South Africa which may help you.

However, the problems at thumb can be categorized and a differential of them should always be kept in view while dealing the problems. These are:

Intersection syndrome, which is tenosynovitis where the tendons of the first dorsal compartment (ie, extensor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis longus) cross over the tendons of the second dorsal compartment (ie, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis), characterized by pain and swelling in the distal dorsoradial forearm: The pain of intersection syndrome is less lateral than that of de Quervain tenosynovitis and may be associated with swelling

Cervical Disce Disease

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cheiralgia paresthetica or neuropathy of the radial sensory nerve (ie, superficial radial nerve) at the wrist

Cervical radiculopathy, particularly at C5 or C6
nerve root

Degenerative arthritis at the radioscaphoid joint

Kienbock disease (ie, osteonecrosis of the lunate)

Osteoarthritis at first CMC joint

Dorsal ganglion at the wrist

Scaphoid fracture characterized by tenderness at the floor of the anatomical snuffbox

De Quervain disease is caused by stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. The first dorsal compartment at the wrist includes the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB). Patients with this condition usually report pain at the dorsolateral aspect of the wrist with referral of pain toward the thumb and/or lateral forearm.

When an appropriate problem is identified, a suitable treatment plan can be given to resoleve the problem.