13 Hand Pain Causes and Treatment Options

Hand pain can be caused by an injury or medical condition. Your hands are made of many parts, including bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, skin, and other structures. These structures can also be sources of pain.

Minor hand injuries can often be treated with rest and home remedies, such as cold and heat therapy. If your pain persists or worsens, contact your healthcare provider.

Causes of Hand Pain

Hand pain can be caused by a variety of things, but there are a few conditions that are the most common causes of hand pain. Some of these conditions need medical treatment, while others can be managed on your own at home.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as "wear-and-tear arthritis," is an aging-related form of arthritis commonly affecting the fingers and hands. It is caused by the progressive loss of cartilage between joints that results in pain and stiffness. It is most common in adults over 50, affecting females more than males. 

Symptoms of hand OA include:

• Joint pain and inflammation
• Joint stiffness
• Limited range of motion
• Cracking, grinding, or popping in the joints
• Progressive joint deformity

There is no cure for OA. Treatment is focused on easing pain, improving joint mobility, and preventing disease disease.

Treatment options for hand OA include:

• Hand exercises
• Physical therapy
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen)
• Intra-articular cortisone injections into the joint space
• Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture
• Surgery, including total joint replacement (arthroplasty) if conservative treatment options fail

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the joints. Symptoms of RA are symmetrical, meaning the same joints are affected on both sides of the body (such as both knees). Most commonly, the wrist and hands are affected.

Symptoms of RA include:

• Pain, aching, or stiffness in more than one joint
• Tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling in affected joints
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Weakness

Treatment for hand RA may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil or Celebrex (celecoxib)
• Hand exercises
• Physical therapy
• Intra-articular cortisone injections
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that suppress the immune response
• Biological and targeted therapies that temper a specific part of the immune response
• Surgery, like arthroplasty or synovectomy (removal of damaged tissues surrounding a joint)

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is another autoimmune form of arthritis associated with the chronic skin disease psoriasis. The disease often occurs alongside psoriasis but can also occur on its own. Unlike RA which almost invariably affects joints symmetrically, PsA doesn't always do the same.

Symptoms of PsA include:

• Joint stiffness, pain, and swelling of one or more joints
• Red, scaly patches of skin, often on the scalp, elbows, or knees.
• Persistent fatigue and tiredness
  
• Painful, sausage-like swelling of a finger or toe, called dactylitis

Treatment for hand PsA may include:

• OTC pain relievers
• Exercise
• Physical therapy
• Intra-articular cortisone injections
• Cold and heat therapy
• DMARDs and biological therapies
• Surgery, including arthroplasty

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. It affects the way your hands and fingers move, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Tendonitis can be caused by sudden, forceful movements or a repetitive stress injury.

Symptoms of tendonitis include:

• Swelling and stiffness of a tendon
• Tenderness directly over the tendon
• Pain with movement
• A cracking or grating sensation when the joint is moved
• A lump or bulge on the tendon

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is the protocol used for the immediate treatment of tendinitis. Other options include:

• OTC pain relievers
• Splinting of a joint
• Physical therapy
• Intra-articular cortisone injection
• Surgery, such as tenolysis (tendon release)

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger, otherwise known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is caused by the formation of a nodule on the sheath covering a tendon. This causes your finger to "stick" when you try to move it. It is not known what causes joint nodules, although they are commonly seen with medical conditions like RA and diabetes.

Symptoms of trigger finger include:

• Finger stiffness, particularly in the morning
• A popping or clicking sensation as the finger moves
• A tender bump in the palm at the base of the affected finger
• Finger catching or locking

Treatments for trigger finger include:

• Rest
• Splinting
• Finger-stretching exercises
• OTC NSAIDs like Advil or Aleve (naproxen)
• Intra-articular cortisone injections
• Surgery, including percutaneous trigger finger release (PTFR)

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is swelling of the tendons that run along the thumb-side of the wrist and attach to the base of the thumb. It typically occurs from repetitive use of the thumb from activities pinching or twisting.

Symptoms of De Quervain's tenosynovitis include:

• Pain along the outer edge of the wrist and thumb, particularly with movement
• The abnormal lifting of the thumb, called the "hitchhiker sign"
• Swelling of the thumb
• A snapping or catching sensation

Treatment of De Quervain's tenosynovitis may include:

• Rest,
• Splinting
• OTC NSAIDs
• Cold or heat therapy
• Physical therapy
• Intra-articular cortisone injection
• Surgery, such as tenolysis
  

Hand Sprain

Your hand has 27 bones connected by a network of connective tissues called ligaments. Any trauma to the hands can injure the ligaments, leading to a sprain. Ligament injuries in the hand can take months to heal.

Symptoms of a hand or finger sprain include:

• Bruising
• Swelling, stiffness, and tenderness
• Popping or tearing sensations
• A feeling of warmth near the injury
• Inability to fully extend or flex the hand or fingers
• Loss of ability to grip or hold objects

Treatment for hand or finger sprains may include:

• RICE therapy
• OTC NSAIDs
• Splinting or casting of the injured
• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Physical therapy
• Surgery, including percutaneous pinning used to move the ligament into the correct position with a needle

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve of the wrist as it passes through a narrow passage called the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common repetitive stress injury seen in occupations that involve repetitive hand motions, such as typing, cashier work, welding, or packing.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Weakness when gripping objects
• Persistent pain or numbness in the wrist, fingers, and hand
• Burning or fins-and-needles sensations in the fingers or thumb
• Swollen feeling in the fingers
• Pain or numbness that worsens at night

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may include:

• Wrist bracing or splinting
• OTC or prescription NSAIDs
• Avoiding repetitive behaviors that contribute to symptoms
• Physical therapy and wrist-strengthening exercises
• Occupational therapy, including devices that support the wrist at work or home
• Cortisone injections into the carpal tunnel
• Carpal tunnel release surgery
  

Hand Fractures

Bone fractures are common in the fingers and hands due to a fall, crush injury, twisting injury, or direct contact in sports. The break can range from a stress fracture (a.k.a. hairline fracture) to a compound fracture where a broken bone penetrates the skin.

Symptoms of a hand fracture include:

• Pain that worsens when gripping, squeezing, or moving your hand
• Swelling and tenderness
• Bruising
• Inability to move a finger or thumb
• Numbness
• Visible deformity, such as a crooked finger

Treatment of hand or finger fractures includes:

• Closed reduction used to manually reset the bone
• Splinting or casting
• OTC or prescription pain relievers, including opioid drugs
• Surgery, including open reduction internal fixation (ORIF)
  

Ganglion Cyst

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled lump that appears along the tendons or joints of the wrist or hand. It is usually the result of a minor trauma that causes synovial fluid to leak out of a joint. A wrist ganglion cyst is usually a cosmetic issue that may go away on its own and usually doesn't require treatment.

Not all ganglion cysts cause symptoms, but those that do may lead to:

• Wrist pain and tenderness, especially when moving the hand
• Difficulty gripping object
• A smooth, firm lump ranging from the size of a pea to the size of a grape
• Tingling or numbness when the lump is pressed

Ganglion cyst treatment may include:

• A wrist brace or splint
• Wrist strengthen or range of motion exercises
• Fluid aspiration used to drain the cyst with a needle and syringe
• Surgical excision (removal) of the cyst

Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon happens when small blood vessels in the fingers and toes over-respond to cold and constrict (narrow), reducing blood flow to the area. The opposite can occur when exposed to heat, causing the blood vessels to dilate (open) excessively. The ears, nose, nipples, and knees can also be affected.

Raynaud's phenomenon causes symptoms like:

• Numbness, tingling, and the whitening of fingers or toes when exposed to cold
• Swelling, throbbing, tingling, and extreme reddening of the fingers and toes when exposed to heat

Raynaud's phenomenon may be due to another medication condition (such as a connective tissue disease, hypothyroidism, or fibromyalgia), by taking certain medications, or by working with vibrating tools.

Raynaud's phenomenon is usually not serious and can often be managed by:

• Avoiding exposure to extreme cold
• Wearing layers of clothes that can be added or removed to better regulate body temperature
• Avoiding the overuse of vibrating tools (like drills or electric sanders)
• Taking blood pressure medicines, such as calcium channel blockers, during winter months to reduce blood vessel constriction

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes the skin and other organs to sclerose (harden). Scleroderma is caused by the overproduction of the structural protein collagen that makes up bones, skin, hair, nails, and connective tissues.

One of the first sites affected by scleroderma is the joints of the hands. Thereafter, the skin and other tissues throughout the body can be affected, causing:

• Hard, thickening, or tight skin
• Pitted sores and scars on the fingers
• Progressively stiffening joints
• Muscle shortening and weakness
• Skin color changes, including a salt-and-pepper coloration
• Hard, painful lumps beneath the skin
• Skin atrophy (thinning)
• Tiny blood spots on the skin (petechiae)
• Hair loss
• Reduced sweating
• Itchiness
• Heartburn

Treatment of scleroderma may include:

• OTC and prescription pain relievers
• Skin lotions and moisturizers to reduce itchiness
• Blood pressure medications that help dilate blood vessels and improve circulation
• Immunosuppressant drugs, including corticosteroids, to temper the immune response
• Antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to alleviate heartburn
• Physical and occupational therapy to overcome mobility and functional limitations
• Stem cell transplant which may improve outcomes for people with scleroderma
  

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects the feet, legs, hands, and arms in people with diabetes. It affects up to one-half of individuals living with diabetes to some degree.

High blood sugar caused by uncontrolled diabetes can gradually damage and destroy the protective covering of nerve cells, called the myelin sheath. This can cause nerves to "misfire," triggering symptoms like:

• Burning pain in the hands and feet
• Numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles sensation
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Difficulty walking
• Muscle weakness

There is no cure for diabetic neuropathy. The primary aim is to bring your blood sugar under control with diet, lifestyle, and medications. Thereafter, medications may be prescribed to help manage the chronic pain, including:

• Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil (amitriptyline)
  
• Cymbalta (duloxetine), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI)
• Anti-epilepsy drugs like Neurontin (gabapentin)
• Ultram (tramadol), an opioid painkiller
• Topical therapies, such as Qutenza (capsaicin) or lidocaine
  

Diagnosis

Healthcare providers use different tools to find out what is causing your hand pain. Most of the time, they'll look at your hands and ask you about your symptoms, then decide what tests they need to do to make a diagnosis.

For example, if your provider wants to look at the structures inside your hand, they may order:

• X-rays
• Ultrasound
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Your provider can also do blood tests that look for signs of infection or inflammation, including:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• C-reactive protein (CRP)

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Sometimes hand pain gets better with time and some self-care strategies. However, there are more serious causes of hand pain that require medical treatment.

Call your provider if you have hand pain in addition to any of the following:

• Deformity of the hand or fingers after an injury
• Inability to bend the fingers or make a fist
• Worsening numbness in the hands or fingers
• Pain that does not get better with time and self-care treatment

Seek immediate medical attention if you have signs of infection, such as swelling, warmth, or increased pain.

If necessary, your healthcare provider can refer you to a provider who specializes in joint and autoimmune conditions (rheumatologist) or a bone specialist (orthopedist).

A Word From Verywell

Not all hand pain feels the same, but regardless of the type of pain, it's important to seek treatment if the pain is persistent despite home remedies, as certain causes of hand pain can lead to permanent stiffness or disability without treatment.

— ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Summary

Hand pain can have many causes, many of which are common and can be managed at home. That being said, if the pain in your hands is affecting your life and making it hard for you to do your daily tasks, see your healthcare provider.

Your provider or a specialist like a rheumatologist or an orthopedist can figure out what is causing your hand pain and find the best treatment for you.