Hand pain can be caused by arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, overuse, or injury. See a doctor if it persists or you have numbness.
Common causes
- Arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness, tingling).
- Tendinitis and trigger finger.
- Overuse and repetitive strain.
- Injury or fracture.
- Gout.
- Raynaud’s phenomenon.
- Nerve problems from diabetes.
Home care
Rest, ice or heat, gentle stretching and pain relievers.
See a doctor if
Pain persists, hands are swollen or numb, or joints are stiff for over 30 minutes in the morning (possible rheumatoid arthritis).
Emergency
Sudden hand weakness or pain with chest pressure.
Prevention
Ergonomic setup and breaks.
Why hands hurt
Hands have 27 bones, many joints, tendons and nerves, and they are used constantly, so pain is common. The location and type of pain help find the cause.
Common causes
- Overuse and repetitive strain from typing, texting, gripping or manual work.
- Arthritis: osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in the base of the thumb and finger joints, affecting over half of people over 65. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes symmetrical swollen, warm and stiff joints, worse in the morning, and affects about 1% of adults.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: pressure on the median nerve at the wrist causes numbness, tingling and pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often at night. It affects 3% to 6% of adults.
- Tendinitis, trigger finger and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis at the thumb side of the wrist.
- Injuries and fractures.
- Gout and pseudogout.
- Raynaud’s phenomenon: fingers turn white or blue in the cold.
- Nerve problems from diabetes, vitamin B12 deficiency or cervical spine disease.
- Dupuytren’s contracture, a thickening of tissue in the palm.
- Lupus and scleroderma.
- Infection.
Home care
- Rest the hands and avoid activities that trigger pain.
- Apply ice for 10 to 15 minutes for acute pain, or warm soaks for stiffness.
- Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Wear a wrist splint at night for carpal tunnel symptoms.
- Do gentle stretches and range-of-motion exercises.
- Set up an ergonomic workspace and take breaks every 30 to 60 minutes.
See a doctor if
Pain lasts more than a week, is severe, comes with swelling, redness or warmth, numbness, weakness, loss of grip, deformity or morning stiffness lasting over 30 minutes. Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis prevents joint damage. Tests may include X-rays, blood tests and nerve studies.
Emergency
Seek care immediately for a hand injury with deformity, an inability to move fingers, a cold or blue hand, signs of infection (fever, red streaks), or chest pain with arm and hand pain (possible heart attack).
Prevention
Strengthen your grip with exercises, keep a healthy weight, do not smoke, and use proper tool techniques.
Joint, tendon and nerve conditions
Hand pain can come from arthritis, which affects about 1 in 4 US adults in some form, with osteoarthritis commonly in the base of the thumb and finger joints and rheumatoid arthritis causing swollen, stiff joints worse in the morning. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve and causes numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers. Trigger finger, tendonitis and De Quervain tenosynovitis result from overuse. Gout can cause sudden swelling in a finger joint. Diabetes can cause nerve pain in the hands. Rest, ice, wrist splints at night, NSAIDs and hand exercises help many cases. Take breaks from typing every 30 minutes, keep wrists straight and adjust your workstation. See a doctor for hand pain with swelling that lasts over 1 to 2 weeks, morning stiffness over 30 minutes, numbness, or loss of grip strength.
Based on data from the Arthritis Foundation and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
