Hand joint pains – Causes, diagnosis, and treatments

There are very few things in our everyday lives that don’t require the use of our hands. No wonder hand joint pains are among the most disrupting experiences.

Understanding the symptoms, underlying causes, and treatment options can help you manage your hand pain and return to your pain-free life.

Understanding joints of the hand and their functions

The human hand is a complex structure of bones, joints, and tissues allowing us to make delicate movements, act with incredible precision, and perform various tasks. Some scientists even believe that our opposable thumbs made it possible for humans to evolve such complex brains and develop what we know as culture.

There are a total of 27 bones in the wrist and hand, connected by numerous joints, and more than 30 muscles to control it.

As such a delicate structure, used for everyday tasks, hands are especially prone to injury and damage from overuse, and many joint diseases might affect them.

Joint pain in the hands can disrupt this well-oiled operation, cause discomfort and make our life significantly harder.

Causes of hand joint pain

With so many moving parts, pain in the wrist and hand might stem from many different conditions. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common ones and their symptoms.

Injury

We use our hands for many daily tasks, which puts them at a higher risk of injury. Accidents and falls can damage the joints or structure of our hands, but even simple things such as overuse can lead to hand injuries.

Depending on the severity of the injury, it might simply heal with rest, or we’ll need to see a doctor for treatment. In some severe cases, surgery might be necessary.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a term that refers to many different joint conditions, all of which might cause joint pain and inflammation. Most of these conditions are incurable, chronic diseases, so the focus of treatment is usually reducing the everyday impact of symptoms. Arthritis in the hands is a common form of the disease.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types, both of which might affect the joints of the hand.

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sharp pain attacks and might appear in the hand joints.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the base of our hand and forearm. Its function is to protect the median nerve and tendons of the forearm.

Due to overuse, inflammation, or other underlying issues, the carpal tunnel might get too narrow, which might apply pressure to the median nerve. This can lead to numbness, pain, and tingling in the hands or the forearm.

Tendinitis

Tendons are tissues that attach our muscles to the bones. Tendinitis occurs when these tissues get inflamed, often due to overuse, repetitive movements, or overstretching.

Tendinitis is a common underlying cause of hand pain because of how much use they see.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (also referred to as tendinitis or tendinosis) is a condition that affects the tendons alongside the wrist and thumb.

These tendons get swollen due to irritation or the narrowing of the tendon sheath, leading to

stiffness and joint pain in the thumb and the side of the wrist and sometimes affecting the forearm too.

De Quervain’s tendinosis is more common among women, and pregnancy is a risk factor in developing the condition.

Trigger finger

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition affecting the tendons in the hand responsible for flexing the fingers.

When these tendons or their tendon sheaths get swollen or irritated, leading to pain and stiffness. The typical symptom of trigger finger is the locking or catching of the tendon, causing a popping sound when flexing the fingers.

Systemic conditions

In some cases, joint pain is not a standalone condition but only the symptom of an underlying issue. Some chronic diseases might affect the entire body, leading to various symptoms, including hand joint pains.

Fibromyalgia or the autoimmune disease lupus, for example.

Diagnosing hand joint pains

Hand and wrist pains are often the result of simple overuse. In these cases, resting the hand might solve the problem. But if the pain doesn’t go away with rest, you’ll need to consult a health care professional for diagnosis.

Doctors might use a combination of physical examination methods, imaging techniques, and body fluid tests to determine the source of pain and to identify possible underlying conditions.

Treatment options for hand joint pains

When it comes to joint pain in the wrist or hand, pain management is crucial. Not only it helps us keep performing everyday tasks, but in some cases hastens or makes the healing process more comfortable.

Below, we’ll explore various pain management methods and techniques that could help you relieve hand and wrist pains.

Pain medications for hand joint pain

Traditional analgesics, like paracetamol, can ease acute hand pains from an injury or overuse. If the source of pain is inflammatory, then nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could provide effective relief.

For chronic conditions such as autoimmune conditions and arthritis, doctors might prescribe more potent drugs like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or steroid injections.

Mechanical pain relief options

Besides traditional drugs, there are also some mechanical ways that might help relieve joint pain.

A physical therapist could teach you stretching exercises to loosen stiff joints, make your joints stronger and stabilize them. They can also help you with advice on modifying your everyday activities in a way that puts less stress on the painful joint.

Braces and bandages are simple but effective solutions to stabilize the joint and reduce stress and pain. Using ergonomic tools for everyday tasks, like typing, could not only help alleviate your existing joint problems but could also reduce the risk of future issues.

And let’s not forget that resting the painful joint is oftentimes crucial for proper healing. Try to avoid repetitive movements and overuse as much as you can.

Alternative pain relief options

You might also want to look into other drug-free pain management methods. These can help you avoid the side effects of traditional medicines or even supplement them in your routine.

Heat and cold therapy is one effective and science-backed way to relieve pain without drugs.

Meditation can also help you reduce your body’s reaction and sensitivity to pain signals while providing other benefits as well.

You could also try drug-free pain patches like our FDA-approved Freedom patch. With innovative vibrotactile technology, these patches reduce the pain signals right at the nerve level, providing non-invasive, safe, and drug-free pain relief.