Hand Arthritis

Hand arthritis is inflammation and wearing down of cartilage in the joints in the fingers, thumb or wrist. It causes pain, stiffness and reduced movement. It can develop from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.

What causes hand arthritis?

Hand arthritis develops when your joint cartilage breaks down or when inflammation damages your joint tissues. Over time, cartilage loss and inflammation can change the shape of your joints and make tasks like buttoning clothes or writing more difficult.

Risk factors for hand arthritis

These factors may increase your risk:

• Older age
• Using your hands repeatedly for activities like work or hobbies
• Having injured your hand in the past
• Family history of arthritis
• Autoimmune conditions
• Being female, since women are twice as likely to have hand osteoarthritis as men
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Caucasian race, for osteoarthritis 

There are several different types of hand arthritis. They have different causes and may have different symptoms.

Osteoarthritis of the hand

Osteoarthritis is common as you get older. It’s caused by the wear and tear of joint cartilage. It often affects the joints in the fingers and at the base of the thumb.

Rheumatoid arthritis in the hand

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes joint inflammation and damage. It often starts in the small joints of your hands and affects both of your hands in similar ways. It may cause joint deformity over time.

Post-traumatic arthritis

This type of arthritis develops in a specific joint, often years after you’ve injured or fractured it. You can get post-traumatic arthritis even if the joint heals well. 

Symptoms of hand arthritis and thumb arthritis can vary based on the type of arthritis you have, how severe it is and how active you are. They can include:

• Joint pain or aching
• Stiffness, especially in the morning, which usually lasts less than 30 minutes for osteoarthritis and more than an hour for rheumatoid arthritis
• Swelling in your fingers or joints
• Reduced range of motion
• Weak grip strength
• Bony bumps (nodes) at finger joints, called Heberden’s nodes at the fingertip joint and Bouchard’s nodes at the middle joint
• Joints that look larger or crooked 
• Warmth or tenderness in joints
• Burning or throbbing pain after heavy gripping, grasping or pinching, which may appear hours later and can sometimes wake you at night
• Grinding, clicking, cracking or a grating sensation 
• Small cysts near the fingernails that can cause ridges or dents in the nail
• Symptoms that get worse when the weather is rainy or damp, due to joint tissues expanding when the barometric pressure drops 

Early care can help slow progression and protect your joint function. See a specialist if you have signs of hand arthritis or thumb arthritis such as:

• Pain or stiffness that does not get better, keeps coming back or wakes you up at night
• Trouble using your hands for daily tasks
• Swelling
• Changes in your joints that you can see, like crooked fingers, a bulge at the base of the thumb or bony bumps near the finger joints
• Weak grip or loss of hand function 

To diagnose hand arthritis, your health care provider may:

• Review your symptoms, medical history and family history
• Examine your joints and check your range of motion
• Order X-rays to look for joint damage
• Order blood tests if they suspect rheumatoid arthritis
• Order other imaging tests, such as MRI, if they think you have another problem, not arthritis 

Treatment depends on the type of arthritis, how severe it is and your goals for pain relief and hand function. These options can help with hand arthritis pain.

Non-surgical treatment

You have several options for treating hand arthritis that don’t involve surgery:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Immune system medications for rheumatoid arthritis
• Pain relievers you apply to your skin, like diclofenac (Voltaren) gel
• Ice or heat
• Splints or braces that can support your joints
• Modifying your activities to reduce pain and protect your joints
• Hand therapy to improve your hand strength and flexibility
• Complementary treatments like acupuncture or massage therapy

Injections

Corticosteroid injections that lower inflammation can reduce pain for some time. The number of injections you can get is limited because too many steroid shots can make nearby tendons and ligaments weak or make your skin and cartilage thin.

Surgical treatment for hand arthritis

Different surgical options can help treat hand arthritis:

• Arthrodesis (joint fusion) can relieve pain
• Arthroplasty (joint replacement) can preserve movement
• Tendon procedures can improve function
• Joint denervation can relieve pain, since it disconnects the nerves that send pain signals to your brain

After surgery, you may need a splint or cast and guided hand therapy. You will probably be able to return to most of your usual activities in about three months.

Managing hand arthritis at home

You can take these steps to reduce hand arthritis symptoms:

• Use assistive devices to reduce strain, like electric can openers, voice recording instead of typing and ergonomic jar openers, utensils and pen grips
• Use the dishwasher instead of hand washing your dishes
• Consider grocery pickup or delivery so you don’t have to do as much gripping and lifting
• Use pots and pans with two handles, so they are easier to carry
• If you don’t have young children in your home, ask for prescription medications without child-safe caps
• Use shampoo, conditioner and soap containers you can pump, rather than those you have to squeeze
• Apply heat for stiffness, such as soaking your hands in warm water
• Use cold treatments to help reduce swelling
• Perform hand exercises regularly
• Plan activities when your joints feel better, which is usually early in the day
• Pace your activities so you don’t overuse your hands
• Take breaks if your joints start to swell or ache
• Choose an anti-inflammatory diet, which can help with rheumatoid arthritis and overall health 

There is no cure for arthritis but symptoms often come and go in flares and you can manage them with the right care plan. Starting treatment early may help slow joint damage.

Your care team can adjust your medications, assistive devices and therapy over time so you can stay as active and comfortable as possible. With treatment, you’re likely to have good hand function. 

Hand arthritis is a common condition that can cause pain, stiffness and reduced function. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, you can manage your symptoms, protect your joints and keep doing your daily activities with less pain.

At Banner Health, we offer:

• Specialized hand and wrist experts
• Personalized care options that include non-surgical and surgical treatments
• Hand therapy programs
• Coordinated care for inflammatory conditions

If hand pain or stiffness is affecting your daily life, schedule an evaluation with a Banner Health specialist. 

What is the most common type of hand arthritis? 

Osteoarthritis is the most common type, especially as people get older.

How do I know if I have arthritis in my hands?

Common signs include joint pain, stiffness, swelling and difficulty using your hands.

Can hand arthritis be reversed?

Arthritis cannot be reversed but treatment can reduce symptoms and improve function.

What is the best treatment for hand arthritis?

Treatment depends on what’s causing your arthritis and the severity. It may include medications, therapy, injections or surgery.

Related conditions

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trigger finger
• Dupuytren’s contracture