We use our hands for activities ranging from cooking to brushing our teeth, gardening or writing a shopping list. So when our hands, wrists, or fingers hurt, the pain can interfere with much of what we do.
This type of discomfort can also more likely occur with age. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that approximately half of all women and a quarter of men will experience pain in their hands due to osteoarthritis (OA) , when the protective cartilage between bones wears out, towards the age of 85 years. But there are ways to ease the pain.
3 reasons why you feel pain in your hands
The pain and stiffness of the hands are typical of the OA. “The base of the thumb is one of the most common places in the entire body for osteoarthritis to develop,” says Jacob Tulipan, MD, Rothman Orthopedics orthopedic hand surgeon at AtlantiCare in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
People with hand OA, especially at the base of the thumb, often experience pain that is worsened by tasks that require pinching, squeezing and grasping, for example turning a car key or tightening the lid of a jar says Julie Adams, MD, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Chattanooga.
Another culprit could be trigger finger, when one of the rope-like tendons that allow you to bend and straighten your fingers becomes inflamed. This condition causes a feeling of blockage or stiffness that often causes pain when bending and straightening the finger.
Numbness, pain, or tingling in the hand, wrist, or arm can also be caused by the carpal tunnel syndrome, when one of the main nerves to the hand is pinched as it passes through the wrist. Advanced age and diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel, says Tulipan.
How to handle it at home
The over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as Ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) may help relieve joint swelling and inflammation due to OA, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, but will not reverse joint damage.
A Hot or cold compress can ease pain, although figuring out which works best might take some trial and error, Adams says. Heat may be helpful for stiff joints before activity, as it helps increase blood flow to the area, and cold can reduce pain and swelling after using the compress.
For thumb pain due to OA, you may want to make changes to items you use frequently, like pens and toothbrushes, “so you don’t have to use as much force to hold them,” Adams says. For example, “try to wrap duct tape around the pen so that when you hold it, it will be larger and will not cause you as much pain.”
A simple pharmacy splint, which you use occasionally for the night, it may help trigger finger symptoms; A wrist splint can relieve carpal tunnel symptoms. “Putting on a splint helps keep your wrist straight at night,” says Adams.
Exercises you can try
To help prevent and counteract stiffness and pain, regardless of the cause, Tulipan recommends doing these 5 exercises (10 repetitions of each one, twice a day). Your doctor may recommend other exercises for specific conditions.
Exercise 1: With the wrists and fingers straight, make a “board” with your fingers. Bend your knuckles. Hold the position briefly, then straighten.
Exercise 2: Make a fist and then straighten your fingers.
Exercise 3: Make an “O” by touching your thumb with fingertips, one at a time.
Exercise 4: With a hand resting on a flat surface with the palm facing down, spread the fingers wide and bring them together again.
Exercise 5: start in the same way as in exercise 4, then lift and lower each finger, one at a time.
When you need to see a doctor .
If the bothersome symptoms persist , it may be time for you to see an orthopedic hand surgeon says Adams. And these doctors are specialists in hand pain and although the title implies surgery, most of the cases do not require surgical treatment .
Treatments vary depending on the cause and severity of the pain. Corticosteroid injections can reduce discomfort and inflammation caused by OA or trigger finger. “Some people find little relief, while others experience complete symptom relief for a year or more,” says Tulipan.
Prescription topical anti-inflammatory medications can sometimes help as well. Surgery may be an option when other treatments fail, or in the case of carpal tunnel, to prevent permanent loss of sensation.
Note from editor: this article also appeared in the May issue of from Consumer Reports On Health .
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a just, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.