Patient education: Hand pain (The Basics)

What are the parts of the hand? — 

The hand has many parts, including:

●Bones – The hand contains many small bones (figure 1).

●Cartilage – This covers the ends of the bones to help the joints glide more easily.

●Ligaments – These are strong bands of tissues that hold the bones together.

●Muscles and tendons – Tendons are strong bands of tissue that attach muscles to the bones and help move the hand up, down, or sideways.

●Nerves and blood vessels

●Layers of connective tissues and skin

Damage or injury to any of these structures can lead to hand pain and problems.

What can cause hand pain? — 

An injury to the hand can cause pain. There are also many conditions that can cause hand pain. Examples include:

●Osteoarthritis – Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. There are different types of arthritis. The most common type, called osteoarthritis, often comes with age. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the finger joints.

●Rheumatoid arthritis – This is another type of arthritis. It can also cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the finger joints (picture 1). The stiffness is usually worst in the morning.

●Trigger finger – This condition keeps a finger from straightening normally. When a person tries to straighten their trigger finger, the finger "locks" or "catches" in a bent position (figure 2). Trigger finger can also cause pain in the finger or palm. It is caused by a problem with a tendon.

●Cysts – This is an abnormal fluid-filled sac. If a cyst forms on or next to a tendon, it can cause a painful lump in the palm of the hand. Cysts can also form on joints (picture 2).

●Dupuytren's contracture – This condition causes the tissue under the skin on the palm to get thick. Over time, this makes the fingers (usually the ring and little fingers) stiff and keeps them from straightening all the way.

●Mallet finger – This can happen when the finger joint nearest the fingernail gets hurt. People usually have pain and swelling on top of that joint. They can also have trouble straightening that joint all the way.

●Carpal tunnel syndrome – This condition affects a nerve that passes through the wrist to the hand. It usually causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and side of the ring finger. People can also have pain in their arm.

What can I do on my own to feel better? — 

To ease your symptoms, you can:

●Rest your hand – Don't grip things too tightly or too often. If you were given a splint or brace, wear it as instructed.

●Do gentle exercises – If you do not have an injury, doing gentle exercises may help prevent stiffness. Close your fingers to make a fist. Then, straighten your fingers all the way.

●If your hand is swollen because of an injury, prop it on pillows, keeping it above the level of your heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.

●Heat or ice – Depending on the cause of your hand pain, your doctor might suggest using heat or ice to help with pain and swelling:

•Ice – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the sore area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the skin.

If you hurt your hand, use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after the injury. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.

•Heat – If your doctor suggests heat, apply a heating pack to the affected area for up to 20 minutes at a time. Don't use anything too hot that could burn your skin.

●Take medicine to reduce pain and swelling – To treat pain, you can take acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol). To treat pain and swelling, you can take ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin).

To keep your hands from getting hurt:

●Wear thick leather gloves when you do work that could hurt your hands. Do not wear rings when working with machinery.

●Do not let your hands get too cold for too long.

●Take frequent breaks when doing something with repeated hand motions. Shake out your hands or rub them during breaks.

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. They will examine your hand and fingers carefully and see how they move and work.

You might also get 1 or more of these tests:

●X-ray of your hand

●Blood tests

●A procedure to make sure the diagnosis is correct – For example, if the doctor thinks you have a cyst, they might drain the fluid with a needle.

How is hand pain treated? — 

Treatment depends on the cause of the pain. After your doctor knows what condition is causing your pain, they will discuss your treatment options.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

●Your symptoms do not get better or get worse after you treat them on your own for a few days.

●Your hand is weak.

●You can't make a fist or straighten your fingers all the way.

●You have less feeling or movement in your fingers.

More on this topic

Patient education: Osteoarthritis (The Basics)
Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis (The Basics)
Patient education: Dupuytren's contracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Carpal tunnel syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Common finger injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Tenosynovitis (The Basics)

Patient education: Osteoarthritis symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)