If your hands are starting to ache, you might be wondering if it’s the first signs of arthritis or if there’s another cause.
Since joint pain and hand arthritis can feel similar, we spoke with Jeffrey Chen, MD, a hand and upper extremity surgeon at Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute, to help you understand the difference—and know what steps to take next.
Joint pain vs. arthritis in the hand.
Joint pain refers to any discomfort in affected joint — whether it’s from injury, arthritis or other causes.
“While arthritis is a common cause of joint pain in the hand, there are many other possible causes,” explains Dr. Chen. “Examples include sprains, strains, stiffness, tendonitis and overuse. Some of these issues originate outside the joint but still cause symptoms in the area.”
Arthritis, on the other hand, is inflammation in the joint. Although there are different types of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis, the degenerative changes caused by wear and tear of the joint. The hand has many joints and hand arthritis can involve any of them.
“Hand arthritis and general joint pain can produce similar symptoms, making them hard to tell apart,” says Dr. Chen. “Typically, arthritis pain is more chronic, while other causes are often linked to an injury or specific event—though this isn’t always the case.”
> Related: 5 Ways to Reduce Finger and Hand Pain From Phone Use
Is arthritis causing your joint pain? 6 ways to tell.
Hand arthritis can be tricky to distinguish from other types of hand pain. But Dr. Chen shares key signs to help you tell the difference:
1. Pain that worsens with daily activity
If you notice that your pain intensifies after everyday tasks like gripping, grasping or pinching, this could be a sign of arthritis. The pain my ease with rest, but over time, it can become more persistent and severe, even with lighter activities.
2. Pain that’s worse in the morning or while you sleep.
Morning stiffness and pain are common signs of arthritis, because you spend so many hours still. In advanced cases, this discomfort can even disrupt your sleep.
3. Stiffness or limited movement in your joints.
Early on, arthritis can cause subtle stiffness or restricted motion in your hands that may be hard to notice. Over time, these symptoms can become more noticeable and limiting, making it harder to fully move or stretch your fingers.
> Related: Have a Desk Job? Don’t Ignore These Signs of Hand or Wrist Injury
4. A grinding or creaking sensation in your joints.
With advanced arthritis, you might feel a painful grinding or creaking when moving your hands. Some people also notice mild joint swelling that flares up with activity or at certain times.
5. Crooked or deformed fingers.
Arthritis can change the shape of your fingers, causing them to look crooked or bent at the knuckles. You might also see small, bony bumps (called nodules) forming near your fingertips. For those with thumb arthritis, a bulge often develops at the base of the thumb.
6. Pain at the base of your thumb or in your finger joints.
Arthritis commonly affects the base of the thumb (called the CMC joint) because of how frequently we pinch and grasp. Small finger joints, particularly those near the fingertips (the DIP joints), are also frequent sites of arthritis pain.
> Want more health news? Text StartHere to 85209 to sign up for text alerts
Your doctor is the first stop for a plan.
Different types of arthritis can affect the hand, each with different causes. However, they all tend to cause chronic pain and stiffness that worsens with activity over time.
“If your symptoms aren’t improving or are interfering with daily life, it’s time to see your doctor,” says Dr. Chen.
If hand arthritis is diagnosed, treatment usually begins conservatively. Options include activity modification, pain medications, splints or braces and hand therapy. Steroid injections may be the next step, often providing relief for several months, while surgery is typically considered a last resort.
“The hand is a complex structure with multiple joints,” Dr. Chen explains. “Treatment varies depending on which joints and fingers are affected. A consultation with a hand specialist can help you find the right approach.”
