Hand Arthritis
Managing finger and thumb joint pain
What Is Hand Arthritis?
Hand osteoarthritis commonly affects the finger joints and thumb base. It causes pain, stiffness, and can significantly impact daily activities. It's more common in women and tends to run in families.1
Common Locations2
- DIP joints - Fingertips (Heberden's nodes)
- PIP joints - Middle knuckles (Bouchard's nodes)
- Thumb base - CMC joint (very common)
- Wrist - Less common in OA
Symptoms
- Joint pain and aching
- Morning stiffness
- Bony enlargements (nodes)
- Reduced grip strength
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks
- Warmth and swelling during flares
Treatment3
Conservative
- Hand exercises
- Heat therapy
- Splints (especially for thumb)
- Joint protection techniques
- Topical NSAIDs
- Oral pain medications
Injections
- Corticosteroid injections (thumb base)
Surgery (Rarely Needed)
- Joint fusion
- Joint replacement
- Thumb base procedures
Joint Protection Tips
- Use larger joints when possible
- Avoid prolonged gripping
- Use built-up handles on tools
- Open jars with palm, not fingers
- Use ergonomic devices
References
- Marshall M, Watt FE, Vincent TL, Dziedzic K. Hand osteoarthritis: clinical phenotypes, molecular mechanisms and disease management. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2018;14(11):641-656.
- Kloppenburg M, Kwok WY. Hand osteoarthritis - a heterogeneous disorder. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2011;8(1):22-31.
- Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(2):220-233.