Arthritis Diagnosis An Overview of Hand Arthritis By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice Facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 29, 2022 Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he does research at Sheba Medical Center. Previously, he practiced at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Hand arthritis can be painful and debilitating. Your hands are made up of a complex network of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work intricately and harmoniously to bring together the alignment, coordination, and strength allowing you to perform fine motor tasks. This article explains the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hand arthritis. Lisa J. Goodman / Moment Mobile / Getty Images Anatomy of the Hand There are 27 bones in the wrist and hand. The eight small bones in the wrist are called carpals. In the palm of the hand, several of the carpals connect to five metacarpals. Each metacarpal connects to one of the fingers or the thumb. The phalanges are bones that align to form each finger and thumb (i.e., the finger bones). Knuckle joints form where the phalanges connect to the metacarpals and are referred to as the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. The MCP joints work as hinge joints to bend and straighten the fingers and thumb. Each finger has three phalanges that are separated by two joints, known as interphalangeal (IP) joints (the exception to this is the thumb, which has only two phalanges separated by one joint). The IP joint that sits closest to your MCP joint (knuckle) is known as the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. The IP joint that is located closest to the end of your finger is known as the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. The joints of your hand, fingers, and thumb are covered with articular cartilage which absorbs shock and allows for friction-free movement. Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones that come together to form joints. If cartilage loss develops in the joints of the hand, you may experience significant pain. Initially, the symptom of hand pain is vague. You may first suspect an injury, but hand pain can be caused by disease, too, such as arthritis. Symptoms Typically, the first sign of hand arthritis involves pain that develops after extensive use of the hand. Increased use of the hand can cause increased pain while rest can relieve it, especially in the early stages. As hand arthritis advances, even simple activities, such as opening a jar or doorknob, can cause hand pain. Morning stiffness may become more pronounced. General symptoms associated with hand arthritis include: Swelling Warmth due to inflammation Crepitus Fingers that snap or lock Cysts or nodules on the fingers. Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the hand commonly include: Firm nodules along the fingers A soft lump on the back of the hand Drifting of the fingers away from the thumb (ulnar deviation) Tendon rupture which causes a sudden inability to bend or straighten the fingers Joint deformity Sometimes, there is numbness or tingling of the hand (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome). Symptoms of hand osteoarthritis include: Bouchard's nodes: Bony nodules that develop at the PIP joint Heberden's nodes: Bony nodules that develop at the DIP joint Pain at the base of the thumb. Other signs include redness and telangiectasia (dilation) of nail fold capillaries which is often linked to connective tissue diseases, such as lupus. Sclerodactyly, or tightening of the skin over the fingers, and digital ulcers are often signs of scleroderma. Dactylitis, or swelling of an entire digit, is associated with one of the spondyloarthropathies, such as psoriatic arthritis. Diagnosis There are three main tests used to determine whether someone has hand arthritis: A physical examination: With your hands open, your healthcare provider can check the alignment of your fingers, as well as look for any visible abnormalities. Your healthcare provider also can test the function and strength of your hand by having you pinch or grip objects. Your healthcare provider will also feel your hand to determine if there is joint tenderness. X-rays gather information about joint space narrowing, the development of osteophytes, and the appearance of bone along the joint margins. Blood tests are taken if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected: rheumatoid factor, sedimentation rate, CRP, and anti-CCP may be ordered to help confirm the diagnosis. Treatment The goal of treatment for hand arthritis is to relieve pain and improve function. Treatment may include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or analgesic (pain) medications. Rest, heat, cortisone injections, and splints may also be used. Exercises help to maintain movement and function of the hand. A few sessions with a hand therapist will allow you to learn about the exercises that are best for your individual situation. Surgery is considered only as a last resort when all other treatment options have failed. Hand surgery is not generally performed for purely cosmetic reasons. The main purposes of hand surgery are pain relief and to preserve or restore function. 11 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). How do hands work? Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279362/ Benson DC, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Metacarpophalangeal Joints. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538428/ Maw J, Wong KY, Gillespie P. Hand anatomy. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2016;77(3):C34–C40. doi:10.12968/hmed.2016.77.3.C34 Sophia Fox AJ, Bedi A, Rodeo SA. The basic science of articular cartilage: structure, composition, and function. Sports Health. 2009;1(6):461–468. doi:10.1177/1941738109350438 Senthelal S, Li J, Goyal A, et al. Arthritis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK518992/ Dias R, Chandrasenan J, Rajaratnam V, Burke FD. Basal thumb arthritis. Postgrad Med J. 2007;83(975):40–43. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2006.046300 InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Rheumatoid arthritis: Overview. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK384455/ Shenavandeh S, Haghighi MY, Nazarinia MA. Nailfold digital capillaroscopic findings in patients with diffuse and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Reumatologia. 2017;55(1):15–23. doi:10.5114/reum.2017.66683 Heidari B. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Early diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Caspian J Intern Med. 2011;2(1):161–170. Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F. The Treatment of Primary Arthritis of the Finger and Thumb Joint. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269–275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269 Franzblau LE, Liang X, Wang K, et al. Barriers to Reconstructive Hand Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis in China: A Multicenter Survey of Patients and Physicians. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4(11):e1126. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001126 Additional Reading Hand Arthritis: Osteoarthritis. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Hand Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. A Patient's Guide to Hand Anatomy. e-Orthopod. Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. Examination of Specific Joint Areas - Hand and Wrist. Klippel John, M.D. et al. Thirteenth Edition. Arthritis Foundation. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit