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Hand Pain & Problems

Most hand pain comes from tendons that catch or rub (trigger finger, de Quervain’s), worn joints (especially at the base of the thumb) or everyday injuries, and much of it improves with splints, rest and hand therapy. A deep cut, a finger that won’t bend or straighten, a bite, a hot swollen finger with fever, or a high-pressure injection injury needs care right away.

Get emergency or urgent care right away for:

Don’t wait for a chiropractic, acupuncture or massage appointment for any of these.

What causes hand pain?

The hand has 27 bones, linked by joints that let you pinch, grip and make a fist (AAOS OrthoInfo), and tendons from the forearm run through tunnels in the wrist and fingers to move them (AAOS OrthoInfo). Common problems:

  • Trigger finger and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (below).
  • Osteoarthritis of the fingers and thumb base — see Hand and thumb arthritis.
  • Dupuytren’s contracture — see below.
  • Injuries — see Finger injuries.
  • Lumps, inflammatory arthritis, numbness and color changes — see Other causes.

Who treats hands? A GP or primary care provider can start treatment, with a specialist if needed (NHS) — often a hand surgeon for problems such as mallet finger or Dupuytren’s (AAOS OrthoInfo, AAOS OrthoInfo). Occupational, physical and hand therapists provide exercises to restore movement (AAOS OrthoInfo) and often make custom splints (AAOS OrthoInfo). Rheumatologists treat rheumatoid arthritis (AAOS OrthoInfo).

Trigger finger

A finger or thumb catches, pops or locks as you bend or straighten it, because the tendon or the tunnel it slides through at the base of the finger has thickened. It affects 2% of people, most often the ring finger and thumb, and causes a tender lump in the palm, pain, and stiffness that is worse in the morning (AAOS OrthoInfo). It is more common in women aged 40 to 60, in people who grip or pinch a lot, and in people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS) — see our diabetes guide. It can sometimes get better on its own (NHS), and most cases respond to nonsurgical treatment (AAOS OrthoInfo).

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Two thumb tendons become irritated in their narrow tunnel, causing pain on the thumb side of the wrist when you grip, turn the wrist or lift with thumbs up — such as lifting a baby. It is most common in people in their 40s and 50s, affects more women, and is linked with pregnancy, the months after childbirth and rheumatoid arthritis. A simple thumb-and-wrist test (Finkelstein) helps diagnose it, scans are usually not needed, and most people recover well with treatment (AAOS OrthoInfo). A fuller MBHA guide to tendonitis is planned.

See a provider (not an emergency) if trigger finger doesn’t improve or gets in the way of daily life (NHS); if you can’t put your hand flat (NHS); if an injured finger is painful, swollen and stiff (NHS); or if a lump grows or is hard and fixed (NHS). Numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers may be carpal tunnel syndrome (AAOS OrthoInfo) — see our carpal tunnel guide.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Splints, rest and activity changes, ice or heat, anti-inflammatory gels or tablets, steroid injections for trigger finger, de Quervain’s and arthritis, and hand therapy; procedures or surgery when these fail. Physical therapy about $50–$350+ a session without insurance ($10–$75 copay with); Medicare Part B covers medically necessary outpatient PT and OT (20% after the deductible). Other costs being researched. Most trigger finger and de Quervain’s improves without surgery; an injection often helps. Thumb-base splints are strongly recommended for arthritis. Dupuytren’s can be treated but not cured.
Chiropractic Some chiropractors treat the hands and wrists with joint mobilization and exercise — never on a fresh injury, a deformed finger or an infected hand. About $50–$200 a visit without insurance ($15–$75 with); first evaluations $100–$250. We found little research on chiropractic for hand problems. Manual therapy for thumb-base arthritis gave small, short-term gains in physiotherapy trials.
Acupuncture Fine needles (sometimes with electrical stimulation) for hand arthritis and de Quervain’s, alongside splints and activity changes. About $125–$230 for a first private visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Conditionally recommended for hand arthritis; small trials suggest short-term pain relief for de Quervain’s. Little research for trigger finger or Dupuytren’s.
Herbal medicine Topical NSAID gel (diclofenac is sold over the counter for arthritis pain) is the best-tested rub-on; capsaicin cream is an option with mixed advice; turmeric is promoted but little studied for hands. Cost estimate being researched. Diclofenac gel eased hand-arthritis pain in a large trial. Keep capsaicin away from your eyes. Check every herb with a pharmacist if you take other medicines.
Massage therapy Gentle hand and forearm massage, often with self-massage taught for home — never on a fresh injury, a cut or an infected finger. Private therapists about $60–$120 for 45–60 minutes; massage-school clinics about $30–$40 an hour. Small studies from one research group found less hand pain and better grip after a month; the evidence is limited.
MBHA Wellness Coach Joint-friendly tools and grips, pacing repetitive tasks, warmth for stiff joints, sticking with your therapist’s exercises, workstation set-up and the right gloves for the job. Cost estimate being researched. Supports — never replaces — medical care. These habits ease strain on sore joints and tendons and help prevent injuries.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Treatment depends on the cause. Injuries are covered in their own section.

1. Splints

A night splint keeps a trigger finger straight while you sleep (AAOS OrthoInfo); a thumb-and-wrist splint may ease de Quervain’s (AAOS OrthoInfo). For arthritis at the base of the thumb, a splint is strongly recommended, and for other hand joints conditionally (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019). Splints should still let you use the hand; wearing one too long can weaken muscles (AAOS OrthoInfo).

2. Activity changes, ice and heat

Rest from repetitive gripping and pinching comes first for trigger finger (AAOS OrthoInfo); avoiding painful movements and using a wrapped cold pack can settle de Quervain’s (AAOS OrthoInfo). Local heat or cold is conditionally recommended for hand arthritis (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

3. Pain relievers (by class)

Oral NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can ease pain and inflammation, with acetaminophen as an alternative (AAOS OrthoInfo); they are strongly recommended for hand osteoarthritis (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019), but may not suit people with asthma, a stomach ulcer, angina, or a past heart attack or stroke (NHS). Topical NSAID gels may cause fewer side effects (AAOS OrthoInfo) — see Herbal medicine. We don’t list doses.

4. Steroid injections

5. Hand therapy and exercise

Gentle stretching helps trigger-finger stiffness (AAOS OrthoInfo), and exercises with a hand therapist can improve thumb motion and strength (AAOS OrthoInfo). Exercise is strongly recommended for hand osteoarthritis, though the evidence is thinner than for knees and hips (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

6. Surgery when needed

  • Trigger finger release opens the tight tunnel through a small cut or with a needle tip, as an outpatient. Complications are rare; full recovery averages about 6 months (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • De Quervain’s release may be offered if symptoms are severe or haven’t improved after 6 weeks (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • Thumb-base arthritis: options include removing a small wrist bone, fusing the joint or replacing it; no single approach has proved better. Grip keeps improving for up to 9 to 12 months (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • Dupuytren’s: see its own section.

What it costs

  • Physical therapy: about $50–$350 or more a session without insurance, or a $10–$75 copay or 10%–50% coinsurance with it (cost guide: CostHelper). Medicare Part B covers medically necessary outpatient physical therapy (Medicare.gov) and occupational therapy (Medicare.gov) when your provider certifies you need it; you pay 20% of the approved amount after the deductible.
  • Visits, splints, injections, imaging and surgery: cost estimate being researched.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic manipulation is mostly done on the spine, but other parts of the body may also be treated (NCCIH), and some chiropractors treat hand and wrist complaints. The research is thin.

What the research says

  • Chiropractic for hand and wrist pain: we found one small study — 55 older adults, 5 weeks of care, no separate comparison group — whose authors called the reported benefit preliminary (Hulbert et al., 2007).
  • Manual therapy for thumb-base arthritis, mostly tested by physiotherapists: a 2022 review of five trials found short-term gains over sham treatment that were too small to matter clinically (Gutiérrez Espinoza et al., 2022); another review found neither mobilization nor splinting alone gave clinically important short-term relief (Magni et al., 2022).
  • We found little research on chiropractic care for trigger finger, de Quervain’s or Dupuytren’s.

Safety

Never have an injured finger manipulated until a doctor has ruled out a fracture or tendon injury, and never a red, hot or swollen one. Forcefully stretching a Dupuytren’s finger can injure it (AAOS OrthoInfo). After spinal manipulation, mild soreness is common and usually passes within 24 hours; serious problems are very rare (NCCIH).

What it costs

About $50–$200 a visit without insurance or $15–$75 with it; an initial consultation about $100–$250 (cost guide: MedicalCostInfo).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

What the research says

Safety

Complications are uncommon but have come from non-sterile needles and poor technique; the FDA requires sterile, single-use needles (NCCIH). Avoid needling a red, hot or swollen finger.

What it costs

About $125–$230 for a first private visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community acupuncture about $50–$90 (cost guide: The Pricer).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

Topical NSAID gels (a medicine, sold over the counter)

Diclofenac gel (Voltaren Arthritis Pain) became nonprescription in the U.S. in 2020 for temporary relief of arthritis pain (FDA). In an 8-week trial of 385 adults with hand osteoarthritis, it eased pain and improved function more than a placebo gel; the most common side effect was tingling where it was applied (Altman et al., 2009). A Cochrane review found topical diclofenac helps a minority of people with osteoarthritis, mostly from knee studies (Derry et al., Cochrane, 2016). Topical NSAIDs are conditionally recommended for hand OA, partly because hand washing makes them harder to use (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

Capsaicin cream

Made from chillies, capsaicin blocks pain signals. The NHS says it may be prescribed for hand osteoarthritis if NSAID gels haven’t helped, causes a burning feeling, and must be kept away from the eyes, mouth and nose (NHS). The ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline conditionally recommends against it for hand OA, citing little direct evidence and the risk of getting it in the eyes (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

Turmeric (curcumin)

Evidence for oral turmeric in knee osteoarthritis is promising but needs better research, and we don’t know enough to say it helps any condition. It can upset the stomach, liver damage has been reported with highly absorbable curcumin products, and supplements may be unsafe in pregnancy (NCCIH). We found little research on turmeric for hand problems. Glucosamine is strongly recommended against for hand OA (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

Herb-drug interactions: ginkgo taken with the blood thinner warfarin is linked to a higher risk of major bleeding (NCCIH). If you take an NSAID, a blood thinner or any other medicine, show every herb or supplement to your doctor or pharmacist first. We don’t list doses, and no herb treats a cut tendon, a broken finger or an infection.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

After a fingertip injury, a doctor or hand therapist may suggest heat and massage along with exercises (AAOS OrthoInfo). For arthritis, the evidence comes from small studies.

What the research says

Safety

Risk is low, but rare blood clots, nerve injuries and broken bones have been reported, some with vigorous massage or in older adults (NCCIH). Skip a fresh injury, a cut or a red, hot finger.

What it costs

About $60–$120 for 45–60 minutes with a private therapist; massage-school clinics about $30–$40 an hour (cost guide: CostHelper).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you find easier ways to do everyday hand jobs, alongside — never instead of — your medical care.

Joint protection: tools and grips

Self-management programs that teach joint protection are strongly recommended for hand osteoarthritis (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019). Devices such as tap turners make hand tasks easier, and an occupational therapist can advise on aids for home and work (NHS). A coach can help you list the tasks that hurt and plan swaps.

Pacing repetitive tasks

Repeated gripping or pinching is linked to trigger finger (AAOS OrthoInfo), and repetitive tasks raise the risk of work-related muscle and tendon disorders (OSHA). Breaking up long stretches of typing, texting or tool use, and avoiding motions that set off pain (AAOS OrthoInfo), gives tendons a rest.

Warmth for stiff joints

Hot packs or a hot-water bottle can ease osteoarthritis pain for some people (NHS). Paraffin wax baths are conditionally recommended for hand OA, and gloves may help by keeping joints warm (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019).

Exercises from your hand therapist

Exercise works better when supervised (ACR/Arthritis Foundation, 2019), and after an injury, daily exercises reduce stiffness and swelling (AAOS OrthoInfo). A coach can help you keep at them.

Workplace set-up and gloves

Ergonomics — fitting the job to the person — helps prevent work-related disorders (OSHA). Wear gloves suited to the task (see Protecting your hands). Smoking is linked to thumb-base arthritis (AAOS OrthoInfo) and Dupuytren’s (NHS), so quitting helps too.

Another approach

Hand and thumb arthritis

Osteoarthritis most often affects the knees, hips and small joints of the hands (NHS) — in the hand, the finger ends and the base and ends of the thumb, where bony enlargements can change the joints’ shape (NIAMS). Expect pain after heavy gripping (sometimes not until the next day), morning stiffness and swelling; small mucous cysts can form at the finger-end joints (AAOS OrthoInfo).

The base of the thumb is especially prone. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to get it; other risks include age over 50, family history, excess weight, past injury, loose joints, heavy pinching and smoking. It hurts to pinch or turn a key, and many people also have carpal tunnel syndrome. The good news: it is not dangerous, some people with advanced X-ray changes have no symptoms, and pain may ease over time with or without treatment (AAOS OrthoInfo). Treatment is under Conventional medicine.

For other types of arthritis, see our arthritis guide. An MBHA guide to joints is on the way.

Another approach

Dupuytren’s contracture

The tissue under the palm’s skin slowly thickens, first as lumps or pits, then as cords that can pull fingers — usually the ring and little fingers — toward the palm. It usually progresses over years, and for some never goes beyond lumps. Genetics plays the biggest role; it is more common in men, people of northern European ancestry, older people, and people with diabetes or seizure disorders, and may be linked to drinking alcohol (AAOS OrthoInfo). The NHS adds smoking (NHS). See our diabetes guide.

There is no cure, but it is not cancer (AAOS OrthoInfo). See a GP if you can’t put your hand flat (NHS); because it gets harder to treat as it worsens, a hand surgeon sooner rather than later is advised (AAOS OrthoInfo).

Another approach

Finger injuries: when to get them checked

A broken finger is not a minor injury; without proper treatment it can end up crooked, stiff or painful (AAOS OrthoInfo).

  • Jammed fingers, sprains and breaks. Fingers break when they jam catching a ball, get slammed in a door or take a fall (AAOS OrthoInfo). A break, dislocation and bad sprain can look alike, so you’ll probably need an X-ray; get urgent advice if it is painful, swollen, bruised or stiff (NHS). A finger that crosses its neighbor when you make a fist suggests a fracture (AAOS OrthoInfo). Avoid massage for the first couple of days after a sprain (NHS).
  • While you wait: keep the finger still (taping it to its neighbor may help), raise the hand, use a wrapped ice pack, cover any cut and remove rings (NHS).
  • Healing usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, with full strength by 3 to 4 months (NHS). Breaks into a joint often need surgery and can lead to arthritis (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • Mallet finger: a blow to the fingertip — or even tucking in a sheet — tears the tendon that straightens the tip, so it droops. Most heal with a splint worn full time for 6 to 8 weeks; letting the tip droop during that time disrupts healing (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • Cut tendons can’t heal on their own and are usually repaired within 7 to 10 days, followed by weeks of splinting and hand therapy; healing takes about 3 to 4 months (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • A cut-off fingertip: rinse it, wrap it in moist gauze, seal it in a watertight bag and set that bag on ice (not touching the ice), and bring it to the emergency room (AAOS OrthoInfo).
  • Bites: wash with soap and warm water and cover; a doctor may give antibiotics and check tetanus and rabies risk (NHS). After a dog or cat bite, call a provider about redness, swelling, pus, pain or fever within 14 days (CDC).

Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis raise infection risk (AAOS OrthoInfo), so don’t ignore small hand wounds. A separate MBHA guide to the wrist is on the way.

Another approach

Other causes: lumps, inflammation, numbness and color changes

Another approach

Protecting your hands at work and home

Member stories

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Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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