Osteoarthritis in the hand and wrist: what you can do to help improve your symptoms

You have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in your hand and / or wrist. This leaflet will explain the following.

• What osteoarthritis is

• Hand therapy strategies for managing your osteoarthritis

• Other available options to manage your osteoarthritis

We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to a member of your healthcare team.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis in the hand and / or wrist joints is a very common condition. It is most often part of the normal age-related changes to our joints. Joints that have been injured before are more likely to develop arthritis. The thumb is more vulnerable to this.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, which can affect any joint in the body. It happens when there are changes to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Cartilage enables the bones to move smoothly and painlessly against one another. In osteoarthritis there is thinning of the cartilage layer creating a rougher surface, which in turn leads to the body trying to repair it.

Sometimes this process can cause other changes to the structure of the joint. Many people can have these changes in their joints without any symptoms. However, sometimes it can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, or difficulty moving the joint. Changes may include the following.

• Thickening of the synovium (joint capsule) and increased synovial fluid production, leading to joint swelling.

• Extra bony growth around the edges of the joint, called osteophytes.

  • In the end joints of the fingers, these are known as ‘Heberden’s nodes’.

  • In the middle joints of the fingers, these are known as ‘Bouchard’s nodes’.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

The hand and wrist, particularly the thumb, are vulnerable to osteoarthritis. When you use your hand or wrist it can cause pain, instability, and weakness. Osteoarthritis is an unpredictable condition and the symptoms are likely to come and go without warning.

• To begin with you might feel pain when you carry out certain activities.

• You might find your joints feel stiffer or cannot move as easily.

• You might feel your grip is not as strong as it used to be.

• You might find dextrous tasks more challenging, such as using or handling small objects.

In some people osteoarthritis may progress, leading to:

• swelling around your affected joint(s)

• pain even when resting

• your joints may appear crooked

Progression varies from person to person.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Your GP may be able to recognise this form of arthritis by looking at your hand and discussing your symptoms. Or they may refer you to a hand therapist or hand surgeon to make a diagnosis and begin treatment. We may ask to have x-rays taken of your joint, but these are not essential for diagnosis.

What are the treatments for hand and wrist arthritis?

You can help to treat the condition yourself, using self-management strategies. For many people, the following self-management strategies may help.

• Lifestyle changes

• Hot and cold therapy

• Diet and supplements

• Pain relief medications

• Exercises to improve hand / wrist movement and strength

• Kinesiology taping and / or splinting to support joints

Please discuss these treatments with your hand therapist in clinic.

Lifestyle changes

• Joint protection strategies can help improve your pain, stiffness, and flare-ups without you having to stop certain activities. You can do this by changing everyday tasks and making them easier to carry out.

  You do this by reducing the forces and stresses through your joints during the activity. This will maintain your joints for longer. It’s not what you do; it’s the way that you do it that makes the difference.

  1. Evaluate your daily activities. Is the way you are using your joints adding to your pain? Have any deformities developed?

  2. If so, change the way you carry out those tasks or use tools / devices that can help to reduce load and effort. This will reduce your pain.

  It does not mean that you should stop using your joints, just that you should use them differently.

  To start with, these new techniques may feel as though activities take longer. However, the more you do them the more they will become part of your daily routine. It takes time and patience to change our habits, so try to change just one or two things at a time.

  For more information, please read our Advice on protecting your joints leaflet.

• Sleep is vital for our health and wellbeing. Pain can make it difficult to sleep, and not getting enough sleep can make pain worse. Improving your quality of sleep can reduce pain.

• Stress can also make our experience of pain worse. Relaxation techniques can help to reduce or manage pain. For more advice on these topics, please see the Useful resources section at the end of this leaflet.

Hot and cold therapy

Bathing in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes can be a helpful way of easing joint pain and stiffness. Other forms of heat treatment can include using:

• microwaveable heat packs

• a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel (to protect your skin)

• paraffin wax baths

You can also apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel (to protect your skin) to joints for up to 10 minutes to reduce swelling and pain. For more information, please read our Ice treatment leaflet.

Diet and supplements

There is no specific diet that has been found to help with osteoarthritis. Some research suggests that anti-inflammatory foods may help. It is also important to note that some medications interact with certain foods and drink. Some people take supplements for arthritis, such as glucosamine. According to research studies, there is no strong evidence that this helps the patient.

For more information, please go to the Arthritis UK Diet and nutritional supplements web page.

Some foods and supplements interact with medical conditions or medications. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your GP or pharmacist.

Pain relief medications

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but some people find that medications can help ease symptoms.

Research shows that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work for some people. These come in oral (tablet) or topical (cream, gel or patch) form. They are available over-the-counter at any pharmacist.

There is also some evidence that paracetamol can help ease pain. Strong opioids are not usually recommended for treating osteoarthritis, as the risks can outweigh the benefits.

It is important you speak to your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions about medications. You must check whether the medication would interact with any other conditions or medications you have.

For more information, please go to the Arthritis UK Osteoarthritis web page.

Exercises

It is important to keep moving and using your hand as much as you can. Exercises can help with this. Please read the following leaflets for simple finger and thumb exercises. If you would benefit from specific strengthening exercises your therapist will discuss this with you.

• Finger mobility exercises

• Active exercises for your thumb

Splints and kinesiology taping

• Splints are a type of support designed to:

  • help with pain

  • promote better positioning or stability of certain joints

  • improve hand function 

  We design some splints to rest in, while others are worn when carrying out activities. 

  There are a wide range of splints available. There are many “off the shelf” versions available in shops or online. Alternatively, your hand therapist can make custom-made thermoplastic or neoprene splints where appropriate.

  • Thermoplastic splints are made of a lightweight but firm plastic, secured with Velcro straps. They provide stable support for specific joints.

  • Neoprene splints are made from a more flexible fabric. They provide warmth, comfort, and support while not restricting as much movement.

  Not everyone will need to wear a splint. Your hand therapist will assess you and provide the most appropriate splint(s) for your needs. Some people benefit from a combination of splints, so they can carry out different activities.

  If you already have one of the following, please bring it to your next hand therapy session. It will be helpful to review it with your therapist.

  • A splint you have bought yourself

  • A splint provided by a previous therapist

• Kinesiology tape is also known as K tape or sports tape. It is an adhesive tape with elasticity. It can be worn on the skin to support joints and promote good positioning and muscle control. This can be a good option for some people who do not need as much support as a splint. Your therapist can provide more information if this is a suitable option for you.

What are my treatment options if my symptoms remain unmanageable?

• Injections

  A local steroid injection can be given into your arthritic joint. Whether you have this will depend on how bad your osteoarthritis is. Steroid injections can often give good pain relief. However, this may only be temporary, lasting from a few months to a year or two. Sometimes we can repeat steroid injections.

• Surgery

  If your osteoarthritis is very painful and other treatments are no longer helping, surgery may be an option. The aim of surgery is to reduce pain and increase what you can do with your hand without pain.

What if I have any questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment or condition, please speak to your consultant or hand therapist.

Further information

• Arthritis UK. Diet and nutritional supplements.

• Arthritis UK. Osteoarthritis.

• East Kent Hospitals. Actives exercises for your thumb patient leaflet.

• East Kent Hospitals. Ice treatment patient leaflet.

• East Kent Hospitals. Osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb patient leaflet.

• East Kent Hospitals. Tendon glide exercises patient leaflet.

[Web sites last accessed 21 July 2026]

Ask 3 Questions

There may be choices to make about your healthcare. Before making any decisions, make sure you get the answers to these three questions:

• What are my choices?

• What is good and bad about each choice?

• How do I get support to help me make a decision that is right for me?

Your healthcare team needs you to tell them what is important to you. It’s all about shared decision making.

Useful resources

• Information about osteoarthritis and management strategies

  • Arthritis UK

  • NHS. Osteoarthritis.

• Pain management

  • The Pain Toolkit

  • The British Pain Society. Pain Management Programmes Directory.

• Stress management

  • NHS. 10 stress busters.

  • NHS: Breathing exercises for stress.

• Improving sleep quality

  • Pain Concern. Getting a good night's sleep.

• Weight loss advice

  • NHS: Better Health. Lose weight.

  • Kent County Council. Healthy weight.

• Apply for a needs assessment by social services if you might need care and support at home, including housing adaptations

[Web sites last accessed 21 July 2026] 

References

• NICE guidelines. Osteoarthritis on over 16’s: diagnosis and management. NG226. Published October 2022.

• British Society for Surgery of the Hand Evidence for Surgical Treatment (BEST). Evidence based management of thumb base osteoarthritis. December 2023.

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