10 Common Causes of Hand Pain

Hand pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out a hand specialist — and one of the most varied. The same symptom (aching, throbbing, tingling, stiffness) can point to ten different conditions with ten different treatment paths. The good news: most causes of hand pain are highly treatable, especially when you catch them early.

Here are ten of the most common causes of hand pain, what each one feels like, and when it’s time to stop pushing through and get checked out.

1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve gets compressed at the wrist. It’s one of the most common causes of hand pain in adults, especially those who work at computers, do repetitive manual labor, or sleep with their wrists curled.

What it feels like: Numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger. Symptoms are often worse at night and may wake you up.

When to seek care: Symptoms lasting more than two to three weeks, especially nighttime numbness, warrant evaluation. Early conservative treatment — splinting, activity modification, nerve gliding exercises — often resolves the condition without surgery.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis in the hand is extremely common, particularly osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb (basal joint arthritis) and at the finger joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the hands and tends to involve multiple joints symmetrically.

What it feels like: Aching, stiffness, and reduced grip strength. Pain often worsens with use and improves with rest. Many people notice morning stiffness or pain in cold, damp weather.

When to seek care: Persistent joint pain, visible swelling, or difficulty with grip strength. Hand therapy can significantly reduce arthritis pain and preserve function through joint protection strategies, custom splinting, and targeted exercise.

3. Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon, typically caused by overuse. In the hand and wrist, common forms include De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (at the base of the thumb) and lateral or medial epicondylitis (tennis and golfer’s elbow).

What it feels like: Localized pain, often described as sharp or burning, that worsens with use of the affected tendon. There may be visible swelling or tenderness when you press on the area.

When to seek care: Pain that persists more than two weeks despite rest, or pain that interferes with daily activities. Hand therapy is often highly effective for tendonitis when started early.

4. Trigger Finger

Trigger finger occurs when a tendon in the finger or thumb gets caught and can’t glide smoothly through its sheath. The finger may catch, lock in a bent position, or release with a sudden “pop.”

What it feels like: A clicking or catching sensation, often most noticeable in the morning. The finger may lock and require force from the other hand to straighten.

When to seek care: Any locking or catching. Trigger finger responds well to early treatment with custom splinting and targeted exercises, but can become resistant if left untreated.

5. Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) develop from doing the same motion over and over — typing, using a mouse, scanning items at a register, manual assembly work. Over time, small inflammations and microtraumas accumulate and become symptomatic.

What it feels like: Aching, fatigue, and stiffness that worsens through the workday and improves with rest. Symptoms often start mild and intermittent before becoming constant.

When to seek care: When pain starts affecting your work, persists after weekends or time off, or progresses to numbness or tingling. Earlier treatment is much more effective.

6. Fractures and Sprains

Falls, sports injuries, car accidents, and workplace injuries account for a huge portion of hand pain. Fractures of the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm are common, as are ligament sprains and dislocations.

What it feels like: Acute pain after an injury, often with swelling, bruising, and visible deformity. Some fractures, especially in the wrist (scaphoid fracture) or finger, can be subtle and easily missed.

When to seek care: Immediately after any significant injury. If pain persists more than a few days after a fall or impact, get imaging — undiagnosed fractures can lead to long-term problems.

7. Nerve Compression at the Elbow (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)

Less famous than carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel syndrome involves compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. It’s especially common in people who sleep with bent elbows, lean on their elbows at a desk, or have a history of elbow trauma.

What it feels like: Tingling and numbness in the ring and pinky fingers, sometimes with weakness in the hand or difficulty gripping.

When to seek care: Persistent numbness in the ring and pinky fingers. Like carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel responds well to conservative treatment when caught early — and can lead to permanent nerve damage if ignored.

8. Ganglion Cysts

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled lump that forms near a joint, usually on the back of the wrist. They’re benign but can cause pain if they press on nearby nerves or tendons.

What it feels like: A visible bump, sometimes painful with movement or pressure, often changing in size over time.

When to seek care: If the cyst is painful, growing, or limiting wrist motion. Some cysts resolve on their own; others benefit from splinting, aspiration, or surgical removal.

9. Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s is a thickening of the tissue under the skin of the palm that can gradually cause the fingers (most often the ring and pinky) to curl toward the palm.

What it feels like: A firm nodule or cord in the palm, often painless at first but progressively limiting finger extension.

When to seek care: When you notice the cord developing, or when fingers begin to lose extension. Hand therapy can help maintain function and quality of life, especially after surgical or needle treatment.

10. Post-Surgical or Post-Injury Stiffness

Sometimes the original injury heals, but stiffness, weakness, or pain remain. Patients recovering from fractures, tendon repairs, joint replacements, or other procedures often need skilled hand therapy to fully recover function.

What it feels like: Limited motion, reduced strength, or persistent pain weeks or months after surgery or injury.

When to seek care: As soon as you notice plateaued progress. Stiffness is far easier to address early than late.

What If You’re Not Sure What’s Causing Your Hand Pain?

You don’t need a diagnosis to schedule a hand therapy evaluation. In fact, that’s often the point of the visit — to figure out what’s going on. A certified hand therapist can identify the underlying cause through a thorough clinical evaluation and recommend the most effective next steps.