Osteoarthritis of the hand
When sore or stiff finger joints make simple movements difficult, osteoarthritis may be playing a part.
Care for the joint that hurts
A closer look at your hand
Your osteoarthritis care starts with finding the source of your symptoms.
Options beyond surgery
Relief can start simply
Support, hand therapy or medication may be enough to make your hand more comfortable.
Decisions made with you
Know what each option means
We’ll explain what treatment could improve and what it may mean for movement afterwards.
What is osteoarthritis of the hand?
Each joint in your hand has a smooth, protective tissue called cartilage covering the ends of the bones. This helps the joint move without the bones rubbing directly against each other. With osteoarthritis, the joint gradually changes. The cartilage may become thinner, and the bone underneath can change too, which can leave the joint feeling sore or stiff. It can affect the joints in your fingers as well as the joint at the base of your thumb, and your wrist.
What causes osteoarthritis of the hand?
There isn’t always one clear reason why osteoarthritis develops.
It becomes more common with age and can also develop after an earlier injury has damaged a joint. A previous broken bone (fracture) that affected the joint, for example, can increase the chance of osteoarthritis developing later.
The condition can progress slowly, and the amount of change seen in a joint doesn’t always match how much discomfort someone feels.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hand?
You may first notice that a particular movement has become uncomfortable, such as gripping something firmly or twisting a lid.
Other symptoms can include:
- Aching or pain in one or more joints
- Stiffness after rest or first thing in the morning
- Swelling around an affected joint
- Reduced movement in a finger or thumb
- A grinding or clicking sensation
- Changes in the joint’s shape or small lumps around it
Symptoms can come and go. Some days your hand may feel relatively settled, while repeated use can make it more uncomfortable at other times.
How is osteoarthritis of the hand diagnosed?
Your appointment starts with a conversation about where you feel pain and which movements are becoming difficult. Your specialist will then examine your hand, checking how the affected joints move and where they’re tender.
An X-ray may be recommended to look for changes within the joint. Other tests are usually needed only if your symptoms suggest something else could be contributing to the problem.
How is osteoarthritis of the hand treated?
The aim of treatment is to make your hand more comfortable and help you keep using it as well as possible.
What works best depends on the joint involved and how much your symptoms are getting in the way. You may not need surgery, particularly if your symptoms can be controlled with simpler measures.
Treatment routes for osteoarthritis of the hand
There’s more than one way to manage hand osteoarthritis. Your specialist will recommend an approach based on the joint involved and what you need from your hand.
Treatment often starts by reducing strain on the painful joint while keeping your hand moving. A hand therapist can show you ways to protect the joint during certain tasks and may recommend exercises to maintain movement. A splint can hold and support the joint when it needs extra help.
Pain-relieving gels or tablets may help ease soreness and swelling and can be suitable for some people.
If your pain continues, your specialist may suggest a steroid injection. This involves injecting medication directly into the painful joint to reduce swelling and temporarily ease pain.
Ways to manage hand osteoarthritis
Keep your hand moving
Moving your hand gently and often can help you maintain flexibility and strength. A hand therapist can teach you exercises that target the affected joints and help you avoid putting extra strain on them.
Make tasks easier on your joints
You may find it helps to change how you do movements that involve a lot of gripping or twisting. Taking breaks or using tools that are easier to hold can reduce pressure on painful joints.
Give painful joints extra support
A splint can help protect certain joints during activities that tend to bring on pain. It won’t be right for everyone, so your specialist or hand therapist can advise if one is likely to help and when to wear it.
Adjust when symptoms flare up
Osteoarthritis symptoms can be more noticeable at some times than others. If your hand becomes particularly sore, doing fewer of the activities that make it hurt for a short time can help, while still keeping your hand gently moving.
Working with Hand and Wrist professionals and teams
Our hand and wrist specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their hands and wrists. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Hand and Wrist treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
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