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Why Do My Hands Hurt? 7 Signs Your Joint Pain Is Arthritis

July 09, 2025

Gardening, joyscrolling, gripping your precious morning coffee — these small pleasures shouldn’t come with joint pain. But when your hands or wrists ache, it’s hard to focus on anything else.

“Hand joint pain is one of the most common reasons people come to see us,” says Erin Cravez, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist at Hartford HealthCare’s Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute. “In most cases, it’s either inflammatory, like arthritis, or mechanical, like overuse or trauma.”

How can you tell the difference?

2 signs your hand pain may be from an injury or overuse.

First things first: Let’s rule out injury — and remember, that can mean anything from a sudden pickleball mishap to slow, repetitive strain from your keyboard.

Look for clues in how and when your pain started.

You’re more likely dealing with an injury if it:

1. Affects an area you use repeatedly, like your hands after a long weekend of yard work or typing. “The intricate tendons around the wrist are commonly affected by overuse, like repetitive manual tasks,” says Dr. Cravez.
2. Came on suddenly, for example, after a fall or jammed finger. You could be dealing with a strain — or even a fracture.

“If you think it could be a fracture or significant sprain, don’t wait to get it checked out,” says Dr. Cravez. “Finger fractures heal quickly, so it’s important to make sure they heal correctly.”

> Related: 6 Signs Your Hand Pain Is Arthritis 

5 signs your hand pain may be from arthritis.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and most can cause joint pain. Your hands, which contain dozens of joints apiece, are an easy target.

“The hand is one of the earliest and most common body parts to be affected by arthritis,” says Dr. Cravez.

Here are a few patterns to look for.

1. Your hands feel stiff or achy, versus sharp or sudden pain.
2. The pain is worse in the morning. Arthritis tends to flare after inactivity.
3. Cold weather makes it worse — and heat makes it better. Cold weather makes it worse — and heat tends to help. That’s because temperature affects the lubricating fluid in your joints, along with swelling and stiffness.
4. You’re over 50. Osteoarthritis, the classic “wear and tear” type of arthritis, develops with age.
5. You have a family history. Certain forms of arthritis run in families.

Bonus: These arthritis signs don’t just apply to your hands — they’re also common in other joints, like your knees, ankles and shoulders.

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When to see a specialist

Whether it’s arthritis or an injury, don’t ignore hand joint pain that:

• Interferes with daily tasks
• Keeps you from hobbies or sports you enjoy
• Persists despite using over-the-counter pain relief

An orthopedic hand specialist can help with everything from braces and exercises to medications, injections, and — when necessary — surgery.

“Most types of arthritis can be treated very successfully,” says Dr. Cravez. “There are many options that can reduce your pain and significantly improve your quality of life.”