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Hand pain

Choose which area of your hand hurts most to find out about treatments, when to get medical help and possible causes.

If these symptoms are severe, persistent or worsening, seek medical advice promptly.

This page provides general information and does not replace a doctor’s consultation. If symptoms are severe, persistent or worsening, seek medical advice promptly.

Choose which area of your hand hurts most to find out about treatments, when to get medical help and possible causes.

Wrist pain

There are many causes of wrist pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease wrist pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your wrist, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

  • rest your wrist when you can

  • put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your wrist for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

  • keep your hands and wrists moving with gentle exercises to help ease pain and stiffness

  • use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)

  • take off any jewellery if your hand looks swollen

  • stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument

  • wear a splint to support your wrist and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets

  • think about using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier – for example, to open jars or chop vegetables

  • think about getting a soft pad to support your wrist when typing

Don’t

  • do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury

  • do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

A pharmacist can help with wrist pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • the best splint to support your wrist and ease pain – flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your wrist
  • if you need to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • pain in your wrist is stopping you doing normal activities
  • the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
  • the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
  • you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand or wrist
  • you have diabetes – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
  • you have wrist pain and also feel unwell with a high temperature
  • your wrist is painful, warm, swollen and stiff

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if you:

  • have severe wrist pain
  • feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
  • heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
  • are not able to move your wrist or hold things
  • have a wrist that's changed shape or colour
  • have lost the feeling in part or all of your hand

These might be signs of a broken wrist.

What we mean by severe pain Severe pain:

  • always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
  • you cannot sleep
  • it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

  • always there
  • makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

  • comes and goes
  • is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Self-refer for treatment

If you have wrist pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

  • ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
  • check your GP surgery's website
  • contact your integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB

Common causes of wrist pain

Wrist pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your wrist.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your wrist.

Symptoms Possible cause
Pain, swelling and bruising, difficult to move wrist or grip anything Sprained wrist
Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of the thumb (near the wrist) that lasts a long time, may be hard to move fingers and thumb, may have a lump Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis
Aching pain that's worse at night, tingling, numbness or pins and needles in the fingers, hand or arm, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping Carpal tunnel syndrome
Smooth lump on top of the wrist, may be painful Ganglion cyst
Sudden, sharp wrist pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury Broken wrist

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

Finger pain

There are many causes of finger pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease finger pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your finger, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

  • rest your finger when you can

  • put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your finger for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

  • use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)

  • stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument

  • remove any jewellery on the painful finger

  • strap the painful finger to another finger next to it – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between the 2 fingers and use tape to loosely strap them together

  • think about using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier – for example, to open jars or chop vegetables

Don’t

  • do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury

  • do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

  • do not stop using your finger completely – after a few days, do gentle hands and finger exercises to help ease any stiffness

A pharmacist can help with finger pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • splints to support your finger and ease pain – flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your finger
  • if you need to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • pain in your finger is stopping you doing normal activities
  • the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
  • the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
  • you've noticed a tingling in your hand or your hand is starting to feel numb
  • you have diabetes – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if you:

  • have severe pain
  • feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
  • heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
  • are not able to move your finger or hold things
  • have a finger that's changed shape or colour
  • have lost the feeling of part or all of your hand after an injury

These might be signs of a broken finger.

What we mean by severe pain Severe pain:

  • always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
  • you cannot sleep
  • it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

  • always there
  • makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

  • comes and goes
  • is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Self-refer for treatment

If you have finger pain you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

  • ask the receptionist staff at your GP surgery
  • check your GP surgery's website
  • contact your local integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB

Common causes of finger pain

Finger pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your finger.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your finger.

Symptoms Possible cause
Pain, swelling and bruising, difficult to move finger or grip anything Sprained finger
Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of your finger that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your finger, may have a lump Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis
Pain, swelling, cannot straighten the end of your finger, often happens after catching your finger on something Mallet finger
Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your finger, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger Trigger finger
Ache, numbness, tingling or weakness in your fingers or hands Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury Broken finger

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

Thumb pain

There are many causes of thumb pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease thumb pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your thumb, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

  • rest your thumb when you can

  • put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your thumb for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

  • use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed) – ibuprofen is not suitable for everyone, such as older people who have a higher chance of getting stomach ulcers and kidney problems

  • take off any jewellery if your thumb looks swollen

  • stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument

  • wear a splint to support your thumb and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets

  • consider taping something like a lollipop stick to your thumb – this will keep it in place until you can get a splint

  • consider using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier – for example, to open jars or chop vegetables

  • keep your thumb moving with gentle exercises

Don’t

  • do not use heat packs or have hot baths for a few days after an injury or if your thumb is swollen – this can make it worse

  • do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

A pharmacist can help with thumb pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • the best splint to support your thumb and ease pain – flexible rubber splints are available if you still need to use your thumb
  • if you need to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • the pain in your thumb is stopping you doing normal activities
  • the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
  • the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
  • you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
  • you have diabetes – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if you:

  • have severe pain
  • feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
  • heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
  • are not able to move your thumb or hold things
  • have a thumb that's changed shape or colour
  • have lost the feeling in part or all of your hand

These might be signs of a broken thumb.

What we mean by severe pain Severe pain:

  • always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
  • you cannot sleep
  • it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

  • always there
  • makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

  • comes and goes
  • is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Common causes of thumb pain

Thumb pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your thumb.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your thumb.

Common causes of thumb pain and related symptoms.
Symptoms Possible cause

Pain, swelling, bruising after an injury

Sprained thumb

Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of the thumb that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your thumb, may have a lump

Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis

Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your thumb, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger or thumb

Trigger finger

Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury

Broken thumb

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

Pain in the palm of the hand

There are many causes of pain in the palm of your hand. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease palm pain yourself

If you see a GP about pain in your palm, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

  • rest your hand when you can

  • put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your palm for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

  • use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed

  • remove any jewellery if your hand is swollen

  • stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, writing, typing, DIY or housework

  • wrap a bandage around your hand to support it

  • wear a splint to support your palm and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets

  • keep your hands and wrists moving with gentle exercises to help ease pain and stiffness

Don’t

  • do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury

  • do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly

A pharmacist can help with hand pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • the best splint to support your hand and ease pain
  • if you need to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • pain in the palm of your hand is stopping you doing normal activities
  • the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
  • the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
  • you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
  • you have diabetes – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
  • you have a painful palm and also feel unwell with a high temperature
  • your palm is painful, warm, swollen and stiff

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if:

  • you have severe pain in your hand
  • you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
  • you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
  • you're not able to move your thumb or hold things
  • your finger or thumb has changed shape or colour
  • you've lost the feeling of part or all of your hand

These might be signs of a broken hand.

What we mean by severe pain Severe pain:

  • always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
  • you cannot sleep
  • it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

  • always there
  • makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

  • comes and goes
  • is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Common causes of pain in the palm of your hand

Pain in the palm of your hand is often caused by bruising or injuring your hand.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your palm.

Symptoms Possible cause
Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your fingers or thumb, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger or thumb Trigger finger
Pain, swelling and stiffness that lasts a long time, may be hard to move fingers, may have a lump Arthritis
Sharp or burning pain, tingling or numbness, palm feels more or less sensitive to touch or heat Peripheral neuropathy
Heat, pain and redness in the palms Erythromelalgia

If you're not sure what's causing pain in the palm of your hand

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

Self-refer for treatment

If you have pain in the palm of your hand, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

  • ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
  • check your GP surgery's website
  • contact your integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB

Pain in the back of the hand

There are many causes of pain in the back of your hand. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How you can ease pain in the back of your hand yourself

If you see a GP about pain in the back of your hand, they'll usually suggest you try these things:

Do

  • rest your hand when you can

  • put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel and place it on the back of your hand for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

  • use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)

  • take off any jewellery if your hand is swollen

  • wrap a bandage around your hand to support it

  • wear a splint to support your hand and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets

  • gently exercise your hand and fingers to help ease pain and stiffness

Don’t

  • do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury

A pharmacist can help with hand pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • treatments for common skin problems
  • if you need to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • pain in the back of your hand is stopping you doing normal activities
  • the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
  • the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
  • you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
  • you have diabetes and hand pain – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if you:

  • have severe hand pain
  • feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
  • heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
  • are not able to move your hand or hold things
  • have lost the feeling in part or all of your hand
  • have a hand that's changed shape or colour

These might be signs of a broken hand.

What we mean by severe pain Severe pain:

  • always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
  • you cannot sleep
  • it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

  • always there
  • makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

  • comes and goes
  • is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Common causes of pain in the back of your hand

Pain in the back of your hand is often caused by bruising or injuring your hand.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in the back of your hand.

Symptoms Possible cause
Pain, swelling and stiffness that lasts a long time, may be hard to move your fingers, may have a lump Tendonitis or arthritis
Sudden, sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury Broken bone in the hand
Smooth lump near a joint or tendon, may be painful Ganglion cyst
Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping Carpal tunnel syndrome
Itchy and painful skin, rash Scabies

If you're not sure what's causing pain in the back of your hand

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

Self-refer for treatment

If you have pain in the back of your hand, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

  • ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
  • check your GP surgery's website
  • contact your integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB
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