What Causes Pain in the Hand Joints?

Typically, trauma or external force can cause bone or soft tissue injury, resulting in finger joint pain and restricted mobility. An X-ray examination is required to determine whether a fracture has occurred and to guide appropriate management. Overuse, strain, or cold-damp invasion are the most common causes of finger joint pain.

Individuals who perform prolonged manual work involving the fingers are particularly prone to developing tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the tendon sheath caused by repetitive friction of the tendons, leading to pain.

Osteophyte formation (bone spur) commonly occurs at the distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers, though it may also affect the proximal interphalangeal joints. Primary symptoms include finger joint pain, swelling, and palpable bony spurs within the joint. It predominantly affects individuals over 40 years of age. Initially, osteophytes may appear in one or several fingers and subsequently progress to involve additional fingers. Morning stiffness in the finger joints is common upon waking, but typically lasts less than 20 minutes.

Osteoarthritis results from cumulative mechanical stress and degenerative changes in joint tissues; it is a common joint disorder frequently affecting the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands. It commonly occurs in middle-aged and older adults who are overweight or obese. Key symptoms include joint pain and stiffness; in severe cases, joint swelling and muscle atrophy may develop.