Orthopaedics
Hand and Wrist Arthritis
Inflammation of the joints in your hands and wrists can make everyday tasks a challenge. We offer treatments that can help.
Medically reviewed by Amelia Sorensen, M.D. on July 09, 2026.
Hand Specialists Who Provide Personalized Care
At UC Davis Health, our Combined Hand Service offers advanced care for all types of hand and wrist arthritis. The compassionate experts in our Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Division of Plastic Surgery will give you a diagnosis and treatment plan personalized just for you.
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Types of Hand and Wrist Arthritis
Hand and wrist arthritis is inflammation that affects the joints in your hands or wrists. Healthy joints move easily because smooth tissue (cartilage) covers their surfaces. Arthritis wears out this cartilage, causing your bones to rub together. This can lead to pain, stiffness and swelling.
There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis. Some common types of hand and wrist arthritis are:
- Osteoarthritis (OA): This type of wear-and-tear arthritis occurs as you get older.
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis: This arthritis happens due to trauma, such as a broken bone.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This arthritis type develops when your autoimmune system attacks your joints, damaging your cartilage over time.
Hand and Wrist Arthritis Symptoms
The symptoms you have depend on the type of arthritis and where it is.
Common Symptoms
Hand and wrist arthritis symptoms can be long-lasting and permanently damage your joints. Symptoms can include:
- Changes in surrounding joints, such as easier or more difficult movement
- Feeling of warmth in your joint
- Grinding or clicking noise in your joint
- Pain in the joint
- Stiffness or weakness of your joint
- Swelling of your joint
Hand and Wrist Arthritis Causes
Causes are different depending on the type of arthritis you have. Common causes include:
Age
Using your hands and wrists over a lifetime naturally wears down your cartilage. This can lead to osteoarthritis.
Immune System
Your immune system mistakenly attacking your joints causes rheumatoid arthritis.
Trauma
Injuries that damage the joints in your hands or wrists can lead to post-traumatic arthritis.
Risk Factors for Hand and Wrist Arthritis
The following factors increase your risk of hand and wrist arthritis:
Aging
Aging increases your risk of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Biological Sex
More women than men have rheumatoid arthritis.
Family History
Having a family member who has osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis means you are more likely to develop these conditions.
High BMI
You are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis if you have a high body-mass index (BMI).
History of Injuries
Having a history of joint injuries, such as broken fingers or a broken wrist, increases your chances of developing post-traumatic arthritis later in life.
Smoking
People who have smoked for long periods are at higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Underlying Health Conditions
Having gum disease or a lung disease can increase your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Hand and Wrist Arthritis Diagnosis and Testing
We will first talk to you about your symptoms and whether they worsen with activity or at a certain time of day. Then we diagnose hand and wrist arthritis with the following tests:
Physical Exam
We examine your hand or wrist and check for pain, stiffness, swelling and warmth.
X-Rays
An X-ray shows images of your bones and can let us see the location and severity of arthritis. X-rays can also help us diagnose the type of arthritis.
Blood Tests
We may recommend blood tests to help find the type of arthritis. Blood tests are especially important to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
Hand and Wrist Arthritis Treatments
Treatment for hand and wrist arthritis depends on the type of arthritis, the severity of your symptoms, your age, your activity level and other medical conditions you may have. Treatments may include:
Exercises
Certain exercises can help to improve your flexibility and range of motion.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Alternating heat and cold on your joint can help to reduce inflammation.
Immobilization
A splint can support and stabilize your hand or wrist and help to reduce pain.
Injections
Steroid injections can reduce inflammation in your joints.
Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and swelling in your joints.
Modifying Your Activities
Cutting back on or changing activities that worsen your joint pain can help reduce your symptoms.
Surgery
We may recommend surgery if you don’t get relief from nonsurgical treatments. During surgery, we can fuse two bones together (joint fusion) or replace some or all of your joint with an artificial joint (joint replacement).
Hand and Wrist Arthritis Prevention
You cannot always prevent hand and wrist arthritis. But taking certain actions may lower your risk.
Avoid Smoking
Not smoking can help lessen your risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keeping a healthy weight can reduce your chances of developing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Wear Protective Gear
Using protective gear on your hands and wrists when playing sports or doing other activities can help to prevent trauma associated with post-traumatic arthritis.
About
1 in 7People in the U.S. have wrist arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist affects
2.5MPeople in the U.S.
Source: StatPearls: Wrist Arthritis
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