Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is another common cause of hand pain. There are many different types of arthritis, but the most common form affecting the hand is osteoarthritis. This degenerative disease occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears down. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints.
In some cases, osteoarthritis is triggered by trauma in the hands. In others, it is a consequence of wear and tear of the hand structures or an overuse injury. Patients experience a reduction of strength in their hands, and deformity is most common in females after menopause.
Herbedens’ nodes can be used to diagnose the disease. They are classical signs of osteoarthritis of the hands and look like painful growths in the distal interphalangeal joints. The joint capsule is weakened, and patients develop nail changes and other deformities. This disease can be very disabling and becomes worse as time passes.