The Best Hand Pain Relief Home Remedies
There are many reasons why you could be experiencing hand pain, including a hand injury, nerve damage, tendinitis, and inflammation. But one of the leading causes of hand pain is none other than arthritis. Arthritis, by definition, is when one or more joints are inflamed. Those who suffer from osteoarthritis are accustomed to arthritis pain in their hands, as well as the knees and hips. Wrist pain and pain in the base of the thumb are also major parts of hand pain.
Why do people with arthritis experience hand pain to begin? This disease breaks down cartilage, which protects the ends of the bones. Without cartilage acting as a barrier between the bones and joints, the bones rub together and cause joint pain. Joints allow movement in the knees, arms, and hips. They are the reason the human body can glide, pivot, and hinge. When there is nothing to protect the bones from friction, hand pain occurs.
If you’re looking for hand pain relief home remedies, you’ve come to the right place. Up ahead, learn about how to relieve hand pain at home with mostly natural remedies.
1: Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves
We offer a few different gloves geared toward hand pain. Copper Compression gloves increase blood flow and decrease inflammation. You can wear them overnight and wake up with refreshed hands. When your blood circulation increases, so do your range of motion, stiffness, and strength to heal. With our copper-infused material, you won’t have to worry about bacteria, infections, or foul odor from your hand gloves.
Shop Arthritis Gloves Half Finger here.
Shop Long Arthritis Gloves here.
Shop Full Finger Arthritis Gloves here.
2: Over-the-Counter Medications
OTC pain relievers/pain medications including ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), Aspirin, Naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are commonly used to relieve aches and pains.
Advil, Motrin, and Aleve are considered to be the only two over-the-counter NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). There are also more than a dozen NSAIDS with anti-inflammatory properties that need to be prescribed by a doctor.
As its name suggests, NSAIDS can help lower inflammation. According to Dr. Kellie K. Middleton, MD/MPH, an Atlanta-based Orthopaedic Surgeon, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce hand pain.
3: Cold and Hot Therapy
Cold packs/ice packs can help reduce swelling and hot packs can help relax stiff joints. “Applying ice and using heating pads helps, too. Additionally, soaking the painful area in warm water with Epsom salt can help reduce inflammation and improve circulation.” Dr. Middleton says.
Copper Compression gloves warm up muscles and joints, which allows more blood flow to the affected area. It can also help decrease stiffness and increase flexibility in your hands.
You don’t need to go to a physical therapist to apply an ice pack or heating pad in between exercises. You can do this from the comfort of your own home when you’re experiencing a flare-up.
Is it better to use heat or cold for arthritis?
Heat helps relieve stiffness and improve mobility while cold helps reduce swelling and numb painful joints. Both heat therapy and cold therapy are helpful to reduce arthritis pain. Switch between both hot and cold packs.
4: Hand Exercises
Whether you have arthritis, tendinitis, or a hand injury, any type of hand pain could benefit from hand exercises to strengthen your hands. Here are a few hand exercises you could do at home:
- Touch each finger to your thumb
- Hold a dumbell and move your wrist up and down
- Hold a dumbell and twist your wrist from side to side
- Close your hand and open it with outstretched fingers
“Exercising the hands can also help reduce stiffness in the joints. Stretching exercises may be beneficial if carpal tunnel syndrome is causing your hand pain,” Dr. Middleton says.
5: Over-the-Counter Topical Creams
Over-the-counter topical creams containing menthol or capsaicin are pain relievers that have been proven to help people with hand pain.
These topical medications include capsaicin and menthol to help relieve minor aches and joint pain. You can buy it over the counter in a gel, patch, or cream. The main chemical in these types of medications actually comes from chili peppers, believe it or not! That’s why you may notice a burning sensation once you’ve applied it.
Examples of brand name capsaicin creams:
- Salonpas Pain Relieving Gel-Patch Hot
- Capzasin Quick Relief Gel
- InstaSoothe Pain Relief Cream
6: Curcumin Supplements
Curcumin, a natural substance found in turmeric has been proven to help relieve arthritis pain. Tumeric contains anti-inflammatory properties which can help relieve pain.
According to Harvard Health, in a study published in the Biomedcentral journal, researchers found that turmeric relieves osteoarthritis knee pain symptoms. Over the course of one month, participants were advised under a treatment plan to take NSAID diclofenac twice daily or curcumin three times a day.
The result? 94% of those taking curcumin and 97% of those taking diclofenac reported at least 50% improvement in their knee pain. People reported fewer side effects with curcumin compared to NSAIDS where people reported stomach pain. Even with these results, Harvard Health’s Robert H. Shmerling, MD explains that there still needs to be more research done and more variables to consider in long-term studies.
7: Hand Massage
Getting a massage or giving yourself a hand massage at home can help loosen stiff joints and temporarily relieve pain. Massages can also help increase hand strength, increase blood flow, and reduce hand pain. Hand massages can help the muscle tissue around your blood vessels relax and increase blood circulation, which is ideal for arthritis inflammation and joint pain.
From Copper Compression hand gloves and at-home hand massages to curcumin supplements and hand exercises, there are many treatment options to relieve hand pain even though there is no cure for arthritis. You’ll also want to seek medical advice about prescribed medication, cortisone shots, and possible surgery. Living a healthy lifestyle can also prevent flare-ups or OA from occurring.
