Hand OA

Hand osteoarthritis is the wear-related breakdown of cartilage in the finger and thumb joints, producing pain, stiffness, bony enlargement and reduced grip.

It most often involves the joints nearest the fingertips, the middle finger joints and the base of the thumb, and it is more common in women after menopause and in people with a family history. Firm bony knobs called Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes may form, and the thumb base can become painful with pinching, writing or opening jars. Morning stiffness is typically brief, which helps distinguish it from rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis is based on examination and, when needed, X-rays that show joint space narrowing and bone spurs; blood tests are used mainly to exclude inflammatory arthritis. Established care includes hand exercises, splints, heat, topical or oral anti-inflammatory medication and occasionally surgery. A randomized trial of cannabidiol for hand osteoarthritis pain did not demonstrate benefit over placebo.