What’s the Difference Between Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel?

Ouch, hand pain! Is your pain caused by arthritis? Or is carpal tunnel syndrome the culprit? Both cause hand pain, but how do you know which one is causing your pain?

Keep reading to learn more!

All About Arthritis
Get the Facts on Carpal Tunnel
The Difference Between Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel
How to Treat Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel

All About Arthritis

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that affects your joints, muscles, and/or bones. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in a variety of body parts, including your wrist and fingers. There are over 100 forms of arthritis and the condition affects over 50 million adults and 300,000 kids.¹

What causes arthritis?

While there are a variety of forms of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis.² This type of arthritis is caused by a breakdown in the cartilage that cushions your bones, where they meet to form joints. This causes the bones to rub against each other painfully.

What factors increase your risk of developing arthritis?

Excess weight, older age, family history, or a previous injury can all increase your chances of developing osteoarthritis. Women are more likely to develop the condition than men, and non-hispanic whites are more likely to develop the condition than African Americans.³

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Loss of movement in the joint
• Swelling
• The possible formation of bony knots

They can be mild, moderate or severe.

Mild

• You may feel pain or irritation in your wrist while turning a door handle, gripping a golf club, or twisting the lid off a jar. Your wrist may feel stiff in the morning, then with rest it may feel better by midday and then painful again by nighttime.

Moderate

• You may feel a low level of throbbing at all times. Movement may be slightly restricted and daily tasks may also become tricky. Your wrist may swell and be tender to the touch due to the inflammation and loss of joint space.

Severe

• You may experience pain during any activity and even at rest. Decreased motion and physical deformities may be more noticeable as your tissues wear down.

How is arthritis diagnosed?

Arthritis is commonly diagnosed by your primary medical physician. They will ask you questions, perform a physical exam, and schedule any other blood or imaging tests. A rheumatologist may be involved in more complicated cases. Sometimes an orthopedic surgeon will join your team if you need to have the joint replaced (for example, a knee replacement surgery for arthritis in your knee).

Get the Facts on Carpal Tunnel

What is carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the arms, wrists, and hands. It can cause pain, weakness, or numbness. It affects 4-10 million Americans and is the most commonly experienced nerve disorder.⁵

What causes carpal tunnel?

This condition occurs when the median nerve that runs from the forearm to the palm of the hand is squeezed or pinched at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway formed by bones and a ligament, through which the median nerve and several tendons run. When the nerve gets pressed or squeezed in the carpal tunnel, it causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

What factors increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel?

Risk factors that increase your chances of developing carpal tunnel include, jobs with repetitive finger use, heredity, pregnancy, past injury, arthritis, older age, diabetes, and other conditions. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is more common in women than men.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel?

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Hand pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• All three of the above symptoms may radiate up your wrist and forearm
• Weakness
• Loss of grip strength

How is carpal tunnel diagnosed?

A doctor will ask you questions, conduct a physical exam, and order lab tests and x-rays as needed. The physical tests will probably include Tinel’s Sign, Phalen’s Manuever, and a Two Point Discrimination Test.⁸

Tinel’s Sign

• The doctor will press or tap the medial nerve in your wrist using a reflex hammer. If you feel tingling or an “electric shock” type sensation, you may have carpal tunnel.

Phalen’s Maneuver

• The doctor will ask you to press the backs of your hands together with your fingers pointed down and your wrists flexed. You will keep that position for one to two minutes. If your fingers tingle or get numb you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. This test is also known as the wrist-flexion test.

Two-Point Discrimination Test

• Your doctor may use a two-point disc discriminator (an eight sided tool with prongs sticking out) for this test. The points will start further apart and move closer together, testing your ability to distinguish if one or two objects are touching your skin. The distance at which you can only feel one point will help the doctor decide if you have carpal tunnel, and figure out your nerve function and compression.

The Difference Between Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel

Check out this helpful graphic to learn the difference between hand and wrist arthritis and carpal tunnel.

How to Treat Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel

Arthritis and carpal tunnel are different conditions but because some of their symptoms (like hand pain) are similar, some treatments can help with both conditions. But other ways to manage the conditions vary.

Manage Your Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Cold Therapy

• Cold therapy, like cold packs, can reduce swelling and inflammation and numb pain signals in the wrist and hand.



• A topical pain reliever, like Biofreeze, is another way you can reduce your hand pain from arthritis or carpal tunnel.

Heat Therapy

• For aching hands without acute inflammation, heat may provide relief. You can use the same TheraPearl packs for hot and cold therapy.



• Paraffin wax can help relieve pain and moisturize your skin at the same time. Get started with Parasilk mitts or gloves for mess-free pain relief.

Exercise

• Exercise can help you manage your condition by strengthening surrounding muscles and by improving joint range of motion and grip strength.
• Therapy putty and hand exercisers are two great ways to strengthen your hands.



• The TheraBand FlexBar helps strengthen your wrists and elbows.

Support

• A splint may help to ease physical stress and provide support for wrists with arthritis or carpal tunnel.



• Arthritis gloves help reduce pain and swelling and may also help to increase hand mobility.

Medication

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help decrease inflammation, however severe acute flare-ups may require a prescription for a steroidal drug called methylprednisolone.
• Cortisone injections provide anti-inflammatory relief, but may only be temporary.

Surgery

• For both arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery is only considered after other more conservative treatments do not help with the pain and dysfunction.¹⁰
• Arthritis may be treated via joint replacement (more common for large joints like knees and hips) while carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated with carpal tunnel release surgery.

Carpal tunnel and arthritis can both leave your hands in pain. But once you figure out which is causing your pain, you can relieve it thanks to the tips above and the help of your doctor.

Find out more about moist heat pain relief in this article on How to Relieve Arthritis Pain Using Moist Heat!

References

1. Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). What is Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2DHvDZi
2. Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Arthritis and Diseases That Affect the Hand and Wrist. Arthritis Foundation. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2DAhg9o
3. Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Osteoarthritis of the Hands. Arthritis Foundation. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/34Ugdgg
4. Bhana, S. (2019). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. American College of Rheumatology. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/35YHnDc
5. Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional. (2019). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://cle.clinic/2LdLpzo
6. Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Arthritis Foundation. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2raBbZV
7. Wheeler, T. (2019). How Do I Know If I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?. WebMD. Retrieved from https://wb.md/2P80hjY
8. DeVries, C. (2016). Is My Hand Pain Caused by Arthritis or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?. Arthritis Health from Veritas Health. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/33JxgAi
9. John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Conditions We Treat: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. John Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2Rd4mG9

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.