Is It Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Arthritis? Key Differences to Know

Pain in your hands may arrive with weakness, numbness, or tingling. Or, your pain symptoms may center on the joints in your hands and wrists. Either way, you need to better understand the cause of your hand pain so you can find relief and maintain as much use of your hands as possible.

At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, with two locations in Tomball and one each in Kingwood, and Conroe, Texas, hand and wrist specialist Dr. Michael Blackwell helps patients find the cause of pain problems. You see real results when you pursue the right treatment strategies.

Debilitating or persistent hand pain typically relates to either the nerve compression condition of carpal tunnel syndrome or the damaging effects of arthritis on your hand’s joints. 

Learn some key differences between carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis in causing your hand pain, and how to relieve your symptoms effectively.

What symptoms do arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome share

Both arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome can cause recurring pain in one or both of your hands. You may find it difficult to grasp objects. The pain may seem to come and go, and it can worsen over time without treatment.

Experiencing chronic or acute hand pain limits your ability to interact with the world. You may struggle to make it through a workday if your job requires use of computers or power tools. 

Hobbies involving your hands, like gardening or baking, become more and more of a challenge, leaving you to balance your interests with managing your pain levels.

No matter the cause of your hand pain, you need diagnosis and treatment to find relief. Controlling hand pain allows you to seize each day without hesitation. You deserve life without the harmful impact of arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome pain symptoms.

How carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis symptoms differ

Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the median nerve. This nerve, which connects your hand to your elbow, passes through a narrow area of the wrist known as the carpal tunnel, which can tighten under repetitive stress. 

So, in addition to pain, you’re likely to experience other sensations common with pinched nerves, including numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.

In contrast, arthritis occurs due to inflammation, with damage occurring in your joints. If you have osteoarthritis, inflammation in the lining of your joints results in pain and stiffness, often starting in the small joints of your hands. 

In some cases, arthritis develops when your immune system mistakes your own tissues for invading germs.

Treating your carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis

Because these conditions arise differently, your treatment plan may vary. Dr. Blackwell and the team accurately diagnose the source of your pain. We inform you about the treatment approaches to relieve your symptoms and improve your dexterity and hand strength.

For carpal tunnel syndrome, you may need rest, bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, or in severe cases, surgery. To treat arthritis, Dr. Blackwell may also recommend anti-inflammatory medication. Your arthritis management plan may also include physical therapy stretches and exercises and other medications.

To relieve your hand pain, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Book your appointment online or over the phone now.