Diagnosing pain in the hand often leads to a common diagnosis: arthritis affecting the hands, wrists, and fingers. Arthritis of the hand can arise without a specific cause, especially in the older age group or among individuals who had previous trauma to the hand. Some patients may have other forms of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or gouty arthritis. Arthritis diagnosis involves clinical examination by a qualified physician, along with plain radiography and simple blood test. Treatment of arthritis includes conservative measure such as lifestyle changes, analgesia and splinting. Surgical interventions range from simple debridement to joint fusion.
