There are many common hand problems that can interfere with activities of daily living (ADLs), including the following:

Arthritis is joint inflammation and commonly occurs at the base of the thumb. The pain associated with arthritis may be from many different sources, including inflammation of the following:

• • synovial membrane - a clear, sticky fluid that is released by the synovial membrane and acts as a lubricant for joints and tendons.
  • tendons - the tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones.
  • ligaments - a white, shiny, flexible band of fibrous tissue that binds joints together and connects various bones and cartilage.

  Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis in older people. It is a slow-progressing disease that primarily affects the hands and the large weight-bearing joints of the body, such as the knees and hips. Osteoarthritis in the hands or hips may run in families, or be caused by injuries, overuse, muscle strain, or fatigue.

  Heberden nodes, abnormal enlargements of the bone or cartilage - about the size of a pea or smaller - may occur in the finger joints, and may be aggravated by osteoarthritis.

  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, a narrow confined space. Since the median nerve provides sensory and motor functions to the thumb and three middle fingers, many symptoms may result.

• The following are the most common symptoms for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
  • difficulty making a fist
  • difficulty gripping objects with the hand(s)
  • pain and/or numbness in the hand(s)
  • "pins and needles" feeling in the fingers
  • swollen feeling in the fingers
  • burning or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers

  The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may resemble other conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.