Common causes of pain in the palm of your hand
Pain in the palm of your hand is often caused by bruising or injuring your hand, but it can be caused by lots of things.
Do not try to diagnose the cause of your pain yourself.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
|
Aching pain that's worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping |
Carpal tunnel syndrome |
|
Sudden sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury |
Broken bone in the hand |
|
Pain or tenderness in your palm at the base of your fingers or thumb, stiffness, clicking when you move your finger or thumb |
Trigger finger |
|
Pain, swelling and stiffness that lasts a long time, may be hard to move fingers, may have a lump |
Arthritis |
|
Sharp or burning pain, tingling or numbness, palm feels more or less sensitive to touch or heat |
Peripheral neuropathy |
|
Heat, pain and redness in the palms |
Erythromelalgia |
Important
If you think you may have broken your hand, do not try to treat it yourself. Contact NHS 111 to find out what to do.
How you can ease palm pain yourself
You may be able to treat the pain yourself if your hand is not broken.
Do
-
rest your hand when you can
-
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your palm for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
-
take paracetamol to ease the pain
-
remove any jewellery if your hand is swollen
-
stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, writing, typing, DIY or housework
-
wrap a bandage around your hand to support it
-
wear a splint to support your palm and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets
-
keep your hands and wrists moving with gentle exercises to help ease pain and stiffness
Don't
-
do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury
-
do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly
A pharmacist can help with hand pain
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- the best painkiller to take
- the best splint to support your hand and ease pain
- if you need to see a GP
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- pain in the palm of your hand is stopping you doing normal activities
- the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
- the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your hand
- you have diabetes – hand problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
- your palm is painful, warm, swollen and stiff
Immediate action required: Contact NHS 111 if:
- you have severe pain in your hand
- you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
- you have pain in the palm of your hand and also feel generally unwell, or hot, cold or shivery
- you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury
- you're not able to move your thumb or hold things
- your finger or thumb has changed shape or colour
- you've lost the feeling in part or all of your hand
These might be signs of a broken hand or an infection.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Self-refer for treatment
If you have pain in the palm of your hand, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP. These may include musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services.
To find out if there are any services in your area:
- ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
- check your GP surgery's website
- contact your integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB
- search online for NHS treatment for palm pain near you