Hand Cramps: Deficiencies, Therapies, Chronic Causes

Hand cramps can occur for many reasons and can cause significant pain and problems for some people. Hand cramps commonly result from an injury or health conditions. 

Cramping in the hands might also affects the fingers. Hand and finger cramping can limit your ability to do certain activities, including writing and driving.

Hand cramps can be treated and prevented depending on the cause. While rare, hand cramps can sometimes be a sign of a more severe condition, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diabetes.

This article will cover the causes of hand cramps, symptoms, self-care, treatments, and more.  

Hand Cramps: Causes in Palms, Fingers, and on Top

Hand cramps can affect the entire hand, part of the hand, the palm, the wrist, or the finger joints. Cramping pain can occur when writing, typing, driving, holding and gripping objects, and doing household chores.

Hand cramps have been linked to a number of conditions, some more serious than others.

Electrolyte Imbalances

Sodium, potassium, and calcium are types of electrolytes, substances responsible for maintaining normal body functions, including nerve and muscle activity. The muscles require optimal electrolyte levels for the body to function properly. 

Alterations in electrolyte levels can affect how the muscles contract and relax, leading to cramps in your hands and fingers.

Magnesium Deficiency 

Magnesium plays a vital role in controlling muscle contractions. If your body’s magnesium levels are low, you can experience muscle cramps throughout the body, including in the hands.

Additional symptoms of a magnesium deficiency may include: 

Severe Dehydration

Dehydration is a state in which fluid levels drop to the point at which body functions are affected. Mild dehydration can be remedied by drinking water or electrolyte drinks. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening because it can damage the organs.

You can be dehydrated in the following ways:

• You are not drinking enough fluids.
• You lose fluid through exercise.
• You spend long periods outdoors in hot temperatures.
• You experience persistent vomiting and diarrhea due to illness.

If you are severely dehydrated, you may experience hand cramps when your muscles lose the proper balance of electrolytes and fluids.

Additional symptoms of dehydration include:

Writer’s Cramp

Writer’s cramp, an overuse injury of the hand, affects the muscles used in fine motor movements. It is a type of focal dystonia that affects a single body part—usually the fingers or hands—and causes involuntary or unusual movements.

Certain activities can lead to writer’s cramp, including:

• Writing or typing for extended periods 
• Playing a musical instrument 
• Activities that require you to grip, such as holding a pen or utensil, using a smartphone, or working with tools
• Activities requiring repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and fingers 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the nerve that goes from the forearm to the palm is compressed. People with CTS may experience hand cramps.

Additional symptoms of CTS include:

• Burning and tingling of the palm and fingers
• Decreased hand grip and strength
• Increased symptoms upon waking in the morning
• Swelling

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

RA is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks the tissue protecting the joints and in other body areas. It causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Hand cramps are common in people with RA.

Inflammation (swelling) of the joints and tendons can affect nearby muscles and muscle function in people with RA, leading to muscle cramps. Because RA can affect the small joints of the hands and fingers, cramping here is not unusual.

Hand cramping in RA can get worse under certain conditions, such as cold weather, periods of increased joint inflammation, and repetitive motions, such as typing and writing. 

Kidney Disease

Hand cramping is common in people with kidney damage. It is thought to be related to nerve damage, blood circulation problems, or electrolyte and fluid imbalances. It is not unusual for people with kidney disease to experience cramping in their hands and wrists.

Diabetes

Diabetes, a condition that affects how the body regulates blood sugar, can cause muscle cramps throughout the body, including in the hands. Hand cramping in diabetes might be linked to low blood sugar, reduced blood flow to the hands, neuropathy (diabetic nerve damage), nephropathy (diabetic kidney damage), and electrolyte imbalance.

Diabetes is also linked to diabetic cheiroarthropathy (also known as stiff hand syndrome), which causes hand cramps and thickening of the skin in the hands.

Neurological Conditions

A number of neurological conditions can cause hand cramps. These conditions affect the nerves that manage muscle functions. Examples include Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Medications 

Various medications can cause cramps as a side effect of treatment. These include:

• Antimalarials: Antiparasitic drugs
• Beta-blockers: Used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions 
• Checkpoint inhibitors: A type of immunotherapy for cancer
• Colchicine: An anti-inflammatory drug
• Corticosteroids: Used to treat inflammation 
• Cyclosporine: Used to prevent organ rejection 
• Diuretics (water pills) Including Lasix (furosemide): Remove excess fluids from the body
• Hypolipidemic drugs: Cholesterol-lowering medicines
• Retrovir (zidovudine): A treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs: Slow the brain’s activity

Describing Hand Cramping Symptoms 

The terms “cramp” and “spasm” are often used interchangeably, but they are actually different symptoms.  

Muscle cramps are sustained muscle contractions. They can be intense and painful, affecting one muscle or a group of muscles. They occur spontaneously, often with exercise, but they can also occur with rest.

A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction or relaxation of a muscle or muscle group. It occurs when the nerves controlling muscle movement fail, leading to sudden contraction and tightening.

The symptoms of hand cramps vary in severity, duration, and the condition causing them. Cramping might feel like a slight nuisance, or it can cause excruciating pain. 

Some people may also experience numbness, tingling, and burning of the affected hands. Others may have problems with grip and strength.

Additional symptoms that may occur with hand cramps include:

• Muscles that may feel hard or appear distorted 
• Difficulty making a fist
• Muscle pain
• Swelling and stiffness
• Joint locking, usually of a finger joint
• Bruising 
• Itching

When Hand Cramps Signal Something Else

Some cases of hand cramps are harmless and easily managed at home. Other causes may present health risks and require medical treatment. 

Contact a healthcare provider for new, ongoing, or recurring hand cramp symptoms. You should also seek help for symptoms that do not improve with self-care and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments or that are accompanied by additional symptoms, such as:

• Changes in or problems with hand function
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Pain in other muscle groups

Self-Care for Mild Hand Cramps 

Mild hand cramp symptoms can be treated at home with self-care.

Self-care remedies for hand cramps include:

• Hand and wrist exercises: Regular hand and wrist exercises can prevent and manage hand cramps. Consider stretching as soon as you feel cramping in your hand. If your stretching routine is not helping, talk to your healthcare provider about referring you to a physical therapist. 
• Increasing fluid and electrolyte intake: Drinking enough fluids and taking in electrolytes can prevent dehydration and reduce your risk of hand cramps. You will know you are getting enough fluids if you do not feel thirsty and your urine is pale or clear.
• Heat and cold therapy: Applying a heating pad or warm compress can help to relieve tight muscles. A cold pack can help reduce inflammation and swelling. 
• Rest: If your hands start cramping while writing, typing, or another hand activity, stop what you are doing and give your hands a rest.
• Supplementation: If a nutrient deficiency is leading to hand cramping, a supplement like magnesium or potassium might help. Before starting any supplement, reach out to your healthcare provider, who can confirm whether a supplement is necessary.
• An ergonomic workspace: If you have hand cramps at work, consider making your workspace more ergonomic to reduce the strain on your hands. A supportive chair, a split keyboard, and an ergonomic mouse can help.
• Massage: You can massage your hand using small, circular motions to relieve hand cramps.
• OTC pain relievers: Oral pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help manage painful hand cramps. Other OTC options for managing painful hand cramps are topical creams and gels, such as Voltaren (diclofenac) gel (an anti-inflammatory topical), capsaicin creams, and counterirritants containing menthol or camphor. 
• Compression gloves: Compression gloves might help relieve pain, swelling, and cramping in the hands and finger joints. 

Better Writing Form 

You can do things to prevent hand cramping and pain if you do a lot of writing:

• Use comfortable writing utensils: Consider wide-barrel and padded grip pens and pencils. Grip the writing utensil between the first and middle fingers and use the thumb to hold it in place.
• Take breaks: Consider taking breaks by putting down the pen or pencil and stretching the writing hand and fingers to reduce cramping. 
• Write slowly: Take your time writing to avoid stressing your hands and fingers. Cursive writing might put less strain on your hand than printing because it requires less precision. 
• Press lightly and gently: Pressing lightly and gently against the paper or notepad can put less strain on the hand. Try a gel or roller pen to minimize clenching and gripping. 
• Use your arms: As you write, use your arm and not your fingers, keeping your hand and writing still. Avoid using your finger muscles, and only use your fingers to hold the pen or pencil. Watch your hand position, hold the wrist straight, and don’t bend as you write.
• Be mindful of your posture. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and your chest outward. Do not lean over your desk, which can tire your shoulders, neck, and arms. 

Treatments for Severe Hand Cramping

Depending on the cause and severity of the hand cramps, your healthcare provider can create a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. 

• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances: Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can be managed with OTC sports drinks and electrolyte drinks. More severe cases of dehydration may require an intravenous (IV) solution. Specific electrolyte or nutrient deficiencies may be treated with dietary changes and vitamin and mineral supplementation. 
• Writer’s cramp: Writer’s cramp can be treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) injections, oral medications, and, in severe cases, surgery. 
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Your healthcare provider may recommend splinting, OTC and prescription pain relievers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or surgery to manage CTS symptoms, including cramping.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: There is no cure for RA, but your healthcare provider can create a treatment plan to help alleviate symptoms and slow down disease progression. Your treatment plan may include medication, physical and occupational therapies, surgery to repair a damaged joint, and lifestyle therapies, such as exercise and diet.
• Stiff hand syndrome: Stiff hand syndrome starts with managing blood glucose through medication. Physical therapy can also help manage symptoms and reduce diabetic complications. 
• Kidney disease: To reduce hand cramps linked to kidney disease, your medical provider will prescribe medications and dietary changes specific to the underlying cause.
• Neurological conditions: Treatment for a neurological cause of hand cramps will depend on the cause, symptoms, and other individual factors. Options may include medications, physical and occupational therapies, and surgery. 
• Medications: If a medication has led to your hand cramps, discontinuing the medication or reducing the dose may resolve symptoms. However, do not discontinue or modify your medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

How to Reduce Hand Flares 

A flare-up is a worsening of symptoms, and hand cramping can lead to periods of flare-up. 

One of the best things you can do to avoid hand cramps is to not smoke. Smoking is linked to various hand problems, including reduced blood flow, poor wound and bone healing, nerve problems, and pain. If you need help quitting, let a healthcare provider know. 

Additional ways to prevent hand cramps are:

• Eating a healthy and balanced diet
• Reducing alcohol and caffeine intake 
• Regular exercise, including hand and wrist stretching 
• Taking medications as prescribed 
• Contacting your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening symptoms 
• Making use of an ergonomic workplace 
• Taking breaks and resting your hands

Summary 

Hand cramps occur for many reasons, some mild and others considered severe or concerning. Causes may include electrolyte imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, injury, or chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or kidney disease. 

Treatment options depend on the underlying cause but can include medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery. You can manage symptoms at home with self-care remedies like hand exercises, hot and cold therapy, rest, increasing fluids and electrolytes, and massage. 

You can prevent hand cramps by eating a healthy diet, having an ergonomic workspace, resting, stretching, and not smoking. 

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience new or ongoing symptoms, severe pain, or changes in hand function.