RELATED: I Tried Homedics ParaSpa Plus Paraffin Bath for My Arthritis — and It Really Helped
Common Causes of Hand Cramps
Whether it happens in your hand, leg, or another part of your body, cramping is often related to muscle fatigue, and there can be a variety of triggers. “Cramping can be caused by dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, overuse, or deconditioning of muscles,” says Kelly Weselman, MD, a rheumatologist with WellStar Medical Group in Smyrna, Georgia. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may wonder if hand cramping has anything to do with your disease. The answer is that it very well could. Although muscle spasms may be uncomfortable, they rarely cause any serious complications. You may notice that cramping gets worse under certain conditions, such as in colder temperatures, during periods of increased joint inflammation, at times when you’re not using your hands as often (and your muscles are weakened as a result), or following repetitive activities such as typing or texting — which stress the hand muscles, she explains.
Moves for Hand Cramp and Spasm Relief
What should you do when a muscle cramp strikes? Try these DIY fixes:
Gentle Stretching To help the cramp subside, try this simple stretch. Using the opposite hand, push back all four fingers and thumb on the cramping hand, very lightly, and massage the tight muscle.Heat A heat wrap can also help tame tight muscles, but don’t worry if you don’t have one at the ready — simply run your hands under warm water instead. Or improvise by making your own warm compress: Fill a tube sock with uncooked rice, tie a knot at the top, and warm it in the microwave for about a minute, Weselman suggests.
It’s also possible that certain medications may indirectly help ease muscle cramping by treating inflammation, she explains. RELATED: How to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain Another treatment that might provide relief is virtual reality telehealth, which involves video sessions with a virtual reality headset that helps you to incorporate a personalized treatment plan for your specific health issues. You may also want to try VibraCool, which is a wearable device that directs either heat or coolness, combined with vibration, to areas where you feel pain.
Stop Hand Cramps Before They Start
Better yet, aim to prevent muscle cramps in the first place. “Keeping hand muscles strong will help prevent muscle fatigue, so exercises can decrease cramps long term,” Weselman explains. Try repetitive finger tapping (tapping your thumb to each finger), or squeezing silly putty or a stress ball. RELATED: 6 Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand Pain Relief If muscle cramps or hand pain persists, occurs often, or interferes with everyday activities, talk with your doctor, who can look for signs of underlying causes such as poor circulation, dehydration, poor nutrition, kidney disease, or electrolyte imbalances due to medication. In some cases, muscle atrophy could be related to injury, muscle abnormality, or a neurological condition. Additional reporting by Jessica Firger.
