What Causes Cramps In Hands and Fingers?

Hand and finger cramping can occur for several reasons, and may cause intense discomfort for many people.

One of the most common causes of hand and finger cramps is muscle spasms.

These are involuntary or uncontrollable muscle contractions.

When these spasms or contractions do not allow the muscle to become relaxed it can result in excruciating pain in many cases.

Why Do We Get Cramps Or Spasms In Our Body?

Under normal circumstances, muscle contraction is the result of a normal bodily processes, and is the result of communication between the brain, spinal cord, and the muscles.

Various chemicals and proteins are also involved in a normal muscle contraction, and are responsible for the shortening and relaxation of muscle fibres.

The brain uses a process involving electrical signals, and the release of chemicals to signal the muscle to contract.

During this process of muscle contraction, signals from the brain are sent through the spinal cord and direct to the muscle.

Proteins and chemicals interact within the muscle, which then causes the muscle to shorten and relax as required.

When something interrupts this process of muscle contraction, cramping and muscle spasms may occur.

Usually, any pain will resolve itself within minutes.

Muscle twitching is also a common occurrence alongside muscle spasms and cramps.

These symptoms can also present during rest periods or in the time following a muscle contraction.

What Causes Cramps In Hands and Fingers?

Some of the main causes of muscle cramps include electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and overuse of the muscle.

However, some health conditions can make you more prone to cramp in the hands and fingers.

Some of the main causes are as follows:

1/ Dehydration & Heat Cramp
2/ Electrolyte Imbalances
3/ Muscle Overuse and Injury
4/ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
5/ Rheumatoid Arthritis
6/Diabetic Stiff Hand Syndrome
7/ Poor Circulation

1/ Dehydration & Heat Cramp

It is believed that dehydration leads to a depletion of electrolytes which will then lead to muscle spasms and cramps [3].

Muscles require enough water, sodium, glucose, calcium, potassium, and magnesium to allow the proteins within them to develop a normal contraction.

An abnormal (or reduced) supply of these elements can lead the muscle to become irritable and possibly develop spasms.

Although this form of cramp can be quite painful, it usually does not result in permanent damage.

However, such cramp can be a symptom of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Heat cramps can also potentially indicate a more severe problem in someone with heart disease or if the episode lasts for longer than an hour [1].

2/ Electrolyte Imbalances

Electrolytes are salts and minerals within the body, which are responsible for maintaining normal bodily functions.

Functions may include nerve and muscle activity, blood pH, hydration, tissue repair and blood pressure.

Muscles require a specific electrolyte balance in order to function correctly.

Any change in these levels can lead to muscle contractions and hand and finger cramps.

Essential electrolytes for muscle function include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium

Changes in levels of these electrolytes may not only cause painful hand cramping due to muscle spasm but may also be potentially life threatening.

An electrolyte imbalance could be caused by a number of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Severe dehydration
• Kidney disease
• Excessive heat
• Prolonged periods of vomiting
• pH imbalances
• Cancer treatments
• Congestive heart failure
• Certain medications for blood pressure or water retention

3/ Overuse Strain/Injury

An overuse injury or strain in the hand or fingers is often referred to as writer’s cramp [2].

It may be associated with specific or general movements of the affected hand muscles used in fine motor movements.

Activities that may increase a person’s risk of developing such an injury.

• Playing a musical instrument
• Writing or typing for a long periods
• Using an excessive grip on objects (pen, tool, or smartphone)
• Excessive flexion at wrist or elbow
• Over extension of finger

4/ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hand and finger cramp can often be put down to muscle overuse, electrolyte imbalance or dehydration.

However another possibility is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This happens when the when the nerves in the wrist (median nerve) are compressed.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include tingling and numbness in the fingers, pain in the wrist and hand spasms may also occur.

This condition is generally down to an underlying medical condition that causes swelling in the wrist, and sometimes obstructed blood flow.

5/ Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells.

This can cause pain in the affected joints and also other parts of the body.

If the hand and finger joints are affected (which they commonly are), this can lead to symptoms such as:

• Joint pain & aching
• Fever, fatigue & weakness
• Joint stiffness, tenderness, and swelling
• Weight loss

6/ Diabetic Stiff Hand Syndrome

People diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing a condition called diabetic stiff hand syndrome.

This condition can limit finger movement due to the body’s inability to strengthen the hands.

With this condition a person’s hands typically become tight, waxy and thick.

Sometimes, those with diabetic stiff hand syndrome experience

• Weakened hand joints
• Reduced hand function
• Finger stiffness & the inability to bring fingers together
• Thickened, waxy and tight skin on the back of the hand

Controlling blood sugar levels may prevent a person with diabetes from developing diabetic stiff hand syndrome.

Treatment options often include physical therapy, stretching, and exercises.

7/ Poor Circulation

Poor circulation is when your body is unable to send blood, oxygen and nutrients through your body effectively.

You may feel circulation issues in your extremities, in areas such as your hands, fingers, arms and legs.

Further symptoms include:

• Cramp
• Pain
• Tingling
• Dry Skin
• Numbness
• Throbbing pain

What Helps Cramp In Hands and Fingers?

Fortunately there are things which can help relieve cramp in hands and fingers.

Check out our article on how to get rid of hand cramps by clicking here.

Summary

As you can see, there may be many reasons why you may experience cramp in your hands and fingers.

If you consider yourself a generally healthy person, then hand and finger cramp can usually be attributed to electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and overuse of the muscle.

However if you have any of the medical conditions we have discussed above, you may experience symptoms of cramp and spasms as a symptom of those conditions.

We hope you found this article useful in helping you understand what causes cramps in hands and fingers.

Please check back with curemycramp.com for more articles like this.