This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, contact routes and treatment arrangements may differ in other countries.
Pain in the palm of the hand
Pain in the palm of the hand
Causes of pain in the palm of your hand include an injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.
You can ease palm pain by taking painkillers, keeping it rested, using a bandage for support and reducing activities that put pressure on the palm.
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.
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
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
Refer yourself for back or joint help
In many areas you may be able to get help, such as physiotherapy, from NHS community musculoskeletal (MSK) services without needing a referral from a GP.
Get help from 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 .
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 ↗. MyPHU is independent and is not endorsed by the NHS.