Hand osteoarthritis refers to a type of arthritis that painfully affecting the hands, fingers and wrist. If you’ve been recently diagnosed with hand arthritis, you may feel confused and uncertain about what to do next. There are over 27 bones in the hand and wrist, and the number one cause for osteoarthritis is joint overload or chronic microtrauma which is an overuse injury. Arthritis of the hand occurs when the cartilage, the soft tissue covering the joint between bones wears out. This causes bone-to-bone contact, which causes joint pain and swelling. The joints in the fingers and thumb are particularly susceptible because of their small size and frequent use.