The Top Products for Arthritis Pain in Hands

A quick look at the best products for arthritis in hands

• Best for wrist pain: PopSockets Grip
• Best for personal care: EZ Grip 360 Degree Rotary Fingernail Clipper
• Best for everyday use: Advil Pain Reliever Easy to Open Bottle
• Best for persistent pain: IMAK Compression Arthritis Gloves

• Best for help with daily tasks: Reacher Grabber Tool
• Best for knee pain: IMAK Compression Arthritis Knee Sleeve
• Best for safety: Non Slip Jar Gripper Set
• Best mobility aid: Rehand All Terrain Foldable Walking Cane
• Best for reducing inflammation: ICEWRAPS Reusable Soft Gel Ice Packs

It’s true that medications can ease arthritis pain. However, common arthritis medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids can also cause side effects, especially when used long-term.

You may be looking for nonprescription products or solutions that can help relieve your pain. With all of the products available, though, it can be challenging to avoid treatment methods that make big claims but are ultimately ineffective.

Here, we’ve rounded up several arthritis products that are reputable — meaning they’re endorsed by organizations like the Arthritis Foundation — and can complement arthritis pain medication that your doctor has prescribed. From mobility aids, to kitchen tools, to compression garments, take a look at these products that can help reduce your arthritis pain.

How we chose

Living with arthritis pain can be a challenge, so it’s important to carefully vet any helpful items you’re considering.

We looked for products that were:

• Reputable: Many of these products have received endorsements from organizations like the Arthritis Foundation.
• Multifunctional: Several of these products have multiple uses, helping you get as much use as possible out of your purchase.
• Affordable: When you live with chronic illness like arthritis, medical bills can stack up — which is why nothing in this roundup costs more than $25.

Additionally, I have experience using a few of the products on our list due to my own medical conditions.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $10
• $$ = $10-$20
• $$$ = over $20

Healthline’s picks for the best products for arthritis pain

Here are the best products to help relieve arthritis pain.

Best for wrist pain

PopSockets Grip

• Price: $$

• Why we chose it: offers easy accessibility

Hands are one of the most common sources of arthritis pain. This is especially true in rheumatoid arthritis, where inflammation can cause swelling in your fingers and wrists.

One daily movement that might cause pain is holding your smartphone. This collapsible pop socket, which also works for tablets, attaches to your device to reduce the amount of time spent holding your device or the bend in your wrist while you’re holding it. Pop sockets are helpful when I want to talk on the phone or watch a video. Choose from three colors and use the adhesive to apply the pop socket to the back of your device.

Best for personal care

EZ Grip 360 Degree Rotary Fingernail Clipper

• Price: $$

• Why we chose it: provides mobility in personal care

This set of fingernail and toenail clippers has an ergonomic design that’s perfect for people who have less flexibility, strength, or dexterity in their fingers, wrists, and hands. The swivel action of the clippers helps you find a comfortable angle to trim your nails.

The wide grip handles are also specifically designed for a safe and secure grip. The clippers are lightweight and easy to store.

Best for everyday use

Advil Pain Reliever Easy to Open Bottle

• Price: $$

• Why we chose it: easy-to-access pain medication

If you live with arthritis, you may have difficulty opening pill bottles such as NSAIDs, which are the class of pain relievers that includes Advil (ibuprofen). This bottle of Advil comes with a special easy-open arthritis cap that has a comfortable grip. The oversized cap makes it easier to open the bottle, which contains 200 tablets of medication.

As someone who lives alone, if I can’t open a pill bottle, I’m out of luck. That’s where this easy open bottle comes in.

Best for persistent pain

IMAK Compression Arthritis Gloves

• Price: $$$
• Why we chose it: may help improve both pain and function

Arthritis gloves may be a potential solution if you find it increasingly difficult to use your hands for everyday tasks. The most basic function of arthritis gloves is compression to alleviate swelling and pain.

The IMAK Compression Arthritis Gloves have been tested by people with arthritis and received the Ease of Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation. They provide mild compression to help improve circulation, warm the hands, and reduce pain.

Plus, the fingertips are open so you can still feel, touch, and grip while wearing the gloves. This product comes in sizes small, medium, and large.

Best for help with daily tasks

Reacher Grabber Tool

• Price: $$
• Why we chose it: helpful for stiffness

Bending down or stretching up to grab an item might aggravate your arthritis pain. That’s where a grabber tool (also called an arm extender) can help. This lightweight tool has a handle you squeeze on one end to close the claw on the other. The manufacturer claims it can hold an item that weighs up to 2 pounds.

The grabber can be shortened or extended as necessary up to 32 inches long (approximately 2.5 feet). The “jaw” can also rotate a full 360 degrees so you can access hard-to-reach places either vertically or horizontally.

Best for knee pain

IMAK Compression Arthritis Knee Sleeve

• Price: $$
• Why we chose it: recommended by the Arthritis Foundation

IMAK’s Compression Arthritis Knee Sleeve has been commended by the Arthritis Foundation for its ease of use to provide noninvasive arthritis relief. Designed with all-day comfort in mind, the sleeve provides mild compression for warmth and helps support proper circulation.

You can use the sleeve while playing sports, walking, driving, or simply completing activities of daily living. According to the company, tri-band technology helps keep the sleeve in place and the vented inset should help air continue to circulate around your leg. I use this knee sleeve and it helps make my joints feel more secure as I move around.

Best for safety

Non Slip Jar Gripper Set

• Price: $
• Why we chose it: designed to reduce pain while completing kitchen tasks

This 3-piece set of a jar grip and bottle opener is specifically designed for people who have arthritis or weak wrists. The bottle opener is a 5-in-1 product that can be used for opening water bottles, soda tops, can tops, soda cans, and jar lids.

The second item in the set is a jar opener that offers four different jar grips, and the third item is a non-slip jar gripper pad. These multifunctional kitchen tools should make it easier to open stubborn bottle tops or jar lids.

Best mobility aid

Rehand All Terrain Foldable Walking Cane

• Price: $$$
• Why we chose it: rubber structure can help relieve joint impact

If you struggle to walk because of pain, stiffness, or balance issues, a mobility aid like a cane could help. A walking aid helps take some of the pressure off achy joints.

The all-terrain pivoting and slip-resistant base of this Rehand cane was created to provide superior stability and ground contact on uneven surfaces, according to the company. Plus, the ergonomic handle helps reduce palm fatigue and is easy to grip — this is especially important if you also have wrist and finger pain, like me.

The entire cane is also collapsible and can fit into your purse or the included bag.

Best for reducing inflammation

ICEWRAPS Reusable Soft Gel Ice Packs

• Price: $$
• Why we chose it: reusable; natural relief

Cold packs can help relieve some inflammatory pain. These small gel ice packs from ICEWRAPS come in a pack of five, and can be used over and over for both hot and cold therapy. They’re medical-grade and comply with United States safety standards.

Put the ice packs in your freezer, then use them to contour to painful areas for helpful treatment and muscle care. The gel packs are nontoxic and should be safe for sensitive skin.

Comparison chart

Other ways to relieve symptoms of arthritis pain

Beat pain with heat

Heat is helpful when placed on any area of the body that is sore. Heat increases blood flow to the area of discomfort, which can decrease muscle pain.

Try:

• heated pads
• microwavable hot packs
• warm bath or shower
• hot towels

Heat treatments tend to work best for osteoarthritis, but are generally safe to use for other types of arthritis, too.

Topical NSAIDs

If hot or cold therapy doesn’t alleviate pain and inflammation, topical ointments may be a solution. Products that contain NSAIDs work best. A topical NSAID ointment works directly to decrease inflammation that causes joint pain. NSAIDs are the class of pain relievers that includes Advil (ibuprofen).

A topical NSAID ointment has fewer long-term gastrointestinal side effects than the oral version. Stronger topical NSAIDs require a doctor’s prescription in the U.S.

Ointments containing other pain-relieving ingredients that are available over the counter (OTC) include:

• Capsaicin (Capzasin and Zostrix): These products contain the natural substance found in hot chili peppers. They may reduce pain by blocking your skin’s pain receptors.
• Salicylates: These ointments contain the pain reliever found in aspirin, which helps to reduce inflammation.
• Counterirritants: These creams contain ingredients such as menthol and camphor, which help relieve pain by warming or cooling the skin.

Workout equipment

Ironically, one of the best things you can do to help joint issues is to exercise. While it’s never a good idea to push yourself through joint pain, a regular workout routine can help relieve long-term arthritis symptoms.

Investing in basic exercise tools and equipment can help decrease pain and swelling while improving your overall health. Good tools for exercising with arthritis include:

• treadmills
• stationary bikes
• elliptical machines

Better yet, invest in decent walking shoes and spend some time outdoors every day, if you can. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends low-impact aerobic activities like walking, cycling, and swimming.

Walking aids

Exercise helps alleviate and prevent arthritis pain. If you’re at the point where basic mobility is painful on your own, consider a walking aid. A walking aid helps take some of the pressure off of achy joints in various parts of your body, including:

• knees
• hips
• feet

When to talk to your doctor

Some of these products, like an easy-to-open pill bottle, can be used at any time. For other items, however (such as hot and cold therapy), you may want to seek your doctor’s advice before beginning use.

If you need to change your current arthritis treatment plan, it’s always best to work with your healthcare team. Ask your doctor how arthritis products may complement your treatment.

You should also talk with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:

• abnormal fatigue
• joint pain or joint swelling
• fever
• your arthritis symptoms are impacting your daily life more than they have in the past

Frequently asked questions

How can I reduce arthritis pain in my hands?

Your doctor can guide you on the best treatment plan for arthritis in your hands. Most likely, they will advise methods such as taking prescription medication or using hot and cold therapy. These treatments can help reduce your level of pain.

What triggers hand arthritis?

A flare-up of arthritis in your hands can be triggered by trauma to the joint, repetitive motions, cold weather, or pushing past your limits and overdoing it.

What helps reduce arthritis hand pain?

You can help arthritis in your hands by using prescription medication, compression gloves, and items designed to help with mobility, such as easy-open bottles.

Talk with your doctor for more guidance on how to relieve hand pain from arthritis.

Takeaway

Arthritis can cause physical pain and stiffness that limits your mobility and function. However, you can use products like these to make daily tasks easier and relieve your pain.

Hailey Hudson is a full-time freelance writer and content marketer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses in the health, marketing, and education industries. Clients include Livestrong, Runner’s World, Dell, and others. Hailey is also a novelist and a musician.