THE RED DOOR CLINIC · MELLIEĦA
Hand pain
Grip, pins and needles, or a hand that feels stiff. Start with the story, not a label.
Hand pain can come from the joints, the tendons, or a nerve that is irritable at the wrist or in the neck. At The Red Door Clinic in Mellieħa we look at how you use the hand and what has changed. Inflammatory joint disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, is led by a doctor. Physiotherapy can support the hand around that medical care. It does not replace it.
Reviewed by Andrew George, Lead Physiotherapist · 5 October 2026
Common patterns
Aching after gripping, stiffness in the morning, pain at the base of the thumb, and tingling in the fingers are the patterns people describe. Each can have more than one cause.
A hand that is hot, very swollen, or rapidly changing needs medical assessment. Tell your doctor first if several joints are inflamed, or if you already have a diagnosis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
When to seek urgent care instead
Most muscle and joint pain is not an emergency. Go to accident and emergency, or call emergency services, if you have a suspected broken bone, a joint that looks deformed, pain after a significant fall, chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury with confusion or vomiting, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. A limb that is cold, pale or blue, or sudden severe swelling, also needs urgent medical care rather than a clinic appointment.
Pain in the shoulder or arm that arrives with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or feeling faint can be a heart symptom. Call emergency services. Do not wait for physiotherapy.
If you are unsure, use emergency services first. For everything else, contact the clinic and describe what happened. We do not diagnose by message.
How the clinic can help
A consultation and assessment with Andrew George, our lead physiotherapist, is €55, and follow-up physiotherapy is €45. The assessment looks at the movement that hurts and the story around it. You leave with a plain-language explanation and a plan that fits the week you actually have.
Where massage helps alongside physiotherapy, the clinic houses qualified massage therapists in the same building. Massage does not replace an assessment when pain, injury or a change in movement is the concern.
Book through the contact form, by phone on 2152 4199, or by WhatsApp on 7924 1880. Describe your symptoms and the team will help you choose the right first appointment.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Not sure where to start? Start with us.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Related conditions and next steps
A LITTLE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Can physiotherapy help a stiff hand?
Often, once a doctor has ruled out a problem that needs medical treatment. The plan is usually gentle movement, tendon loading and changes to how you grip.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.