De Quervain tenosynovitis causes wrist and thumb pain, but what is it, how does it affect your hand, how to treat it, and when to visit an orthopedic surgeon? Here’s everything to know about de Quervain tenosynovitis.

What Is De Quervain Tenosynovitis?

It’s the swelling of the tendons of the thumb. As these tendons are near the wrist and the base of the thumb, you feel wrist and thumb pain, especially when you turn your wrist or grip something. De Quervain tenosynovitis usually occurs in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand, leading to swelling of the thumb tendons and the tendon sheaths, which are the coverings of the tendons.

Commonly, de Quervain tenosynovitis can be treated with rest and wearing a splint. In rare cases, you may need surgery. The condition is also known as de Quervain tendinosis or de Quervain tendonitis.

What Are The Symptoms Of De Quervain Tenosynovitis?

• Pain in the wrist and around the base of the thumb.
• Swelling in the wrist and around the base of the thumb.
• Pain radiates from the wrist to the thumb or forearm.
• All motions that require the thumb and wrist become difficult, such as making a fist or gripping something.
• A snapping or popping feeling upon moving the thumb.
• Pain gets worse when you move the wrist.
• Numbness in the wrist or thumb.

What Are The Causes Of De Quervain Tenosynovitis?

The condition can be mistaken for joint pain when the cause is the swelling of the tendons and tendon sheaths (the covering on the tendons). They can swell due to:

• Overusing your wrist or thumb.
• Repetitive motions of the wrist or thumb, especially gripping, twisting, or lifting motions during work or hobby.
• A wrist injury or something hitting the wrist or thumb.
• Inflammation due to health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Excess fluid buildup in the tendon sheaths of the wrist, especially during pregnancy. The swelling will be palpable in that case.

Common tasks, jobs, sports, and hobbies that include repetitive hand motions and can cause de Quervain tenosynovitis are:

• Continuous typing or texting on computers or devices
• Lifting babies regularly
• Manual workers, like carpenters, plumbers, construction workers, etc.
• Physical therapists
• Chefs, servers, etc.
• Sports, like tennis, badminton, golf, hockey, weightlifting, archery, etc.

What Are The Risk Factors Of De Quervain Tenosynovitis?

• People between the ages of 30 and 50 years
• Women are at a higher risk of developing de Quervain tenosynovitis (pregnancy, breastfeeding)
• Parents with newborn babies or childcare workers
• Jobs, sports, or hobbies that require repetitive motions of the hands.

How Is De Quervain Tenosynovitis Diagnosed?

A common method of diagnosing de Quervain tenosynovitis is the Finkelstein test.

In the test, your doctor asks you to make a fist and wrap your fingers around the thumb. Holding that fist, you will be asked to move your wrist up and down as if you’re shaking someone’s hand with a closed fist. Wrist pain during this test means you have de Quervain tenosynovitis.

Apart from that, your doctor may suggest an X-ray and other tests as well.

What Are The Treatments For De Quervain Tenosynovitis?

Usually, a hand and elbow specialist Woodbridge will examine your hand and suggest management methods that relieve the pain and swelling and let the tendons heal. If you visit a doctor quickly upon symptoms and the treatment begins then, the effects of the treatment are visible in 4-6 weeks. Here are some common ways of treating and managing de Quervain tenosynovitis:

Wearing Splint Or Brace

In many cases, your doctor will recommend wearing a splint or brace. This keeps the wrist and the thumb protected and lets them heal without any stress or movement of the hand creating complications or slowing down recovery.

Rest

Mostly, all you need to do is to give your hand some rest and avoid any of those movements that caused the pain in the first place. This is advised along with wearing a splint or brace.

Applying Ice To The Swollen Area

Applying ice can help lower pain and swelling. You can use ice packs or just wrap a few ice cubes in a towel and keep them on the painful area of the wrist. Keep it on the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time. You can repeat the process a couple of times every day. However, it’s not suggested to overdo it.

Medication

Apart from using ice, your doctor may also suggest or prescribe medication for pain relief and to lower swelling. Commonly, over-the-counter NSAIDs are suggested for reducing swelling and inflammation, which also reduces pain in the area.

NSAIDs are excellent but they should never be taken continuously for more than 10 days, unless your healthcare provider suggests otherwise.

Pain Relief Injections (Corticosteroids)

Corticosteroids can also be used for a more potent and quick way of reducing inflammation and pain. A corticosteroid injection is administered into the tendon sheath to quickly reduce swelling. If this treatment begins within the first 6 months of the condition, a corticosteroid injection can be very effective and can help in full recovery. In many cases, this can happen with just one injection.

Physical Therapy

A doctor or physical therapist can take into account your common wrist movements and the cause of de Quervain tenosynovitis in your case and suggest stretches and exercises to reduce pain and swelling and improve mobility.

However, it’s better to only perform the exercises suggested by the professional and avoid any other unnecessary motions. So, apart from the exercises, rest should be the priority for the affected hand.

Moreover, if you feel pain when performing a stretch or exercise, stop it immediately and consult your doctor or physical therapist.

Surgery

As stated before, most people with de Quervain tenosynovitis don’t need surgery. It’s only performed when the condition is severe or when other treatments don’t make any substantial impact.

In the procedure, the surgeon makes a cut on the tendon sheath to open it and relieve pressure from it. This reduces swelling and pain and makes moving the wrist and thumb easier after recovery.

It’s a minor outpatient procedure, and you can go home on the same day. You do need time to recover after the surgery. Ask your doctor how long the recovery will take and which medications and exercises will be helpful during the process.

Whichever treatment route your doctor chooses for you, you should follow it. And never start using your affected hand without the instructions from the doctor to do so, even if you start feeling fine and the pain and swelling seems non-existent. This is because if you begin using your hand like normal before a full recovery, the problem could occur again.

Conclusion

De Quervain tenosynovitis is the swelling of thumb tendons. You feel pain when making a fist or gripping something. If you act quickly, you only need rest and have to wear a splint for a few weeks. For a personalized treatment plan, get in touch with a hand injury physician Woodbridge.