De Quervain Tenosynovitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Plan

De Quervain tenosynovitis is a consistent painful orthopedic condition affecting on the bottom of your thumb & the side of your wrist. Typically, it is an overuse related injury that is characterized by pain in your thumb & wrist area which is aggravated by gripping, writing, typing & other hand-related manual activities. If it’s left untreated, this pain may be spread through your arm as well.

Causes - There are several different causes that can lead to your de Quervain tenosynovitis including the following –

• A direct blow to your thumb & wrist.
• Repetitive wrist movements like as gripping, clenching, or writing.
• Chronic overuse of your wrist during exercises or computer mouse writing.
• Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Gaming.
• Lifting heavy objects.
• Wringing out wet clothes.

Risk factors - The following risk factors are more likely to get De Quervain tenosynovitis -

Age - If you are between 30 and 50, you are most likely to develop it.

Gender – This condition is much more common in females than males.

Being pregnant – It may be often associated with pregnancy. Its seen most commonly in new mothers.

Being baby care – repeatedly lifting your child may also have associated with this condition. it may also be seen in other individuals who serve as primary caregivers for young babies.

Occupation or sports – it may be more common with you if you have to do repetitive activities in your job or recreational activities.

Sign & symptoms: If you have De Quervain's tenosynovitis, you shall probably the following symptoms –

• Pain along the back of your thumb, directly over the two tendons.
• Sudden or gradual pain in your wrist.
• Swelling present around the base of your thumb.
• Difficulty moving your thumb & wrist when you performing grasping or pinching.
• Numbness in your thumb or index finger.
• A sticking feeling when you moving your thumb.

Diagnosis:

Your doctor can diagnose your De Quervain tenosynovitis by a thorough case history & a careful physical examination. The simplest way for your doctor used to diagnosis it by performing Finkelstein maneuver.

Your doctor will tell you to bend your thumb across the palm of your hand. Then you shall be bending your fingers down to the thumb to make a fist. This movement stretches your tendons. if it hurts on the base of your thumb, you will probably likely be diagnosed with De Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Typically, lab tests and imaging tests are not needed to diagnose it.

Treatment:

The goal of treatment for De Quervain's tenosynovitis is to ease the pain & swelling. its treatment option includes –

A. Conservative treatment - this treatment can be helpful if you treated early & stop the activities which cause De Quervain tenosynovitis.

Rest - it is the best way to treat your De Quervain tenosynovitis at home is to limits or avoid repetitive activities that aggravate this condition.

Wear splint or brace – physician often prescribed to you wear a thumb spica splint for wrist & thumb immobilization. You can wear it for up to 6 weeks to restrict your painful thumb or wrist & allowing it to heal without further stressing.

Ice – it is one of the most effective treatments for your De Quervain tenosynovitis. you can use an ice pack regularly to the affected wrist following 15 minutes on – 15 minutes off the pattern to reduce swellings & relieves pain.

Medications - In the acute stage, you can take the over – the – counter or NSAID drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce the pain & swelling.

Corticosteroid injection – If medication doesn’t work, your doctor may inject steroids into the tight tendon sheath that can help to reduce swelling & relieves the pressure in the tendons.

Physical therapy – it plays an important role in treating & recovering you from De Quervain tenosynovitis. Physical therapists can provide you a variety of exercises regiment to strengthing & improving the wrist & thumb’s mobility.

Try to avoid repetitive movements or activities which cause your symptoms.

B. Surgical treatment: If conservative treatment are not effective in treating your condition, your doctor may be recommended surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon will cut the swollen tendons sheath to allow the tendons to move more freely. The surgeon will make a small incision in the tendon sheath of your painful wrist. This relived compression on the tendons. The doctor may also cut out the swollen tissues present in the sheath, then doctor closes the incision.