De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

Prevention

Reduce your risk.

Avoiding repetitive movements is the best way to prevent De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Change your actions to reduce the stress on your wrists, and take frequent breaks to rest. Wearing a brace or splint on your thumb and wrist may be necessary.

Symptoms

Pinpoint your pain.

Signs of De Quervain’s tendonosis:

• Pain may be felt over the thumb side of the wrist
• Pain is felt in the wrist, especially when the thumb and wrist are used, and can travel up the forearm
• Swelling may be seen over the thumb side of the wrist, and this swelling may accompany a fluid-filled cyst in this region
• A “catching” or “snapping” sensation may be felt when moving the thumb
• Pain and swelling may make it difficult to move the thumb and wrist

Diagnosis

Get the answers you need.

To determine whether or not you have De Quervain’s tendonosis, your physician may ask you to perform the Finkelstein test; this test requires you to place your thumb against your hand, make a fist with your fingers closed over your thumb, and then bend your wrist toward your little finger. If you have De Quervain’s tendonosis, this test is quite painful, causing tendon pain on the thumb side of the wrist.

Treatment

Life’s too short to put up with pain.

The goal in treating de Quervain’s tendonosis is to relieve the pain caused by irritation and swelling. Nonsurgical treatments include splints, over-the-counter or prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, and corticosteroid injections. If symptoms are severe or do not improve, surgery may be recommended. Regardless of the treatment, normal use of the hand usually can be resumed once comfort and strength have returned. Your orthopaedic surgeon can advise you on the best treatment for your situation.