De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a severe condition that affects the two tendons linking the wrist and thumb.
The tendons around the thumb base become swollen, which is extremely painful and makes movements difficult. The swelling in the thumb causes the tendon sheaths to become inflamed.
The inflammation will put pressure on surrounding nerves, which causes pain, but may also cause numbing.
Repetitive motions cause de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. Things like playing golf or racket sports will cause the condition to send text messages regularly or play video games.
Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most common sufferers of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. This is because they are constantly picking up and putting down their children, or lifting them in and out of car seat strollers.
It is also common in women who wash clothes by hand, often called Washerwoman’s wrist.
What to do for the pain
Doctors will often prescribe pain killers with anti-inflammatory properties to alleviate the pain. They will also place the wrist and thumb in a brace to stop movement and allow the tendons to rest.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend steroid injections as a form of treatment. When the condition is extreme, the only option may be an operation where the tendon sheaths are released, allowing freedom of movement.
There are several self-care options in the treatment of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. If possible, stopping the activity that requires repetitive motion is the best treatment but often is just not practical.
It is recommended that you use the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) technique to relieve the symptoms whenever you can. You can also use a gentle massage to help release the tendons; however, this can be extremely painful.
There is the De Quervain’s wand available for those who are looking for a proven treatment.
The De Quervain’s wand, when used with the De Quervain’s Tape and Jelly, will make an immediate difference to the patient and will quickly allow movement to return to normal if used regularly.
You can find all three products here on dequervainscure.