De Quervain’s disease is not typically permanent as long as the condition is treated. If not treated, then it can permanently limit movement and is known to be extremely painful.
If De Quervain’s disease is not treated, it may cause one’s tendon sheath to burst, and this tendon damage can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 6 months to heal completely. The damage caused by a burst tendon sheath can be permanent, affecting one’s thumb’s overall movement.
De Quervain’s disease is caused by repetitive movements of the hand or wrist, often caused by gardening, playing racket sports, or even a mother lifting her baby.
Refraining from the activity that causes De Quervain’s disease is a known remedy and will prevent it from becoming permanent. De Quervain’s is more common in people between 30 and 50 and is also more prevalent in women.
Mothers of young babies tend to suffer from De Quervain’s because of the repetitive motion of picking up and putting down their children. It is also common in younger adults who regularly play video games because of the repeated use of their thumbs when handling a game’s console controller.
The most common treatment for De Quervain’s Disease is pain reliever and rest; however, surgery may be necessary in extreme cases. The use of a wrist brace or even a splint is typical in the treatment of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
This will help to immobilize the injured area allowing for a speedier recovery. The average recovery time from the standard procedure is from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the case.
The recovery time for surgery on extreme De Quervain’s disease cases is several months, with the area remaining sore and tender throughout the recovery period. It is recommended that you take frequent breaks if having to perform a repetitive motion to avoid contracting De Quervain’s disease.