Have you noticed any strange ache in your lower thumb post the keyboard session or after a tennis court session? This can be tedious and troublesome.
You are not alone to face this! All those involved in repetitive work activities, sports activities, over texting, twisting thumb motions, or lifting babies may get De Quervain syndrome in their life period.
What is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?
New to this term? De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is an awful condition in which the wrist tendons get affected. The syndrome occurs due to irritation or swelling of tendons around the thumb base. This swelling of tendon and sheaths can result in pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist. A person will be able to notice the symptom while forming a fist, gripping things, or turning the wrist.
What are the Symptoms of Quervain’s tenosynovitis?
The main symptom of De Quervain syndrome is pain and tenderness at the thumb base. There may also be a pain while going up the forearm. This pain appears either slowly or suddenly and will get worse with the thumb, hand, or wrist use.
Some of the other symptoms include the following:
- Swelling near the thumb base can be felt
- There can be numbness at the back of the thumb and index finger
- Catching or snapping sensation with the thumb movement
- Creaking sound when the tendons move within swollen sheaths
Causes of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Patients often wonder what causes the condition to occur and if they can prevent its occurrence. The most common cause is wrist overuse. Middle-age women are prone to the condition. You may also feel pain and irritation with the repetitive movements of your hands. Other causes include lifting a child into the car seat, lifting heavy grocery bags by handles, direct injury to the wrist, or inflammatory arthritis.
The risks of developing the condition increase if:
- You are women of middle-age
- You are involved in hobbies or jobs involving repetitive hand movements or wrist motions
- Any wrist injury as scar tissue restricts the tendon movements
- Arthritis or hormonal changes during pregnancy
Diagnosis of Quervain’s tenosynovitis
The diagnosis process of the syndrome will be done with a simple test known as the Finkelstein test. This test is conducted by the physician to determine if you have tenosynovitis or not. You need to place your thumb against your hand making a fist with the fingers closed over the thumb followed by bending your wrist towards the little finger.
If you feel pain during this test at the thumb base, the existence of the condition gets confirmed. No other tests are required to diagnose the condition.
Can finger or thumb tendonitis get prevented?
You can yourself prevent the syndrome’s occurrence by avoiding the repeated hand movement. Keep an eye on the action change to reduce the stress on your wrists. You can also take breaks to rest from the activities. Wearing a brace or splint is also recommended to the patients if required. Exercises may also help in preventing the occurrence of the condition.
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis treatment
The treatment for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is required to reduce the pain and swelling. If a natural cure is your preference, you can go with applying heat or ice to the affected area, taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, avoiding activites that cause pain & swelling. Other options are wearing a splint, or getting steroid injections into the tendon sheath.
Surgery is also an option for the patients if the condition is severe or other treatments don’t provide relief to the condition.
Get treatment for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis at home
There is a new device launched for the safe home cure of de Quervain syndrome at your home. The De Quervain’s Wand is designed to offer an inexpensive alternative to surgery in reducing the difficulties associated with the syndrome without any risk to the body.Buy it once at a reasonable rate and reuse it for multiple fingers over years.
This portable handy device wand has made the De Quervain’s tenosynovitis treatment easy and scar-free. Shop the wand online for a perfect home cure with no risks or complications.