Dequervain’s Tenosynovitis

Dequervain’s tenosynovitis (also known as stenosing tenosynovitis) is a painful condition that impacts the tendons in your wrist. This condition typically occurs when there is swelling around the base of the thumb. The swelling results in the sheath that wraps around the tendons to become inflamed, putting pressure on nerves and causing numbness.

Causes

This condition is commonly caused by overexertion of the wrist, particularly from hard gripping and flexing. Some common movements that lead to Dequervain’s tenosynovitis include lifting children or heavy bags by the handles. It can also be caused by an injury to the wrist and is more common in patients who have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of Dequervain’s tenosynovitis is pain and tenderness at the base of the thumb, which can extend to the forearm. It often becomes worse when using the wrist, hand, and thumb. In some cases, a catching sensation may occur and a bump can be felt near the point of tenderness.

Treatment

Treatment for Dequervain’s tenosynovitis can include rest, applying heat or ice to the area, splinting the wrist and thumb, and injecting steroids or a local anesthetic to the tendon sheath. Surgery may be required if these treatment options are not successful.