How isĀ De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis treated?
The goal of treatment for de Quervain’s is to relieve the pain and swelling in your thumb and wrist, and restore normal function.
If your wrist or thumb hurts extremely, your doctor might give you aĀ corticosteroid shot, also called a steroid shot. A medicine called steroid is injected into your wrist area and the bottom of your thumb.
Within 3 weeks of having a steroid shot, most people can use the wrist and thumb again for normal activities.
If your wrist and thumb do not feel better after the injection, your doctor might talk to you about surgery.
How is de Quervain’s diagnosed?
Your doctor will check for swelling, tenderness, or numbness around the base of the thumb. There may also be crackling or popping when you move your thumb.
Your doctor may or may not use the Finkelstein test to help diagnose de Quervain’s.
What are the symptoms for de Quervain’s?
De Quervain’s may cause pain when you twist your wrist. You might also have pain if you grab something between your thumb and fingers.
The bottom of the thumb or the side of the wrist might also be sore or swollen. This can make it hard to move your thumb or wrist. The back of the thumb and index finger may also feel numb. Sometimes de Quervain’s can cause a small bump on the thumb side of the wrist. If you don’t get treatment, the pain can spread up your forearm or down into your thumb.
What causes de Quervain’s?
People can get de Quervain’s when they hurt or use the thumb or wrist too much. Common activities that need your wrist and thumb can cause the problem.
Specialists Treating De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Dr Kevin Yip, Orthopaedic Specialist
