What is DeQuervain’s tendonitis?

DeQuervain’s tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of the wrist tendons around the base of the thumb. The inflammation causes the tunnel around the tendon to swell making movement painful.

Causes:

• Overuse injuries

• It can be associated with pregnancy

• It can be found in inflammatory arthritis

• Very common in middle-aged women

Signs and Symptoms:

• Pain which may radiate down the thumb or up the forearm

• Tenderness

• Swelling over the thumb side of the wrist

• Difficulty grasping

• Numbness in the back of the thumb or index finger

Nonsurgical Treatment:

• Rest

• Anti-inflammatory medication

• Splints

Surgical Treatment:

If the symptoms are severe and do not improve with nonsurgical treatment, you should visit an orthopaedic provider to discuss surgery. The provider may recommend this surgery to open the covering to make more room for the irritated tendons

Please note: This information is for informational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnosing an injury, and the information provided should not be used to replace medical treatment.