Do you feel pain at the base of your thumb when you grip something or turn your wrist? You might be experiencing De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist.
What Causes the Pain?
The exact cause isn't always clear, but activities that involve repetitive hand or wrist movement—such as gardening, playing sports, or lifting a baby—can aggravate the condition. The tendons become "squeezed" through the tight tunnel they travel through, leading to inflammation and pain.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Most cases can be managed without surgery. Common approaches include wearing a thumb-spica splint, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and receiving corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling around the tendons.
When is Surgery Needed?
If conservative treatments fail to provide relief after several weeks, a minor surgical procedure can be performed to open the roof of the tunnel, giving the tendons more room to glide. This is a highly successful procedure with a relatively short recovery time.