De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons located on the thumb side of your wrist. A tendon is a strong band of tissue that attaches muscle to bone. A sheath, or covering, surrounds the tendons that go to your thumb. Tenosynovitis is an irritation of this sheath.
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis usually occurs from overusing your thumb or wrist, especially in activities that move your thumb directly away from your wrist such as skiing or hammering.
Symptoms include:
Your doctor will examine your wrist and thumb to find the areas that are tender and painful to move. An x-ray will be taken to rule out a broken bone.
The initial treatment is a splint or brace that will cover your wrist and thumb to protect it from activities that worsen your pain.
Other treatment may also include:
Information obtained from The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor by Pierre Rouzier, MD