Understanding DeQuervain Tenosynovitis

When you reach out to grab something, turn your wrist or even make a fist and you feel a sharp pain going through the thumb side of your wrist or maybe a numbess in your hand, you might have DeQuervain Tenosynovitis. For conditions like DeQuervain’s physiotherapy offers an effective, and researched treatment for it. Let’s look at the details

What Does DeQuervain Tenosynovitis Feel Like? (Signs and Symptoms)

• Pain: Having pain near the base of your thumb.
• Swelling: The base of your thumb feels enlarged or swollen
• Impaired Function: Difficulty moving the thumb and wrist when doing something that involves grasping or pinching.
• Thumb Feeling Stuck: A “sticking” or “stop-and-go” sensation in the thumb when moving it.

What Causes DeQuervain Tenosynovitis?

DeQuervain tenosynovitis affects the two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Tendons are ropelike structures that attach muscle to bone. Some common causes include:

• Chronic overuse, such as repeating a particular hand motion day after day which irritates the covering of those tendons.
• Inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis)
• Direct injury to the wrist or tendon (causes scar tissue that restricts the tendons)
• Fluid retention (like from changes in hormones during pregnancy)

Risk Factors:

Age: People between the ages of 30 and 50 have a higher risk of developing the condition than people in other age groups.

Pregnancy: Condition may be associated with hormonal changes during pregnancy

Baby Care: Lifting a child repeatedly involves using the thumbs as leverage and may be associated with the condition.

Jobs or Activities: Jobs or activities that involve repetitive hand and wrist motions may contribute to the cause or worsening of DeQuervain Tenosynovitis.

How Does Physiotherapy Helps Manage DeQuervain Tenosynovitis? (Ultrasound Therapies and Exercise Therapy)

Some patients might have gone through procedures related to their case of DeQuervain Tenosynovitis and might be a little disappointed to see it heal slower than they thought, with Ultrasound therapy and Manual Therapy, we can help you speed up the process towards healing.

Overall Goals of Physiotherapy Management Regarding DeQuervain Tenosynovitis:

• To Reduce the Pain Cause By The Condition
• To Restore Movement To The Affected Body Parts
• To Improve Treatment Outcomes of Patients

Key Physiotherapy Techniques & Treatments:

• Therapeutic Ultrasound: Research shows that therapeutic ultrasounds may effectively control pain.
• Exercise Therapy Strengthening: Patients can start with strengthening exercises once their pain has settled to a manageable level. Our Therapists will help guide in this process on how to exercise patients’ hands in order to strengthen their tendons in order to rehabilitate them.
• Mobilisation: Mobilisation with movement has shown effectiveness in decreasing the pain, improving range of motion, and improving the function of a patient with De-Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

What to Expect:

• An assessment by our therapists to diagnose the state of the patient’s DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis and to identify the severity of it.
• A personalized plan based on scientific evidence and the patient’s unique needs
• Consistency in home exercises is highly recommended as it is crucial for success

Note: While physiotherapy is highly effective for cases of DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis, always see a doctor first to get a proper diagnosis and rule out serious medical conditions. Consult your doctor when you notice worsening of symptoms mentioned above during treatment.