Treatments for de Quervain's tenosynovitis includes any combination of rest, splinting, ice, anti-inflammation medication, and/or cortisone injection. Cortisone injection is extremely effective and is generally the optimal treatment.
How can you recover from De Quervain's disease?
Recovering from De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Surgery Self-Care Measures After Surgery. Once patients are back home after De Quervain's tenosynovitis and the local anesthesia begins to wear off, they will notice pain and swelling in the thumb ... Timeline for Recovery Milestones. ... Potential Risks and Complications. ...
Do you need surgery to treat de Quervain's disease?
Most cases of De Quervain's tenosynovitis can be treated without surgery . Typically, symptoms should start to improve after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. Nonsurgical treatment options for De Quervain's tenosynovitis include: Rest. Patients should minimize wrist and thumb movement in the affected hand.
How you can help treat de Quervain's tendonitis?
NSAIDs. Pain medications that also alleviate inflammation, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Alieve), can help ease De Quervain's tenosynovitis symptoms. ... Physical therapy. ... Steroid (cortisone) injections. ...
What is the prognosis of De Quervain tenosynovitis?
The prognosis for de Quervain's tenosynovitis is excellent. The patient can generally return to full function after the inflammation quiets down with treatment. Sometimes bracing is used during future activities that involve repetitive wrist motion. Is it possible to prevent de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
How do you treat de Quervains?
De Quervain's tenosynovitis treatmentApplying heat or ice to the affected area.Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). ... Avoiding activities that cause pain and swelling. ... Wearing a splint 24 hours a day for 4 to 6 weeks to rest your thumb and wrist.More items...•
What is the best treatment for tenosynovitis?
The primary treatment goal for tenosynovitis is to reduce pain and inflammation. Applying a heat or cool pack can help with this, as well as resting and keeping the tendons as still as possible. Other treatment options can include: Physical Therapy.
Can De Quervain's be cured?
Most cases of De Quervain's tenosynovitis can be treated without surgery. Typically, symptoms should start to improve after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment.
What type of splint is used for de Quervain's?
Although the use of splints has shown differing levels of effectiveness for conservative care of de Quervain's tenosynovitis, postsurgical patients are recommended to be placed in a thumb spica splint for 1 to 2 weeks to allow for healing and immobilization [10, 14, 15].
Do cortisone shots help de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
People do get pain relief from cortisone injections for De Quervain's Tenosynovitis. Sometimes one injection can provide months of relief.
How do you treat inflammation of the tendon sheath?
Common treatments include:splints and compression to give the overworked tendon time to rest and heal.stretching to improve flexibility.hot and cold therapy to reduce swelling.acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)corticosteroid injections to control inflammation.More items...
What makes De Quervain's worse?
Although the exact cause of de Quervain's tenosynovitis isn't known, any activity that relies on repetitive hand or wrist movement — such as working in the garden, playing golf or racket sports, or lifting your baby — can make it worse.
Is heat or ice better for de Quervain's?
Put ice or a cold pack on your thumb and wrist for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. You can use heat for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day.
Does De Quervain's tenosynovitis require surgery?
Mild to moderate symptoms from De Quervain's tenosynovitis can be improved without surgery. But If these more conservative treatments fail, De Quervain's surgery is the next step.
Does compression help de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis symptoms can include pain, catching and decreased grip strength. Treat this and all tenosynovitis pain with the principles of acute injury care of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation).
What kind of brace do you use for thumb tendonitis?
A hand based brace that supports the base of your thumb is best when you have pain at the CMC joint. The CMCcare Thumb Brace and the NEW 3pp Prima Thumb Brace are good examples for this type of pain.
Does a TENS unit help de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
The Physical Therapist also can perform other modalities to reduce inflammation, such as laser therapy, application of heat, use of a TENS unit, treatment with cold packs and other therapies. I can also recommend that the patient wear a brace that will allow their thumb and wrist to rest and heal.
What is non surgical treatment for DQTS?
The goal of treatment is pain relief and restoration of a fully functioning hand and wrist.
Why is it so difficult to determine the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications?
Determining the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) is difficult because they are often combined with other treatment modalities in most series examining their use for de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Is de Quervain's disease an inflammatory disease?
The general consensus is that it is not an inflammatory condition. The prevalence rate of de Quervain’s disease in the general population is 0.5% for males and 1.3% for females. Other reports show the risk of de Quervain’s disease is relatively higher in the black race and in occupations involving repetitive use of hand [3-4].
What is de Quervain's tendinitis?
What is de Quervain’s tendinosis? De Quervain’s tendinosis is a painful swelling (inflammation) of specific tendons of the thumb. The condition is also known as de Quervain tendinitis or de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. DeQuervain’s was named after the Swiss surgeon who first described the condition in 1895.
How is de Quervain's tendinosis diagnosed?
How is de Quervain’s tendinosis diagnosed? The test most often used to diagnose de Quervain’s tendinosis is the Finkelstein test. Your doctor will ask you to make a fist with your fingers wrapped over your thumb.
How to treat a swollen thumb?
Your healthcare provider may start with non-surgical treatments to improve your symptoms. These non-surgical treatments can include: 1 Using splints. Splints may be worn to rest the wrist and thumb and keep it from moving. Splints are usually worn 24-hours-a-day for four to six weeks. 2 Applying ice to your thumb and wrist area to reduce swelling. 3 Avoiding activities that are causing pain and swelling. 4 Taking medications. If symptoms continue, your doctor may give you anti-inflammatory medication, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, to decrease pain and swelling. Steroid injection (s) into the tendon sheath may also be considered.
How to reduce swelling in thumb and wrist?
Applying ice to your thumb and wrist area to reduce swelling. Avoiding activities that are causing pain and swelling. Taking medications. If symptoms continue, your doctor may give you anti-inflammatory medication, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, to decrease pain and swelling.
How common is de Quervain's tendinosis?
This condition affects women eight to 10 times more often than men.
Do you need surgery for de Quervain's tendonitis?
De Quervain’s tendinosis usually responds very well to treatment. Many people do not need surgery. Treatment with braces, anti-inflammatory medications and rest often corrects the condition. Cases that require surgery have a high success rate. However, de Quervain’s tendinosis does need to be treated.
Can de Quervain's tendon be treated with anesthesia?
If non-surgical treatments do not help relieve pain and swelling, surgery may be recommended. Surgery for de Que rvain’s tendinosis is an outpatient procedure typically done under local anesthesia or with mild sedation. During the surgery, a tiny cut is made in the sheath through which the tendons pass.
Rest or reduce hand movements
if at all possible, you must change/modify or stop the activities that cause your symptoms
Corticosteroid injection
I won’t go too much into this section however results from some trials show that the use of corticosteroid injections can provide symptomatic relief of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. A corticosteroid injection is usually administered between the two painful APL and EPB tendons.
How long does it take for a patient to recover from a de Quervain's teno
One study of 80 patients with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis found that 95% were symptom-free after two or three injections over the course of 6 weeks. 1 However, these injections have a drawback in as they carry a risk of causing reactions and side effects.
What is the best treatment for de quaervain's tenosynovitis?
NSAIDs. Pain medications that also allevia te inflammation, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Alieve), can help ease De Quervain’s tenosynovitis symptoms. Other non-NSAID pain medications such as aspirin may also be appropriate. Physical therapy.
How long does it take for tenosynovitis to heal?
Most cases of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis can be treated without surgery. Typically, symptoms should start to improve after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment.
How does De Quervain's tenosynovitis treatment work?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis treatment is aimed at minimizing pain and swelling by changing your lifestyle or with medical intervention. There are multiple options to help you reduce your symptoms of de Quervain’s, take a look below to read more about each one.
What is the procedure for de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
Surgery is a last resort for people suffering from de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. It’s typically reserved for people who have not had success with other treatments. During surgery, the surgeon will make an incision in the wrist. Then makes a small incision in the tendon sheath that surround the tendons.
What can a physical therapist do for de Quervain's tenosynovitis
Often time physical therapists will use exercise, stretching, and other techniques to help regain strength and range of motion. An occupational therapist may work alongside or independent from a physical therapist to help you work on your fine motor skills that may have been affected by de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
What is the best medication for swelling?
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) provide pain relief and reduce swelling. These medications are generally inexpensive and easy to find at most pharmacies. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking a new medication to avoid any unintended drug interactions.
What is de Quervain's syndrome?
De Quervain's syndrome is a painful inflammation of tendons in the thumb that extend to the wrist. As the disease progresses, hand and thumb motions—especially forceful grasping and twisting—can cause pain. Surgery for de Quervain's syndrome is an outpatient procedure. The orthopedic surgeon opens the thumb compartment to release the pressure, ...
Can de Quervain's syndrome be treated?
However, in people whose disease has developed gradually, de Quervain's syndrome is sometimes more resistant to treatment. For these patients, it may take longer to find relief. Back to Treatments.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
If your symptoms are mild, resting your wrist and thumb, wearing a splint at night, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen may help.
What does the operation involve?
The operation can usually be performed under a local anaesthetic and usually takes about 30 minutes.
Summary
De Quervain’s disease causes pain when you move your wrist and thumb, and usually a tender swelling at the base of your thumb. If treatment with steroid injections has failed, surgery should relieve your pain.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
De Quervain's disease is inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. Tendons are thick strands of tissue that connect muscles to bones.
Splint or brace
These devices will help decrease pain, limit movement, and protect your wrist so that it can heal. Make sure your device is comfortable. If it is too tight, your fingers may feel numb or tingly. Do not push or lean on your device because it can break.
Physical or occupational therapy
You may need to see a physical or occupational therapist to teach you special exercises. These exercises help improve movement and decrease pain. They also help improve strength and decrease your risk for loss of function. Therapists will help you make changes to your daily activities to decrease stress and pressure on the tendons.
Rest
Rest your injured thumb or wrist. Avoid twisting, grasping, or gripping movements. Ask when you can return to your normal activities.
Medicines
NSAIDs: These medicines decrease swelling, pain, and fever. They are available without a doctor's order. Ask which medicine is right for you, and how much to take. Take as directed. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems if not taken correctly.
Follow up with your doctor as directed
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
