Skip to content
de Quervain’s Tendonitis or Wrist Tendonitis

De Quervain’s Tendonitis or Wrist Tendonitis

De Quervain’s Tendonitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

De Quervain’s tendonitis (first dorsal compartment tendonitis) occurs when the tendons at the base of the thumb become irritated or inflamed. This inflammation causes the compartment (a tunnel or sheath) around the tendon to swell and enlarge, leading to pain with thumb and wrist movement. Activities such as making a fist, grasping, or holding objects often trigger pain in this condition.

What Causes De Quervain’s Tendonitis?

This condition is often caused by repetitive activities that place strain on the tendons. Specific factors that may contribute include:

  • Repetitive activity: Taking up a new repetitive activity can stress the tendons, leading to inflammation.
  • New mothers: The act of caring for an infant often leads to awkward hand positioning, making new mothers especially prone to this tendonitis. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and nursing may also contribute.
  • Wrist fractures: A history of wrist fractures may predispose individuals to de Quervain’s tendonitis due to increased stress across the tendons.
Signs and Symptoms of De Quervain’s Tendonitis

The primary symptom of De Quervain’s tendonitis is pain on the thumb-side of the wrist. This pain can appear suddenly or gradually and is located at the first dorsal compartment at the wrist. Other signs and symptoms include:

  • Pain radiating: The pain may radiate down the thumb or up the forearm.
  • Worsening pain with movement: Thumb and hand motion, especially forceful grasping or twisting, increases the pain.
  • Swelling: There may be noticeable swelling at the base of the thumb, sometimes with a fluid-filled cyst.
  • Catching or snapping: Occasionally, you may feel a “catching” or “snapping” sensation when moving the thumb.
  • Numbness: Irritation of the nerve over the tendon sheath can cause numbness on the back of the thumb and index finger.
Diagnosis of De Quervain’s Tendonitis

Your doctor will likely ask you to make a fist with your fingers clasped over your thumb, and then bend your wrist in the direction of your little finger. This maneuver will be very painful if you have de Quervain’s tendonitis, helping your doctor confirm the diagnosis.

Wrist Tendonitis Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve the irritation and swelling causing the pain. Treatment options may include:

  • Rest: Wearing a splint to rest the thumb and wrist and prevent further strain.
  • Anti-inflammatory medication: Oral anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain and swelling.
  • Cortisone injections: Steroid injections into the tendon compartment to reduce inflammation.

These non-operative treatments often provide relief by reducing swelling. In some cases, simply stopping the activities causing the irritation can allow symptoms to resolve on their own.

Surgical Treatment for Severe De Quervain’s Tendonitis

If symptoms are severe or do not improve with conservative treatment, surgery may be recommended. The procedure involves opening the compartment to create more room for the inflamed tendons, thus relieving the pressure and breaking the cycle of irritation. Following surgery, you can resume normal hand use once comfort and strength have returned.

If you are experiencing symptoms of De Quervain’s tendonitis, consult with South Florida Hand and Orthopaedic Center to discuss your treatment options and find relief from pain.

Related Conditions