De Quervain's tenosynovitis

I have had De Quervain tenosynovitis in both wrists for years. I have been through thumb immobolizing braces, physical therapy, 2 injections (going for my 3rd tomorrow) hoping to get the doctor to agree to surgery.. the condition is extremely painful, it makes my wrists, hands, and fingers all very week. I certainly hope that I get some relief very soon. I am going into a career field soon, (almost finished with schooling for it) that may involve me lifting very heavy patients. I would feel terrible if I accidentally dropped them, not to mention they would take legal action.. all because my dr doesn't want to so surgery yet.

Hi Dereksgurl,

I hope the operation resolves the problem. Let me know how you get on, please.

Thanks.

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Hi physical therapist in Arizona,

?Thank you for your suggestion of kinesiotape for my De Quervain's tenosynovitis. I have had K-tape applied by a physiotherapist for my wrist, amongst other injuries, over the years. It seems to have a positive effect on symptoms. Maybe I'll get some in and apply it myself.

Thanks again for yor help, all comments and suggestions are very welcome.

?Grimm.

Hi Aim 75,

​Thank you for details of the supplements you are taking, so glad they are working for you. I have vitamin B complex now, and will look up the others also.

All the best,

Grimm.

Helpppppppppp. 34 male here. I was moving houses almost 2 months and 2 weeks ago, for 3 days non stop moving boxes, picking up and putting down boxes, pulling and pushing a dolly...on 3rd night when i was done, i went to sleep and woke up an hour later with intense pain in my right wrist. It felt so stiff. next few days i couldnt even turn anything, or reach behind me to put my wallet in back pocket. It was terrible. took some pain meds and it kind of went away but came back. I went to doc, she first gave me thumb out splint..2 weeks of no healing i went to ortho, ortho told me that doc gave me wrong splint and gave me a thumb IN splint. Kind of helped...but a month later it's still painful. I can finally type on a computer without pain,  but not for long. I stopped wearing the splint completely. At first I was wearing it all the time, then only when i slept because i feel like my wrists bend all over the place when i sleep...and then i stopped completely because when i wear it while sleeping i wake up and take it off and it feels so stiff, and even a slight move of the wrist would cause pain and it stayed like this for hours so i wasnt sure if this was normal part of healing or if i was making it worse. I started deep ice massaging it and that kind of helped. I did some stretches and massages and that also helps but i still cant write with my hand without it hurting. I cant turn many things without pain. I stopped using my right hand whenever possible and use left hand for everything that requires lifting and even the mouse..so now my left wrist also started hurting but not the way deqervains type pain. I feel so helpless i hate this. First time i went to ortho he asked me if i was interested in surgery. That kind of put me off..who recommends that as first solution? then he said maybe shots, but for now try this splint. I hate going to docs, i feel like they are useless now, just want your money. want you in and out asap. I'm going to try the supplements recommendations here. I havent worked out in like 3 months because of this so i can feel myself getting weaker too in the arms. sigh

Hi Guys I damaged my right hand by cutting two tendons in my thumb and one in my wrist many years ago and as I reached my 40s my lower wrist starting aching me, for around 3 years I used to compensate this by resting it when painful and using my left hand more. I ended up getting dequirvins tendinitis in my left hand due to overusing it that was very painfull and debilitating, I have since had 3 injections of steroid in my right hand and two in my left they seem to help in the short term and actually I have found some good wrist supports that really helps me work with my hands, I have also been doing my rehabilitation exercices that have helped to increase my mobility in my left but it is still very painful even if I use it a little. I have had dequrvins for three years this September and considering requesting a tendon release operation on my left hand do you think it is the right decision? I really don’t want any more steroid injections due to the risks involved and I am fed up of being in pain   I have been told that due to the damage already on my right that an operation will not be successful and could make it worse, I find that icing my hands when I overuse them dose help with the pain and inflammation, I use a cold pack wrapped in a thin tea towel, I sympathis with all you guys and hope you all get better soon. Any advice would be appreciated I have now had dequrvains tendinitis for nearly 3 years and am fed up. I have not tried electro therapy or IFT therapy but would consider anything to not be in pain.

Yes and I'll share the treatment that worked for me when i finally found it, so much unhelpful info on the net (it wasn't steroid injections which I wanted to avoid as it can degrade the tendon long-term).

I saw almost immediate improvement after struggling for months performing an exercise a specialist told me to do daily. It involves holding something with weight like a hammer or dumbbell bar with weight only on one end. You need to hold the hammer upright in your hand and then SLOWLY dip the object down as far as your tendon will allow and then SLOWLY raise back up. Do 10-15 repetitions of this. This movement very quickly improved my range of movement in the tight tendon and strengthened it greatly. After two weeks I had my range of movement back, I continued the excercise for many weeks to make sure the tendon was as strong as possible. I combined this with wearing a splint at work to stop myself using the tendon to let it heal. This was the only thing that worked for me... My tendon used to be so tight that it would catch and 'pop' when trying to move my thumb or flex my wrist, so it was pretty bad.