Thumb pain: Mothers and fathers get it from picking up their babies… Gamers from their controllers… Cell phone users from too much texting – And let’s not forget percussionists, golfers and anglers!
It’s not a SIMPLE case of Tendonitis. It’s a more complicated tendon syndrome known as a ‘Tenosynovitis’ in this case, one that involves two thumb tendons and the special wrappers called ‘Synovial Sheaths’ around them where they cross the wrist.
- TENO refers to the tendon – (Tendons are the “ropes” which connect muscles to bones)
- SYNO refers to the Synovial Sheaths – (which are special protective tendon sleeves) and
- ITIS had to do with irritation, inflammation and pain – (although inflammation is not the primary issue and is often wrongly and unfairly blamed – MORE on that later!)
Fritz De Quervain was a Swiss surgeon, who first described the condition about a century ago, and so it’s called ‘De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis.’
The Common Symptoms
The pain is felt on the back side of the thumb at the wrist (not the palm side) and it ranges from a dull ache to fiery, burning, even stabbing, pain with certain thumb and wrist motions.
- Pain at the base of the dorsal thumb (back side of wrist on thumb side)
- Stabbing pain with gripping and twisting motions (forget opening jars!)
- Tenderness to the touch around the dorsal, radial wrist (back, thumb side)
- Swelling / stiffness on the thumb side of the back of the wrist / lower forearm
- A “snapping” or “catching” sensation in the wrist area with thumb movement
- And fluid-filled cysts sometimes appear in this area at the same time
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