De Quervain Tenosynovitis Treatment in Westminster Denver Colorado
Overview
De Quervain tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. If you have de Quervain tenosynovitis, you will probably feel pain when you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.
Although the exact cause of de Quervain 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 a baby — can make it worse.
Symptoms
Symptoms of de Quervain tenosynovitis include:
Pain near the base of the thumb
Swelling near the base of the thumb
Difficulty moving the thumb and wrist when doing something that involves grasping or pinching
A “sticking” or “stop-and-go” sensation in the thumb when moving it
If the condition goes too long without treatment, the pain may spread farther into the thumb or forearm or both. Moving the thumb and wrist may make the pain worse.
Causes
De Quervain tenosynovitis affects the two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Tendons are ropelike structures that attach muscle to bone.
Chronic overuse, such as repeating a particular hand motion day after day, may irritate the covering around the tendons. If the covering becomes irritated, the tendons can thicken and swell. This thickening and swelling restrict the movement of the tendons through the small tunnel that connects them to the base of the thumb.
Other causes of de Quervain tenosynovitis include:
Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Direct injury to the wrist or tendon, which may cause scar tissue that restricts movement of the tendons
Fluid retention, such as from changes in hormones during pregnancy
Risk factors
Risk factors for de Quervain tenosynovitis include:
Age. People between the ages of 30 and 50 have a higher risk of developing de Quervain tenosynovitis than do people in other age groups, including children.
Sex. The condition is more common in women.
Being pregnant. The condition may be associated with pregnancy.
Baby care. Lifting a child repeatedly involves using the thumbs as leverage and may be associated with the condition.
Jobs or hobbies that involve repetitive hand and wrist motions. These may contribute to de Quervain tenosynovitis.
Diagnosis
To diagnose de Quervain tenosynovitis, your health care provider will examine your hand to see if you feel pain when pressure is applied on the thumb side of the wrist.
Tests
You may be asked to perform a Finkelstein test, in which you bend your thumb across the palm of your hand and bend your fingers down over your thumb. Then you bend your wrist toward your little finger. If this causes pain on the thumb side of your wrist, you likely have de Quervain tenosynovitis.
Imaging tests, such as X-rays, generally aren’t needed to diagnose de Quervain tenosynovitis.
Treatment
Treatment for de Quervain tenosynovitis is aimed at reducing inflammation, preserving movement in the thumb and preventing recurrence.
If you start treatment early, your symptoms should improve within 4 to 6 weeks. If de Quervain tenosynovitis starts during pregnancy, symptoms are likely to end around the end of either pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Our expert providers are experienced and skilled at treating De Quervain tenosynovitis and are your source for expert treatment of De Quervain tenosynovitis in Westminster and Denver Colorado. Not only are we the premier treatment for spine injuries and chiropractic in Westminster and Denver Colorado, but we also specialize in many other advanced treatment techniques such as shockwave, cold laser, graston technique, KT Taping, activator, instrument aided spinal alignments, drop table, toggle, in house rehab services, and on site digital xrays. We are your Premier destination for De Quervain tenosynovitis treatment in Westminster Colorado and Denver Colorado Chiropractor.