De Quervain's tenosynovitis treatment is aimed at helping you minimize pain and swelling by changing your lifestyle, or with medical intervention. Read on for more information on what the various treatment plans entail.
To many, exercising might seem like a simple activity, but in truth there are many types of exercise that have specific benefits. One exercise that has proven effective in treating de Quervain’s tenosynovitis is low-impact aerobics – an option that allows you to reduce pain and swelling, while also improving strength and endurance both generally speaking and specifically when it comes to the wrists.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Patients should find that they can treat their ailments relatively easily at home, with a little supervision from health care professionals. The goal of these treatments is to reduce inflammation and pain to alleviate potentially serious infections or illnesses.
Rest
One of the best cures for an ailing hand is to give it some much-needed rest. De Quervain’s disease is often due to repetitive movements or just plain handling something for way too long. Many are guilty of not taking the time out to allow their body (or hands) essential time and space to heal properly and fully. This can have many detrimental effects on our long-term health, so do your best to take care of things that need attention quickly! It’ll help prevent any delays in healing when you know something isn’t right with your body, and then try your best to remember that repairing what’s been hurt is the right thing to do.
Tell both friends and family who will likely understand if you ask them nicely, because they too must take care of themselves. After all, it’s not selfish, it keeps us all thriving!
Change in Activity
Avoid activities that cause thumb pain or worsen your symptoms. Whenever you feel pain along the thumb side, take note and assess how to avoid that movement. Sometimes the simplest change can make a big difference in your relief from thumb pain.
Medication
There are so many pill bottles to keep track of, but it is necessary! Just make sure you know when and how much of each med you take daily. These medications typically cost less than $10. Usually, NSAIDs can be found in any pharmacy or grocery store, and they don't require a prescription. Therefore, they're affordable and easy to find anywhere that sells these products. Always talk with your doctor before taking new medications – even the common over-the-counter ones!
This will allow you to watch out for possible side effects before it’s too late. Also, remind everyone in your house not to take any medication (even if they resemble Tylenol) unless their doctor prescribed them or specifically brought into the home by someone given specific permission from said doctor to administer that specific medication.
Cold and Heat
Heat and Cold therapy are two very different, yet complementary therapies. Cold therapy reduces swelling by limiting blood flow to the area, which also numbs pain by interrupting the pain signal. Heat encourages blood flow to an area, which in turn speeds up healing. Heat relieves soreness because it soothes tired muscles and keeps movement flowing freely. Just remember that it's important not to have either ice or heat on your skin for too long, even with a herbal heating pad or other similar things, like hot water bottles for example. That can cause serious skin damage after prolonged exposure, no matter how good it feels at the moment.
Splints and Braces
Wearing a splint or brace during the night and throughout the day allows your hand to grasp things properly, preventing pain anywhere along the base of the thumb. This is because wearing a splint lets you freely move your thumb without obstructing it, but still gives your hand structure to keep its normal shape at all times without stressing it in any way. It’s recommended to wear a comfortable finger spica splint overnight, as it meets safety requirements and can allow one’s mobility while not taking away from the general functionality of their hand during daily activities.
Stretches and Exercises
After the inflammation and pain have subsided, it is time to stretch and exercise your arm and hand. Stretching will help you regain any lost range of motion and work through any scar tissue that has developed. Exercise will strengthen the surrounding muscles to prevent additional injury. Also, it reinforces your muscle memory so that you can do everyday activities like writing or shaking hands with ease!
Nonsurgical Treatment
Some patients will require medical attention due to the lackluster success of lifestyle changes and other nonsurgical treatment methods. Luckily, there are various nonsurgical options that patients may consider, including:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists are experts in helping patients manage their pain. They will evaluate you, create treatment plans, and tailor solutions to fit your needs. Often physical therapists will help by guiding exercise, stretching, even manipulating your muscles and bones themselves to increase strength and restore flexibility as your body heals from injury!
When you develop a case of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, there are people who can help you get back on your feet. A fine motor skill refers to the ability to use your hands to perform tasks like buttoning your shirt or writing. Occupational therapists will help you regain control in your fingers, so that you can do these things again. These particular healthcare professionals are just one example of how various groups of people provide aid to others during uncertain times, such as this one.
Corticosteroid Injections
A corticosteroid injection is a commonly used treatment of de Quervain’s. The doctor uses steroid medication injected into the injured area with a needle. The steroid injection is typically successful in reducing inflammation and pain. You may be limited by the number of times you receive these injections, and there are potential side effects.
Surgery
Surgery is a last option for many individuals suffering from de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which is why it should be reserved only for people who haven’t had success with other treatments. During surgery, the surgeon will make an incision in the wrist to reveal the tendons that restrict movement and cause pain.
Simply removing that pressure from the area will relieve discomfort caused by this condition, as well as movements within a patient’s hand. Surgery is usually done in an outpatient basis and has a quick recovery time, making it a great choice for those who want to get back to daily life as quickly as possible!
What to Expect from a Doctor Visit
Before you walk out the door for a doctor's appointment, it’s important to always make sure you're prepared for when you meet with your physician. Keep in mind that taking notes is an integral part of the process, because writing things down will enable you to reference information later on when needed. Next time you have a doctor's appointment, be sure to bring a pen and notebook if possible, so that you'll be able to write down notes during your appointment and refer back to them later down the road. Then, of course, remember that after the doctor asks a few questions and performs certain tests, he or she will likely want to offer suggestions about what measures could be taken moving forward, as well as answer any questions you might have about your condition!
- What are your daily activities like?
- When did the pain start?
- What makes it worse?
- What treatments have you tried?
- Have you injured that hand or thumb?
Prevention Tips
Your wrists are prone to inflaming due to forceful movements and poor posturing. This can be triggered by your employment or even if you have a job which involves working at the computer. So how do you prevent this condition? We say to work smarter and use the right equipment! The smart way is to prop your wrists as you type, such as typing on a wrist rest instead of the hard surface of your desk / keyboard. This action will eliminate unnecessary pressure from building up in your tendons and allow you to continue typing without pain for longer periods. Over time, using this method will cure de Quervain’s tendinosis altogether.
Our best tips are as follows to prevent this painful condition:
- Avoid repetitive hand movements
- Take frequent breaks from activities that use your wrists
- Wear a brace or splint
- Change your hand movements
- Follow any medical advice from your doctor or physical therapist.
Safe Treatment for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a condition that affects the hand, thumb, and wrist. This condition can be managed with a few lifestyle adjustments, and if you are not getting any relief, then De Quervain’s can be diagnosed quickly by your doctor, and they can guide you through any specific treatment options that are right for you.