3 step test for thumb tendonitis or de quervain’s tendonitis
What would we do if we lost use of our hands? Wow, what a hard time we would have. Even trying to things left handed (if you are a righty) is difficult. I know this when I hurt my right hand and could not use it. So protecting our hands is of utmost importance. Doing our job, when our fingers or hands have been damaged can be very difficult and makes things tough to perform our everyday tasks.
Health injuries such as thumb tendonitis and De Quervain’s tendonitis can impact how we do these things also. These can occur by a number of factors.
What is Tendonitis of the Thumb
Let’s talk a minute about tendonitis in the thumb. Sometimes this can happen when you have an irritation or swelling of the hand tendons. Usually this will happen on the thumb side of the wrist.
This irritation then causes the compartment (the lining) that is around the tendon to swell. This swelling changes the shape of the compartment. Then the tendon cannot move in the compartment as it should. What happens then is pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist. You will notice the pain when you try to make a fist or when you try and grasp or grip things and by turning the wrist.
How does repetitive motion injury effect thumb tendonitis
Repetitive motion can cause a host of problems. This repetitive motion over the years will or can cause problems with the nerves in the hand (carpal tunnel syndrome), pain in the hand, your fingers can start to lock or click (trigger finger) or you can lose the movement or severe pain in the thumb.
How do you know you have thumb tendonitis? Some signs and symptoms.
When you suffer from thumb tendonitis, the first thing that is going to give it away is the pain on the thumb side of the wrist. This pain may appear suddenly or can come on gradually. You may think that this could be like some arthritic pain in your hand and wrist. It will start in the wrist and travel up the forearm if very severe.
The pain is worse when you grasp something or when you twist the wrist. You may see swelling on the thumb side of the wrist. You may on occasion feel a “catching” or “snapping” when you move the thumb. There can be numbness on the back of the thumb and in the index finger.
Things to do
One of the initial treatments is a thumb splint or brace to help support the thumb. Resting and some type of anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful. Icing the effective area can decrease the inflammation.
When suffering from thumb tendonitis or De Quervain’s tendonitis, you doctor may have you get a cortisone injection. This is going to help with the swelling and the pain. I have had them and they do work quite well. Be careful taking multiple injections in that this can weaken the tendon and cause more damage.
The last straw if the other treatments don’t provide relief is surgery. You would do this if the pain is constant or constantly recurring. Surgical treatments do work well and can cure the problem. You are in and out, day surgery and then you wear a splint for several day to brace the treated area or until the stitches are removed.
Thumb tendonitis and the way to tell if you are suffering
The Finkelstein test can be performed to tell if you have thumb tendonitis or Dequervain’s tendonitis. The following is the procedure to check for these problems.
* The patient makes a fist, with the fingers over the thumb
* The wrist is then bent in the direction of the little finger.
* When a patient is suffering from DeQuervain’s tendonitis or even thumb tendinitis, the above procedure can cause quite an amount of pain. Tenderness to the touch is also going to occur on the the base of the thumb.
2 steps and you will know if you have or possibly have thumb tendonitis.