How Hand Doctors Treat DeQuervain’s Disease
If you are experiencing pain of the thumb side of your hand and wrist, you may be suffering from DeQuervain’s Disease. Bloomfield Hills board certified hand doctor Dr. Rehman has helped hundreds of patients get relief from this painful condition of the hand and wrist.
In this article we discuss the non-surgical and surgical treatments offered by hand doctors to treat DeQuervain’s Disease.
What is DeQuervain’s Disease?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (also called De Quervain’s tendonitis) is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Tendons are the strong bands of tissue that attach the muscles to the bones. The tendons going to your thumb are covered by a special sheath, and it is the inflammation of this sheath that causes the condition. Women seem to be more affected by this condition than men.
Hand doctors believe that this condition is caused by repetitive activities and overuse of the thumb or your wrist, especially in activities that repeatedly move your thumb away from your wrist, such as skiing or hammering. It also can occur shortly after pregnancy, possibly due to fluctuating hormones and the need to hold the newborn frequently for breast feeding.
Who is At Risk for DeQuervain’s Disease
StatPearls a leader in medical publishing, statistics and medical information and resources, estimates that De Quervain’s Disease occurs in 0.5% of men and 1.3% of women – with a peak prevalence among individuals in their forties and fifties.
A 2002 study published in PubMed estimates the incidence of De Quervain’s Disease to be 2.0 per 1000 person-years in individuals over 40, compared to 0.6 per 1000 in those under 20. That study also identified peak occurrence of De Quervain’s Disease in middle-aged individuals, with a significantly higher risk in women than men.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) reports that De Quervain’s Disease as a relatively common condition, particularly in women and new mothers – possibly due to hormonal changes and repetitive activities associated with childcare.
The NIAMS also emphasizes the increased risk of De Quervain’s Disease in middle-aged adults and individuals exposed to repetitive wrist movements in the workplace.
What are the symptoms of DeQuervain’s Disease?
The pain of DeQuervain’s Disease may develop over time or it may come on suddenly. It can travel from the thumb up to the forearm. Pain when moving your wrist, difficulty making a fist or holding objects may be indicative of this condition. Swelling and tenderness may be present on the thumb side of your wrist, and you may feel or hear a creaking sound as the tendon slides through the sheath.
How do Hand Doctors Diagnose DeQuervain’s Disease?
An experienced, board certified hand doctor, like Dr. Rehman, is the most qualified to diagnose DeQuervain’s Disease.
She will conduct a physical exam of your hand and arm, and will locate the areas that are tender and painful to move. Your hand doctor many also take X-rays, to ensure you do not have a broken bone, if the pain is the result of an injury.
How do Hand Doctors Treat DeQuervain’s Disease?
A splint that stabilizes your wrist and thumb may be prescribed by your hand doctor. Typically it needs to be worn 24 hours a day for up to 4 to 6 weeks. The thumb and wrist must be protected from activities that could worsen the condition.
Ice packs can be applied to the thumb and wrist for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours until the pain has abated. Ice can also be used in a massaging method by filling a Styrofoam or paper cup with water and freezing it. The top of the cup can be torn away, and the bottom held to massage the ice over the affected area.
Oral anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed by your hand doctor, and an injection of a medication such as cortisone may be given. Rehabilitation exercises will also usually be given, for you to perform to help heal the area.
If these minimally invasive methods fail, your hand doctor may suggest surgery. DeQuervain’s Disease surgery releases the tendon’s tight covering to allow it to move more smoothly. This is typically an outpatient procedure, and the patient can go home the same day.
What is the Recovery Period for DeQuervain’s Disease?
In general, the longer you have symptoms before you begin rehabilitation, the longer the time period of recovery. Returning to your sport or activity will be determined by your rate of healing, rather than a set number of days or weeks. Continuing to perform the activity while the wrist is injured could cause permanent damage.
Dedication to executing the exercises, and performing them with the correct form, will also positively influence the rate of healing. The goal of rehabilitation is to get you back to full function as soon as it is safe for you to do so.
When you can move your thumb and wrist without experiencing any pain, it is safe for you to take up the activity again. Your hand doctor may also want you to continue to wear the supportive splint until you no longer have symptoms.
Can DeQuervain’s Disease be Prevented?
Avoiding activities that overuse the thumb or wrist, can help prevent the occurrence of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. If you must perform such activities, take frequent breaks and shake out the hands, hold the wrist tightly and flex the fingers, and rub your hands together like you are washing them. Stimulating the blood flow and allowing the tendons and sheath to rest between activities may help prevent this condition.
Top Hand Doctor Bloomfield Hills
If you think you may be suffering from DeQuervain’s Disease, or any other injury or ilness of the hand fingers or wrist, contact Bloomfield Hills board certified hand doctor, Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of DeQuervain’s Disease and other conditions of the hand and wrist.
