Tenosynovitis Diagnosis

The condition known as de Quervain's tenosynovitis occurs when the sheath covering the tendons of the wrist on the thumb side of the hand become inflamed and swollen, limiting movement.

Causes

• Repetitive hand and thumb movements such as grasping, pinching and clenching; arthritic diseases; and scar tissue from old injuries are all causes of tenosynovitis.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of tenosynovitis include joints that swell and are difficult to move, pain with joint movement, and pain and tenderness around the affected joint.

Risk Factors

• Factors that increase the risk of developing tenosynovitis include professions that require repetitive movements, such as those made by a typist, musician or carpenter. Middle-aged women are most prone to the condition.

Diagnosis

• A physician will perform a physical exam in which he checks for swelling, stretches the tendon to see how it performs and has the patient do certain movements to assess pain.

Treatment

• Treatment of tenosynovitis includes lifestyle changes to avoid actions that cause pain, immobilizing the joint with a brace, applying heat and ice, wrist exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes corticosteroid injections. In severe cases, surgery is performed to open the sheath covering tendons and relieve pressure.