De Quervain's Disease
DeQuervain’s Disease: Inflammation of tendon coverings on the side of the wrist and base of the thumb which can result in swelling or pain when moving the thumb.
De Quervain syndrome (also known as washerwoman's sprain, Radial styloid tenosynovitis, de Quervain disease, de Quervain's tenosynovitis, de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis or mother's wrist), is an inflammation or a tendinosis of the sheath or tunnel that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb.
Symptoms are pain, tenderness, and swelling over the thumb side of the wrist, and difficulty gripping.
The illness tends to last about 1 year on average and, is in general, a harmless nuisance.
At first, the only sign of trouble may be soreness on the thumb side of the forearm, near the wrist. If the problem isn't treated, pain may spread up the forearm or further down into the wrist and thumb.
As the friction increases, the two tendons may actually begin to squeak as they move through the constricted tunnel. This noise is called crepitus. If the condition is especially bad, there may be swelling along the tunnel near the edge of the wrist. Grasping objects with the thumb and hand may become increasingly painful.
The goal is to relieve the pain caused by the irritation and swelling.
The patient can generally return to full function after the inflammation quiets down with treatment.
