Will De Quervain's go away on its own?

Mild cases can settle with rest and a change of activities, especially when a clear trigger such as lifting is reduced. Persistent pain usually improves with a splint or an injection.

Is the steroid injection painful?

You may feel brief discomfort during the injection, but it is quick and many people get good, lasting relief afterwards.

Most people do not. Surgery is only suggested when rest, a splint and injections have not given lasting relief.

How long is the recovery after surgery?

The operation is small and done under local anaesthetic. Most people return to light hand use within a couple of weeks and to full activity soon after.

Hand & Wrist

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis (Thumb-Side Wrist Pain)

Medically reviewed by Mr Vasu Karri, Medical Director and Plastic Surgeon BSc(Hons), MBBS, MSc, FRCS(Plast).

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful swelling of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It makes gripping, lifting and twisting movements sore, and it is one of the more common causes of wrist pain. Most people get better with simple treatment, and an operation is only needed in stubborn cases.

What is De Quervain's tenosynovitis?

In short

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful swelling of the thumb-side wrist tendons. It makes gripping and twisting sore, and most people get better without an operation.

Two tendons run from the thumb down to the wrist, passing through a narrow tunnel near the base of the thumb. In De Quervain’s tenosynovitis these tendons and their lining become inflamed and swollen, so they no longer glide smoothly through the tunnel.

The result is pain and tenderness on the thumb side of the wrist, which can make everyday tasks that use the thumb uncomfortable.

What it feels like

The symptoms usually centre on the base of the thumb:

Pain near the base of the thumb that can spread up into the forearm.
Pain that is worse when you grip, pinch, lift or wring something, or when you turn your wrist.
Swelling over the area, sometimes with a catching or snapping feeling as the thumb moves.

What causes it

The condition is often linked to repeated thumb and wrist movements. Common triggers include:

Repeatedly lifting a baby, which is why it is sometimes called mother’s wrist.
Hobbies and work that involve gripping, twisting or repetitive hand use.
Pregnancy, as it is more frequent during and after pregnancy.

How we diagnose it

We can usually diagnose De Quervain’s from your symptoms and a simple examination. A common test involves tucking your thumb into your palm and gently bending the wrist towards the little finger; sharp pain on the thumb side strongly suggests the condition.

Scans are rarely needed, but we may arrange one if the diagnosis is unclear or to rule out other causes of wrist pain.

Treatment options

Most people improve without surgery. Treatment usually steps up only if simpler measures do not settle the pain:

Rest and activity changes: resting the thumb and adjusting the activities that trigger the pain.
Splint and pain relief: a splint that supports the thumb and wrist helps to calm the inflammation, and simple pain relief eases symptoms while the area settles.
Steroid injection: an injection into the tendon tunnel is often very effective and settles symptoms for many people.
Surgery: when the problem keeps returning, a small operation under local anaesthetic releases the tight tunnel so the tendons move freely again.

Recovery

After an injection, symptoms tend to ease over the following days and weeks. If you have surgery, the procedure is short and most people return to light use of the hand within a couple of weeks, building back up to full activity as comfort allows.

Risks

Problems are uncommon.

After an injection: there may be some short-lived soreness or a temporary change in skin colour at the site.
After surgery: a small risk of infection, tenderness around the scar or temporary altered sensation, which usually settles as healing continues.