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De Quervain's tenosynovitis treatment in Edmonton
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is irritation of two tendons that move the thumb, where they pass through a narrow tunnel at the wrist. It is frequent after childbirth, and treatment at our Edmonton clinic starts with how you lift.
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What is De Quervain's tenosynovitis?
Two tendons that move the thumb run together through a narrow tunnel on the thumb side of the wrist. De Quervain’s is irritation and thickening in that tunnel, which makes the tendons painful to move. The pain sits over the bony bump on the thumb side of the wrist and is provoked by gripping, lifting with the thumb out, and by movements that combine a thumb tuck with the wrist tipping toward the little finger.
Why it is so common after having a baby
It is frequent enough in the months after childbirth to have picked up the nickname mother’s wrist. The likely drivers are the repeated lifting position — thumbs spread, wrists bent, dozens of times a day, with a load that gets heavier every week — alongside hormonal and fluid changes in the postpartum period.
It is not a sign of anything having gone wrong, and it is usually very responsive once the lifting position changes and the tendons get some support.
How it is recognised
Thumb-base arthritis produces pain in a nearby area and is a common alternative in older adults, so the two are distinguished at assessment.
- Pain over the thumb side of the wrist, sometimes running up the forearm
- Painful to grip, to lift with the thumb spread, or to wring out a cloth
- A specific test tucking the thumb into the fist and tipping the wrist downward reproduces it sharply
- Sometimes swelling, and occasionally a creaking sensation with thumb movement
What treatment usually involves
A thumb spica splint, which supports the thumb and wrist together, takes the load off the tendons. Worn through the aggravating parts of the day, it is often what shifts the symptoms first.
Alongside that: changing how you lift and grip — scooping under a baby with forearms rather than gripping under the arms with spread thumbs, using two hands for jugs and kettles, and moving the phone out of a pinched grip.
Then graded loading for the thumb and wrist, and strengthening through the forearm, so the tendons regain capacity rather than simply being rested.
Corticosteroid injection has a good record in this condition where symptoms have not responded, and surgical release is available for persistent cases. Both are physician decisions and neither is usually the first step.
Questions people ask
Will it go away on its own?
Some cases settle when the aggravating load drops off naturally — as a baby gets heavier but is lifted differently, for instance. Many do not, because the daily load does not change. Splinting and technique changes usually shorten it considerably.
Can I still carry my baby?
Yes, with a change of technique. The aim is to get the load off the spread thumb: scoop from underneath with forearms, keep wrists neutral, and use both arms. Most of the improvement in the early weeks comes from this rather than from exercise.
Is it carpal tunnel?
No. Carpal tunnel syndrome produces numbness and tingling in the fingers, usually worst at night. De Quervain’s produces pain with thumb and wrist movement and does not cause finger numbness.
Why is this so common after having a baby?
Repeated lifting of a baby with the wrist bent and thumb out loads the two tendons at the thumb side of the wrist thousands of times a week. Hormonal changes may play a part as well. It is common enough to have an informal name, and it responds well to changing how you lift.
Do I need a splint?
Often, for a few weeks, mainly at night and during the most aggravating tasks. A thumb spica splint rests the tendons while you learn the lifting changes and start gentle loading. The physiotherapist will tell you whether you need one and for how long.
Can I bring my baby to the appointment?
Yes. Vertex is used to parents attending with an infant, and it is useful for the physiotherapist to see how you actually lift and carry. Let the front desk know when you book at (825) 525-2852.
Book a hand and wrist assessment
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online.