Tenosynovitis Quiz
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Have joint pain
Pain in both hands
Pain in the fingers
Knee does not move
Painful joint
Hurt my finger
Finger pain
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What is Tenosynovitis?
Tendons are cartilage structures that connect muscle to bone. Tenosynovitis happens when the layer or tunnel around the tendon gets inflamed. Causes include overuse or repetitive strain on the tendon.
Typical Symptoms of Tenosynovitis
- Pain in finger joints
- Finger pain
- Warm hands and feet
- I use my hands a lot at work - holding babies, writing, typing
- Wrist pain
- Joint pain, swelling, or discomfort
- Joint stiffness lasting for more than an hour in the morning
- Swelling in the affected area
Diagnostic Questions for Tenosynovitis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have pain in your finger joints?
- Are you experiencing pain in your finger?
- Do you have warm hands and feet?
- Do you use your hands for writing, typing, or holding a small child daily?
- Are your wrists hurting?
Treatment of Tenosynovitis
Most cases can be managed with rest, a splint, or painkillers. Steroid injections in the area can help relieve inflammation. Severe cases may need surgery.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Finger joint pain
- Hands and feet feel hot
- Thumb pain
- Wrist pain
- Hot palms and feet
- Fingers "catch" on something when I make a fist or open a palm
- Can't move my fingers even though I put in strength
- Limbs feel hot
- Wrist discomfort
- Clicking sound when opening or closing a fist
- Warm hands and feet but no fever
- Thumb aches
- Sharp pain in the wrist
- Fever with hot hands and feet
- Straightening my fingers causes them to "lock"
See full list
Symptoms Related to Tenosynovitis
Diseases Related to Tenosynovitis
FAQs
Q.
Sharp Ulna Pain? Why Your Wrist is Aching and Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Sharp pain on the pinky side of your wrist often comes from tendon inflammation or a TFCC tear, and can also be caused by ulnar impaction, a sprain, fracture, or arthritis, with twisting and gripping commonly making it worse. Start with rest and activity changes, ice, a short-term brace, and NSAIDs if safe; if not improving, see a clinician for physical therapy or imaging. Seek urgent care for severe post-injury pain, deformity, numbness or weakness, fever with swelling, or symptoms lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks, and see the complete guidance below since important details could change your next steps.
References:
* Chang MJ, Lee S, Ko H, Kwak YH, Jeon JY, Koh YD, Cha SM. Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021 Apr 1;29(7):e316-e325. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-00100. PMID: 33735773.
* Patel B, Khadavi H, Patel A, Park PJ. Ulnar Impaction Syndrome: An Up-To-Date Review of Current Concepts. J Hand Surg Am. 2023 Sep;48(9):918-927. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.06.012. PMID: 37474415.
* Nienstedt L, Nienstedt J. Diagnosis and Treatment of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injuries. Hand Clin. 2019 Feb;35(1):79-92. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2018.09.006. PMID: 30471850.
* Puhaindran ME, Chen S, Ho C, Tan M, Tan B, Rumpel H. Ulnar-sided wrist pain: current clinical and imaging perspectives. Br J Radiol. 2017 Aug;90(1076):20170068. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20170068. PMID: 28628359.
* Pidgeon TS, Kakar S. Ulnar-sided wrist pain: an algorithmic approach. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2016 Jun;9(2):120-31. doi: 10.1007/s12178-016-9328-3. PMID: 26970729.
Q.
Sharp Thumb Pain? Why De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis Hurts & Medically Approved Relief
A.
Sharp thumb pain from De Quervain’s tenosynovitis happens when the thumb tendons get inflamed inside a tight sheath, causing pain with gripping, twisting, or lifting; most people improve with rest and activity changes, a thumb spica splint, anti-inflammatory medicines, and if needed a corticosteroid injection, while surgery is rarely required. There are several factors to consider for your next steps, including who is at higher risk, red flags that need prompt care, at-home relief, and typical recovery timelines; see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Shen PHS, Chen AHC, Chong YT, et al. De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: A Review of the Literature. *Hand (N Y)*. 2023;18(2):281-287. doi:10.1177/15589447221085244
* Goel AF, Dyrbye DAA, Wajswol RLK, et al. Management of de Quervain Tenosynovitis: A Systematic Review. *Hand (N Y)*. 2024;19(1):92-100. doi:10.1177/15589447231170705
* Ribeiro S, Furtado L, Pires A, et al. Effectiveness of conservative management for De Quervain's tenosynovitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *J Hand Ther*. 2023;36(3):362-371. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2023.01.002
* Muddarangappa M, Varghese P. De Quervain Tenosynovitis. In: *StatPearls*. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. PMID: 32310557. This is an NCBI book, which is often considered reputable and comprehensive, good for medical articles.
* Hussain A, Nadeem RD, Adeel M, et al. Effectiveness of Corticosteroid Injections versus Kinesio Taping for the Management of De Quervain's Tenosynovitis. *Cureus*. 2022;14(10):e30321. doi:10.7759/cureus.30321
Q.
Tennis Elbow? Why Your Tendon Isn’t Healing & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Tennis elbow often persists because the tendon is degenerating rather than simply inflamed, so rest alone rarely fixes it. Evidence based next steps include relative rest, progressive eccentric and grip strengthening guided by a therapist, bracing and ice for symptoms, cautious short term NSAIDs, with PRP or shockwave considered if rehab fails and surgery rarely needed; healing typically takes weeks to months. There are several factors to consider; see below for specific exercise progressions, ergonomics, timelines, when to try injections, and red flags that mean you should see a doctor.
References:
* Ma KL, et al. Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of lateral epicondylitis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Feb 15;28(4):e147-e158. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-19-00262. PMID: 31834167.
* Kwapisz A, et al. Lateral epicondylitis: a narrative review of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and non-surgical management. EFORT Open Rev. 2021 Feb 23;6(2):106-114. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200109. PMID: 33692881; PMCID: PMC7905105.
* Plancher KD, et al. The Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Lateral Epicondylitis. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020 Oct;13(5):673-683. doi: 10.1007/s12178-020-09653-5. PMID: 32909194; PMCID: PMC7488344.
* Ali M, et al. Conservative management of lateral epicondylitis: A literature review. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 Sep;51:115-126. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.05.006. Epub 2021 May 14. PMID: 34090159.
* Sayana MK, Maffulli N. Tendon pathology in lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 Nov;18(6):670-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.09.006. Epub 2014 Sep 18. PMID: 25458025.
Q.
What happens if tenosynovitis is left untreated?
A.
Left untreated, tenosynovitis can lead to joint stiffness, chronic pain and loss of range of motion that may necessitate surgery to try and repair.
References:
Schlenker JD, Lister GD, Kleinert HE. Three complications of untreated partial laceration of flexor tendon--entrapment, rupture, and triggering. J Hand Surg Am. 1981 Jul;6(4):392-8. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(81)80051-2. PMID: 7252116.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Hyatt BT, Bagg MR. Flexor Tenosynovitis. Orthop Clin North Am. 2017 Apr;48(2):217-227. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2016.12.010. PMID: 28336044.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0030589816301663?via%3DihubGiladi AM, Malay S, Chung KC. A systematic review of the management of acute pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2015 Sep;40(7):720-8. doi: 10.1177/1753193415570248. Epub 2015 Feb 10. PMID: 25670687; PMCID: PMC4804717.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1753193415570248Goyal K, Speeckaert AL. Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis: Evaluation and Management. Hand Clin. 2020 Aug;36(3):323-329. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2020.03.005. PMID: 32586458.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749071220300329?via%3DihubChapman T, Ilyas AM. Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis: Evaluation and Treatment Strategies. J Hand Surg Am. 2019 Nov;44(11):981-985. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2019.04.011. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31272698.
https://www.jhandsurg.org/article/S0363-5023(17)32127-5/fulltext