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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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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.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
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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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
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Hyatt 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