De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

[Domjo54]

Hey coach. I tried searching the boards, not much info found.

2 weeks ago, my right thumb/wrist started bothering me a bit. No problem, we train through small aches and pains all the time, right? Didn't get any worse over the week (during which I trained). Then, one week ago, after 3 days off of training, I woke up and all of a sudden, it felt much, much worse. Did some research, and the symptoms are exactly like this: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...n/con-20027238. I did try some light training to see if it hurt, and it definitely didn't feel like pain I should be pushing through.

Been like this since Monday. I can't completely immobilize my right hand, as I work a computer job and need it. Unfortunately, this is my dominant hand, too. I've been trying to rest it and utilize NSAIDs, but it isn't much better. Ice is recommended online, but as that constricts blood flow, it feels worse, and the thumb "snapping" gets much worse afterwards. Heat feels very good, but not sure if it is helping in the long run.

I'm going to try to get a dr's app and get recommended a specialist, as cortisone shots seem to be very helpful, but I do not know that I can afford these, especially with my piss-poor insurance. Any advice on your end? I realize that you are not a dr, but you've given me helpful advice on injuries before, so I figured I'd ask you.

Also, age: 21 if that matters, and I don't do any racket sports or anything like that (a common cause).

Thanks coach.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I had it. Trained through it. Went away. Posted about it on this board. Look harder.

[FCrane]

I have it. It's a lot better than what it once was but Dw Quervains heals very slowly.

My best advice is to buy a splint and wear it while you sleep. Don't wear it during the day - only at night. Ice it a lot. Don't worry about that blood flow nonsense. De Quervains is inflammation to a tendon sheath. It's non vascular so there's basically no blood flow to it anyway. Icing it will bring some of the inflammation down which is what you should be after. Continue to train what you can. I personally can't bench press unless I use a thumbless grip (so I don't bench at the moment) and I use dips instead. Benching or pressing are really the only aggravating exercises. Don't massage it or bother with physiotherapy. They probably can't do anything for you. There's a lot of risk with cortisone - I wouldn't do it.

[Fiddler]

I've had it. Having a mild recurrence right now. Can't take NSAIDS. Massage and stretching are exactly what works best for me. Rest never did me any good at all. I massage the whole area at the base of the thumb both front and back, and I stretch the thumb in every direction I can find that it will move, but especially anything that gets the tendon to move. Do it several times a day, whenever you think of it. Takes a while, but it goes away. Probably might want to observe closely and see what is aggravating it. YMMV

[Domjo54]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I guess I'll just train whatever lifts don't make it significantly worse, and hope that it gets better over time, since that sounds like the best (and only) option. And I'll give icing before bed a shot, in addition to some sort of immobilization.

Heat and massaging before training makes it a great deal more comfortable and less prone to "snapping"/pain, so I still think that this is worthwhile...agreed?

Crane, almost every person I read about (excluding maybe 2?) said that cortisone shots solved their issue in a week or less. Is there really that great a deal of risk with the procedure, in your opinion? There's so much misinformation out there that it's tough to know what to believe.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Cortisone is for brain swelling, and that's about all.