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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTo reduce pain and swelling, initial treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis may include:
- Immobilizing your thumb and wrist, keeping them straight with a splint or brace to help rest your tendons
- Avoiding repetitive thumb movements whenever possible
- Avoiding pinching with your thumb when moving your wrist from side to side
- Applying heat to or icing the affected area
- Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve)
Your doctor may also recommend injections of corticosteroid medications into the tendon sheath to reduce swelling.
Treatment is generally successful if begun early on, though overuse injuries often recur if you have difficulty discontinuing the repetitive motions that caused the condition in the first place.
Making adjustments
Your medical team may include a physical therapist or occupational therapist who may monitor your habits and give suggestions on how to make necessary adjustments to relieve stress on your wrists. Your therapist can also teach you exercises focused on your wrist, hand and arm to strengthen your muscles, reduce pain and limit the irritation of the tendons.
In more serious cases
If your case is more serious, your doctor may recommend outpatient surgery. Surgery involves a procedure in which your doctor inspects the sheath surrounding the involved tendon or tendons, and then opens the sheath to release pressure.
