A Comprehensive Guide to De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Sara Becker, PT, DPT
- Apr 16
- 7 min read
If you've ever felt a sharp pain on the thumb side of your wrist, especially when lifting a baby, gripping a pan, or scrolling endlessly on your phone—there’s a chance you're dealing with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis. While the name may sound complex, this condition is more common than you’d think—and thankfully, very treatable.
Whether you're comparing De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis vs arthritis, trying to understand what causes De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, or looking for natural treatment options, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, including treatment exercises, healing time, and when to consider surgical intervention.
Disclaimer: The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
What is De Quervain's Tenosynovitis?
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons that run along the thumb side of your wrist. These tendons help you extend your thumb and wrist, and when the sheath surrounding them becomes irritated or thickened, pain, swelling, and limited mobility can occur.
What Causes De Quervain's Tenosynovitis?
This condition is often caused by repetitive wrist or thumb motions, such as lifting children, typing, texting, gardening, or sports like golf and tennis. It's also common in new mothers due to repetitive lifting and hormone shifts. Occasionally, it can result from direct trauma or underlying inflammatory conditions.
Some contributing factors include:
Overuse or repetitive motion
Direct injury to the wrist or tendon
Hormonal changes (especially postpartum)
Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory diseases
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis vs Arthritis
Both conditions can cause wrist pain, but here’s a quick breakdown:
De Quervain’s affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.
Arthritis affects the joints themselves and often involves stiffness, crepitus (grinding), and swelling around the joint.
A physical exam, imaging, or even ultrasound can help differentiate between the two.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis vs Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome involves compression of the median nerve inside the wrist and typically causes numbness, tingling, and weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
De Quervain’s, on the other hand, presents with localized pain and swelling on the thumb side of the wrist and difficulty with thumb movements. There can be numbness in the thumb and index finger and sometimes into the forearm with De Quervain’s.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Bilateral and Left-Sided Pain
While it commonly affects the dominant hand, some people experience bilateral De Quervain’s—especially postpartum individuals or those with systemic inflammatory conditions. If you have left-sided De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, it could be due to overcompensating with your non-dominant hand or due to your specific job/hobby demands.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Examination
A healthcare provider can usually diagnose De Quervain’s with a physical test called the Finkelstein Test:
Make a fist with your thumb inside your fingers.
Tilt your wrist toward your pinky.
Sharp pain on the thumb side? That’s a positive sign.
You may also receive an ultrasound or MRI to rule out other wrist conditions.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Operation
Surgery is considered when conservative treatments fail. The outpatient procedure involves releasing the sheath around the inflamed tendons to create more space and reduce pressure. Recovery involves:
Immobilization for 1–2 weeks
Physical therapy starting at 2–3 weeks
Full return to activity in 6–12 weeks
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Healing Time
Healing time can vary depending on severity and treatment method:
Mild cases: 2–6 weeks with rest, splinting, and conservative care.
Moderate cases: 6–12 weeks, often with physical therapy.
Chronic or severe cases may require surgery, extending healing to 12+ weeks post-op.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Treatment Options & Exercises
If you’re looking to avoid surgery or steroids, here are some natural treatment options to consider:
1. Gentle Stretching
Range of Motion movements guided by a physical therapist will ensure you continue to maintain your mobility without hurting the muscles
2. Heat and Cold Therapy
Applying heat to sore areas is one of the simplest and most effective ways to ease muscle tension and stiffness and therefore relieving the pressure on the nerve involved in CTS. Heat increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, and reduces pain signals. Apply a moist heating pad for 15–20 minutes. Avoid excessive heat to prevent burns. NOTE that moist heating pads are the most effective. My favorite brands are Thermophore and Thermipaq
Please Note: Some links on my site are affiliate links, which means that I collect a small portion of your sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps with the cost of running a website, providing services, etc.
Cold therapy reduces inflammation and soothes painful joints
3. Exercises
Thumb Flexion & Extension Slowly move your thumb across your palm and then out to the side. Repeat 10x.
Wrist Radial and Ulnar Deviation With your forearm supported, gently move your wrist side to side like a windshield wiper. Repeat 10x.
Consulting a movement specialist, like a physical therapist, will ensure that you are doing the proper movements that will help your shoulder rather than hurt it
4. Acupuncture or Acupressure
Acupuncture and acupressure are ancient techniques rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that provide natural, effective pain relief. Both methods work by stimulating specific points along energy pathways called meridians, helping to restore balance and promote healing in the body. Both therapies are safe, drug-free solutions that can complement conventional treatments, offering a holistic way to manage pain and support overall well-being. At Releaseology, I am certified in acupressure points and utilize this knowledge and these points in your treatment along with the dolphin neurostim MPS (see below)
Cupping Therapy Treatment uses suction to lift soft tissue, encouraging better blood flow and breaking up fascial adhesions that can restrict movement. It’s excellent for addressing tissues that feel adhered or stuck to your bones or other muscles. Cupping is included in all Releaseology sessions at no extra cost!
7. Dry Needling
Dry needling is based on the theory that trigger points (areas of muscle tension) can cause pain and other problems in the body. The insertion of the needle into the muscle works to break up the restrictions found in the muscle and relieve them. The act of insertion of the dry needle into the body, also signals healing factors into the affected area and promotes balance in the body. The overall aim of dry needling is to relieve pain and improve function, but many patients see not only improvements in muscle tension, pain and range of motion but also improved circulation and reduction in inflammation. Read more about it on my blog about dry needling. Dry needling is included in any of my Releaseology sessions, but can also be booked as a stand alone modality.
If you're not close to Tempe, find a dry needling practitioner near you here
The Dolphin Neurostim MPS uses microstimulation with DC current, which is the current that your heart and nervous system use. For pain relief, it is used stimulate acupressure points to decrease pain, decrease anxiety, decrease digestive pain, break up scar tissue and improve vagus nerve function. The results have been quite amazing, thus far! Read more about the Dolphin Neurostim MPS on my page here. The dolphin is included in any of my Releaseology sessions. If you don't live in Arizona, find a Dolphin MPS practitioner here
Disclaimer: The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
The Releaseology Difference in Hand & Wrist Pain
At Releaseology, I go beyond splints and stretches. My one-on-one, hands-on approach finds the root cause of your pain, often in places other providers overlook - scar tissue, jaw, eyes, diaphragm, etc. Whether it's compensatory neck or shoulder dysfunction, nerve entrapment, or a movement pattern that needs to be retrained—I don’t just treat the thumb, I treat the whole system.
I integrate:
And the best part? You’ll often feel noticeable relief in the first session or two.
If you're tired of cookie-cutter care and want a natural, effective solution for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, it’s time to experience the Releaseology approach.
These are my three services that include an assessment and evaluation of your pain. If you have specific questions for your care, you can always e-mail me at sara@releaseology.com or text 480.712.0699 or book a virtual consult
Medical Disclaimer
The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
Essential Oils for Pain Relief
More from Releaseology
Don't forget to check out other resources on my site! You can book a session with me here, find a list of conditions I treat here, find more about me here, learn how to regulate your own vagus nerve and nervous system here and read more on my blog here. Lastly, follow me on my social channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok!
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