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Original poster

Has anyone got/had De Quervain syndrome?

30 replies

KatyMac · 04/04/2019 15:07

Bugger does it hurt

4 weeks in - with instructions to use heat & exercise with a rubber band

Anyone else had/got it?

OP posts:
HeyMicky · 04/04/2019 15:13

I had it - one wrist for each child. I had steroid injections which fixed it immediately and permanently both times.

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/04/2019 15:31

Eek!

I'm not pregnant!!

They haven't suggested an injection; how long did you have it before they did that?

OP posts:
friendlyfish · 04/04/2019 15:38

I get it regularly as part of a soft tissue condition. When it’s acute I rest it in a brace which I keep on at night too. The right physio can help as can steroid shots but it’s best not to have more than 2 of those I’ve been told because it raises the risk of the tendon rupturing. It is so bloody painful I agree.

I find heat makes it more painful and that regular ibuprofen if you are ok with it, helps. And as much rest as you can so the inflammation can go down. I reckon physio is good when you are over the worst but not while it’s really bad as it can aggravate the inflammation.

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/04/2019 15:40

So is exercise OK at about 4 weeks? It's still unbeleiveably painful

Typing with fingers not thumbs is a skill i am struggling to aquire Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 04/04/2019 15:41

I wonder if it's connected to FM or Hypermobility

OP posts:
friendlyfish · 04/04/2019 15:46

To me if something is severely painful I’d be tempted to rest it. I often thing physios can be very gung ho with things and if there’s lots of inflammation it doesn’t get a chance to subside. I’d go for very gentle movements so it doesn’t stiffen up but for now would rest it as much as possible.

Do you have hypermobility? I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome type ii so I’m very hyper mobile as part of that. I’ve had most success with resting tendons while they are acutely painful and taking regular ibuprofen. Bracing things gives it time to rest and heal and then you can start to strengthen it up. But with hypermobility anything very repetitive can trigger the bugger off in the first place so it’s worth going very carefully . Certainly tendinitis is linked to hypermobility. I’m not sure what FM is? Other than a radio frequency .

Ohhellothereladyface · 04/04/2019 15:47

Yes! I had this for quite a few months in my left wrist after having DD. It did flaming hurt, but over time disappeared, hope yours clears up soon!

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/04/2019 15:56

Fibromyalgia & yes most (all?) of my joints are hypermobile

I may rest it a bit more then - what sort of brace did you use?

OP posts:
Myusernameismud · 04/04/2019 16:07

Oh my goodness. I have had problems with my right wrist/base of my thumb for years and years. I've only been to the doctor once about it, who brushed it off as pote tially early arthritis (I was 25 Hmm) and left it at that.
Just googled de Quervain and it sounds almost exactly like what I have. My thumb does a bizarre clicky/locking thing and doesn't move smoothly. Maybe this is what I have!

Thanks OP, and sorry you're in pain. If that is actually what I have, yes it's bloody painful!!

Myusernameismud · 04/04/2019 16:08

Oh and I'm also hypermobile, so that fits too.

friendlyfish · 04/04/2019 16:33

I have this brace. I don’t rate the one I got from rheumatology dept. My thumb comes out of place easily and clicks. It’s easy to diagnose as arthritis as the thumb joint is often one of the first places arthritis tends to affect.

Has anyone got/had De Quervain syndrome?
Original poster
KatyMac · 04/04/2019 18:16

I think I might buy one of those!

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 06/04/2019 18:27

Going to have to take painkillers now

Thought it would get better after 4 weeks not worse

OP posts:
idlevice · 06/04/2019 20:24

I had if after both DC were born from supporting them breastfeeding & having looser joints from the relaxin hormone produced during pregnancy. Handling newborns with both wrists in splints was horrendous! I had steroid injections & fortunately it eased off but I can vividly recall the pain. Surgery was mentioned as a last resort type option.

Original poster
KatyMac · 06/04/2019 20:34

I have 4 weeks of exercises and heat.......poop!

OP posts:
Thebatmother · 06/04/2019 21:34

I’d be tempted to stop the exercises other than gentle movement so it doesn’t stiffen up and with the heat too. Heat I find is great for muscle spasms but inflammation I think can feel worse for applying heat. If anything I’d ice it to try reduce inflammation.

If you have hypermobility was the physio aware of it when they gave you the exercises. It generally takes longer for hypermobile people to heal and for exercises to help. Also exercises need to not over extend the joints.

I’d try putting a brace on to rest it for a few weeks and take regular ibuprofen if you are able to stomach it. As soon as I feel mine starting to flare up I stick the brace on, rest it and take ibuprofen for a few days. Do you do any activities that set it off (a lot of typing or texting on phone, anythIng where your hand is stretched to out? )?

pinkboa · 06/04/2019 21:39

Had it...

Did ultra sound was going to get steroid injection but was pregnant again so had a brace made and with the restricted wrist movement it went away.

slapmyarseandcallmemary · 06/04/2019 21:42

I've had it for about 5 years. I had steroid injections, physio, splints, acupuncture and eventually 3 years ago, I had surgery on it. It's better than it was, but still causes pain.

Original poster
KatyMac · 06/04/2019 21:50

Do you do any activities that set it off (a lot of typing or texting on phone, anythIng where your hand is stretched to out? )?

Not for the last 4 weeks!!

I now type left handed and wipe my bum & I creid when I lifted the cat off me today Sad

Brace is ordered - my brother thought rest & ice too - Ice/cold makes it feel better the heat seems irritating

She did know I was hypermobile - we had long talks about pain levels as I have CFS/FM too - she was very thorough checking me over

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 06/04/2019 21:50

I just googled and it says don't exercise until the pain has reduced

It's getting worse Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 06/04/2019 22:01

The GP gave me a lecture about googling when I went last - whichis why I asked here

Thanks all of you - rest rest ice and rest

OP posts:
Thebatmother · 06/04/2019 23:37

I think many doctors and physios don’t know enough about hypermobility to treat strains, sprains and anything else arising from it very well. I never exercise any tendon injury or inflammation (I get both a lot) until I’m over the worst. If the pain is bad on exercise or getting worse I reckon thats a sign you need to rest it. I really hope bracing, resting and icing it along with painkillers helps it to settle much faster. If it was caused by repetitive use or stretching out of the thumb/wrist then try find ways to reduce the time spent doing them if possible. I wonder about the value of physio for tendon inflammation resulting from hypermobility or EDS. For me being sensible and not doing any activity that causes pain or tendon strain for long periods, along with resting things when they’re mega sore is what works. Good luck. It is a sickly, horrible pain and you have my sympathy.

Original poster
KatyMac · 07/04/2019 19:35

I stopped heat and exercise and it is less painful - thanks gentle mobility is the way to go at least for now!

OP posts:
Thebatmother · 07/04/2019 22:54

Really glad laying of the heat and exercise has improved it a bit. The first time I ever had it I put a heated patch on it overnight and it was so swollen and stiff and very painful the next day that I realised although heat is comforting, it can aggravate the inflammation. Try rest it as much as you can for a couple of weeks. I’m still not convinced that physio does much for tendonitis. I reckon prevention is best by taking rests between activities that involve repetitive movement and trying not to overstretch the thumb joint. I really hope it starts to settle soon. I

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/04/2019 14:57

The pain comes and goes with more/less use

It's so annoying!

And now I have a liitle white lump/blister on the joint too!!

It's so painful!

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