De Quervain tenosynovitis aka mum thumb/wrist

[Quadrilingual]

I've been diagnosed with De Quervain tenosynovitis on my left hand. The base of my thumb and side of my wrist hurt. The doctor said to wear a support splint all day and to put anti inflammatory gels on it 3 times a day and to have painkillers.
I was then advised against pharmacist to put anti inflammatory gel on it since I am still breastfeeding. (Baby is 8 months so doesn't use as sole food but still bfs).
So I've been wearing just the splint and taking some painkillers.
However I've noticed that the pain is worse when I'm wearing the splint during the day and then once I take it off it feels better! Is this normal??
Anyone else had this and how did it heal and how long? What helped?
Here is my hand with splint.

I had this OP and similar solution from GP (minus the gel). It must have been bad for me to seek help but by the time baby was around a year it had just gone - I'd given up on the splint long before! I think a lot of these ailments clear up around the year pp mark, hopefully similar for you - I remember how rubbish it was 💐

My husband had this years ago - he had to have a minor operation to cure it. They cut the tendon sheath so that the the inflammation could subside and the tendon could move freely.

DD2 has this following a hockey stick smash in year 5 - ultra sound helped a bit if your GP will prescribe it.

Not the same pp ailment (knees) but I was advised by GP to use ibuprofen 10% gel, and I am exclusively breastfeeding - baby is 5months. I queried as it does say kn bix, dont use if breastfeeding, but apparently very little is absorbed into bloodstream as applied topically. I've been using for a couple of weeks and feel it has helped reduce the inflammation, plus no issues from my little one. Again, not same issue, but I have found ice massage to also be helping (oil skin to create a barrier then massage ice cube wrapped in paper towel for 2mins)
Hope your wrist clears up soon

I also had a few sessions of ultrasound which resolved it. Had it via my workplace physio, so not sure how easy it is to get via GP.

I found the same with the splint, but I assumed that it was because it was moving my wrist into the 'right' position? Anyway I gave up on it because it's my dominant hand and I can't do anything with a splint on.

What helped me was daily exercises (you can find these online or your GP should have given you a leaflet.

I don't know if you work with computers but once I switched my mouse for a trackpad that has elevated 90% of the issues with it

I have this too and also use a splint occasionally. It definitely helps so something is not right with yours.

I think you have it on incorrectly OP. I think you should "twist" it a bit towards your palm, inwards, iyswim. Right now it looks as if it was pulling your thumb/straining it, maybe that's what's causing the pain. Not sure how to describe it differently. If this doesn't help, perhaps find a shop with orthopaedic equipment and maybe they'll be able to help you with correct positioning of the splint.

I have this in both hands - and am married to a consultant hand surgeon 😄
she says there isn't an easy fix - you can have a steroid injection (which can carry a bit of risk if done badly), and then as above there can be an operation to help...

If you can get no relief from it - could you consider getting the GP to refer you to your local hand clinic?

I've had this. Months of physio sessions didn't help, neither did wearing a splint (although a specialist later told me that it's better to wear the splint at night when sleeping so the tendon gets complete rest rather than during the day as I was told to do by my physio). What finally resolved it was a steroid injection. It's also important to do daily exercises to strengthen the area so it doesn't come back.

I think I had this after dd was born although I never went and saw the gp about it. I used a physio wrap with a thumbhole that I wrapped tightly around my wrist and it did help. I think it took about 3mo to subside and was so painful and weak at the time, in both hands. But once it got better it was entirely better

Oh I will try that thank you!

Thanks so much I'll see if I can find 1% stuff!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's now worse and both hands ache plus extended into arm I feel a strain! I have to get this sorted before it gets to injection or surgery stage!

I had this and the splint did help. It didn't look like yours though - pretty sure mine went over the palm of my hand and, as pp says, held the thumb in a more natural-looking position. I'll see if I can dig it out later and take a picture.

I had de quervains and used a splint, but it was different to yours and had a shaped piece of metal in it that went down the inside of my wrist and curved into my palm. I wore the splint day and night and it did mend it, though it was really uncomfortable, especially sleeping in it.
It occasionally flares up again and I put the splint on a for a few days to sort it out.
I’ll try and find a link to the splint.

This is the one I have.
It has two metal bars in it, and I removed the one that was in the thumb section as it was too painful, and just kept the palm section intact.
https://www.firstaid4sport.co.uk/Supports-Braces/Thumb-Supports-and-Finger-Splints/A2-Wrist-Brace-with-Thumb-Spica?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_feed_or_listings&pl=STD&ccv=Y&sku=KXAC10TR5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxa733ZvNgQMVC8jtCh1UeAZNEAQYByABEgJ6JPD_BwE

Oh! And if it's really bad, don't wait for an injection as the longer you wait, the lower chances are that it will work (meaning your only option will be surgery!).

My hand consultant told me that shortly after the pain develops, the chances are around 80% that the injection fixes it. At 7-8 month mark (which was my case as I was initially misdiagnosed) it drops down to around 40%...

I had this in both hands. God it was miserable, breastfeeding and nappy changing were so painful. Steroid injections in both wrists sorted it almost immediately.

Steroid injections have long term implications, and can mean a worse outcome ultimately, so make sure you research well before opting for one.

My brace was more like @Helenahandkart's. Basically I think the pain is because your tendons are inflamed from overuse, and what the brace does is immobilise your joint so you can't use it. So it shouldn't feel uncomfortable to wear.