What does De Quervain mean
Michael Henderson
Published Apr 13, 2026
DeQuervain’s was named after the Swiss surgeon who first described the condition in 1895. Tendons are bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones. Usually tendons slide easily through a tunnel of tissue called a sheath. The sheath keeps the tendons in place next to the bones of the thumb.
Why is it called de Quervain?
DeQuervain’s was named after the Swiss surgeon who first described the condition in 1895. Tendons are bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones. Usually tendons slide easily through a tunnel of tissue called a sheath. The sheath keeps the tendons in place next to the bones of the thumb.
How long does it take for de Quervain to heal?
It may take 6 to 12 weeks for your hand to heal completely. After you heal, you may be able to move your wrist and thumb without pain. How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you can do your job without using your hand, you may be able to go back after 1 or 2 days.
How do you fix de Quervain's?
- Applying heat or ice to the affected area.
- Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). …
- Avoiding activities that cause pain and swelling. …
- Wearing a splint 24 hours a day for 4 to 6 weeks to rest your thumb and wrist.
What happens if De Quervain's goes untreated?
Due to inflammation surrounding the tendons that control thumb movement, De Quervain’s can cause pain and tenderness when moving the thumb or wrist. If left untreated, this pain may spread up through the arm as well.
Is De Quervain genetic?
In addition to repetitive overuse injury, De Quervain’s also can occur in pregnancy. It can also have one hereditary component and can occur in diseases that are systemic, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Where does De Quervain's hurt?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (dih-kwer-VAINS ten-oh-sine-oh-VIE-tis) is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. If you have de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, it will probably hurt when you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.
Can you get disability for de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
The total may not exceed 70% for the dominant hand and 60% for the non-dominant hand. Hand and wrist disabilities receive ratings ranging from slight to severe muscle damage. For conditions like de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, the motion limitation determines the rating.Is De Quervain's syndrome the same as carpal tunnel?
Other conditions have similar signs But de Quervain’s tenosynovitis only affects the thumb tendons. Even though the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome & tendonitis may be similar, they are medically very different conditions. Their symptoms are similar only because they share a common factor: tendon inflammation.
How long does tendon sheath take to heal?With treatment, most patients fully recover from tenosynovitis within 4 to 6 weeks. If tenosynovitis goes untreated, patients risk having the affected joint becoming stiff and having the tendon become permanently restricted. Avoiding repetitive movements can help to prevent tenosynovitis.
Article first time published onHow long can de Quervain's last?
Treatment for de Quervain’s tenosynovitis is aimed at reducing inflammation, preserving movement in the thumb and preventing recurrence. If you start treatment early, your symptoms should improve within four to six weeks.
Should you sleep with a splint on?
Many people with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome wear a splint at night for a few weeks. The splint holds the joint in a neutral position. The symptoms are worse at night because your hand is more likely to bend while you’re sleeping. The splint prevents this from happening.
What mimics de Quervain's?
Intraneural ganglion in superficial radial nerve mimics de quervain tenosynovitis.
Can you lift weights with de Quervain's tenosynovitis?
In patients who participate in activities such as racquet sports, weight lifting, golfing, and rowing, a strengthening program for the wrist and forearm, prior to starting activities may be useful. Patients can return to activities once they have relief of symptoms including pain free full movement without swelling.
What muscles are involved in de Quervain's?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a condition that affects the tendons in the wrist and the base of the thumb. It develops when the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons around the base of the thumb become swollen, often causing inflammation to develop.
Can I work with De Quervain's tenosynovitis?
How De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis Can Affect Your Ability to Work. If you perform repetitive movements with your hand or wrist as part of your job, De Quervain’s can significantly impact your ability to work. Rapid or high-force pinching or grasping movements may be impossible for someone who suffers from De Quervain’s.
How do you treat inflammation of the tendon sheath?
- splints and compression to give the overworked tendon time to rest and heal.
- stretching to improve flexibility.
- hot and cold therapy to reduce swelling.
- acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- corticosteroid injections to control inflammation.
Can tendinitis be cured?
Tendinitis may go away over time. If not, the doctor will recommend treatments to reduce pain and inflammation and preserve mobility. Severe symptoms may require specialized treatment from a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic surgeon or a physical therapist.
Should I have surgery for de Quervain's?
De Quervain’s disease causes pain when you move your wrist and thumb, and usually a tender swelling at the base of your thumb. If treatment with steroid injections has failed, surgery should relieve your pain.
What is another name for de Quervain's tendonitis?
Its proper name is de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, but you could also hear it called de Quervain’s disease or de Quervain’s syndrome. It’s a painful inflammation of tendons in your wrist and lower thumb.
Is tendonitis a disease?
Tendon disorders, or tendinopathies, are medical conditions that result in the tendons not functioning normally. Tendinitis is a disorder of tendons without sheaths and tenosynovitis is a disorder of tendons with sheaths.
Is tendonitis a permanent disability?
To qualify for disability benefits, you must show the SSA that your tendonitis is severe enough to last for at least a year and prevents you from working. This means that your condition must be backed by medical evidence that includes objective symptoms and lab tests, X-rays and/or results from a physical exam.
How long does tendonitis last for?
The pain of tendinitis can be significant and worsens if damage progresses because of continued use of the joint. Most damage heals in about two to four weeks, but chronic tendinitis can take more than six weeks, often because the sufferer doesn’t give the tendon time to heal.
How successful is surgery for de Quervain?
Postoperative Outcomes De Quervain’s release is considered an effective long-term treatment for stenosing tenosynovitis of the first compartment after conservative treatment has failed, with patient satisfaction ranging from 88-100%.
What is the difference between tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
Tendinitis is a condition in which a tendon is inflamed, causing swelling and pain. Tendons are strong cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tenosynovitis is a condition that’s linked to tendinitis. It occurs when the lining of the sheath around a tendon is inflamed.
How do you speed up tendon healing?
Strengthening exercises to help you rebuild tendon strength and avoid future injuries. Ultrasound heat therapy to improve blood circulation, which may aid the healing process. Deep massage to boost flexibility and circulation and prevent further injuries. Endurance activities, such as riding a stationary bike.
Where do you ice De Quervain's?
Put ice or a cold pack on your thumb and wrist for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. You can use heat for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day.
What is a positive Finkelstein test?
Positive result: Ask the patient if he or she feels pain radiating up the inside of his or her arm from the thumb. If the patient reports noticeable pain then, the Finkelstein’s test is positive, what indicates De Quervain’s syndrome.
What are the 4 types of splints?
- Hand. Buddy tape splint. Finger splint.
- Arm. Coaptation splint. Forearm volar splint Long arm posterior splint. Radial gutter splint. Sling and swathe splint. Sugar tong splint. Double sugar tong splint. Thumb spica splint. Ulnar gutter splint.
- Leg. Long leg posterior splint. Stirrup splint. Posterior ankle splint.
What is the best brace for de Quervain tendinitis?
Physicians may recommend that patients wear a splint called a thumb spica splint, which immobilizes the thumb. Patients are typically instructed to wear it 24 hours a day for 4 to 6 weeks. Ice. Ice therapy can reduce inflammation and numb pain signals, so it’s useful for treating De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Why do splints smell?
It is common that after a few days of using the splint, it smells bad. This is because the splint increases body temperature in this region and causes moisture to accumulate. Over time, this can cause skin deterioration and a bad smell.