dequervain's tendonitis

[herdman]

Been having lots of pain at the base of the thumb and wrist. DR diagnosed it as dequervain's tendonitis. Basically tendonitis in the thumb joint,

 

Put me in a brace for a month and said no golf. It was hurting like the dickens playing golf and was effecting my game.

 

Anybody had this? Long term issues?

[sprcoop]

I may have had that once but bowling. Just the base of the thumb, no wrist pain. Hurt like crazy the first few frames then after getting warmed up better, but not gone. Played through it and after a couple months it went away. Never got a professional diagnosis.

[golfgirlrobin]

I've got it in my left thumb and it usually flares up along with bursitis in my left wrist.

 

The long term effect for me has been an acceptance of the fact that I can't really practice anything other than my short game. Hitting off a grass range is bad, but hitting off a mat is guaranteed to result in aggravating it. Pounding golf balls is a thing of the past.

[smashdn]

Tenosynovitis. Your tendons live in little lubricating sheaths. When you overwork your thumb from repetitive pinch grip the synovium and tendon swells.

 

They can do surgery for it but you don't want to go there. RICE and anti-inflammatories will help. When your ball is up against that tree root, take the unplayable. Maybe even move into a size larger wrap style grip could help.

 

(Never had it but am an EHS guy that has dealt with a fair number of cases.)

 

By the way which hand, top or bottom on your grip? Also, do you lay your thumb over the grip or do you lay it on top of the shaft?

[herdman]

Tenosynovitis. Your tendons live in little lubricating sheaths. When you overwork your thumb from repetitive pinch grip the synovium and tendon swells.

 

They can do surgery for it but you don't want to go there. RICE and anti-inflammatories will help. When your ball is up against that tree root, take the unplayable. Maybe even move into a size larger wrap style grip could help.

 

(Never had it but am an EHS guy that has dealt with a fair number of cases.)

 

By the way which hand, top or bottom on your grip? Also, do you lay your thumb over the grip or do you lay it on top of the shaft?

 

I am right handed and it is on my rand hand(top on grip). And, I lay the thumb over the grip

[karlmd]

I'm a hand surgeon and I treat this condition on a daily basis. I never use splints. In my practice, assuming the diagnosis is correct, one steroid injection will usually cure it about 85% of the time. It usually works within a few days. I tell my patients they can resume any and all activities once they start to feel better. I don't know what EHS means, but surgery is no big deal in the minority of cases that need it. The procedure takes 5 minutes, done with local anesthesia. No golf until stitches are out 10 days later, but you really can't swing comfortably for about a month.

[SunkTheBirdie]

Been having lots of pain at the base of the thumb and wrist. DR diagnosed it as dequervain's tendonitis. Basically tendonitis in the thumb joint,

 

Is this test painful ?

 

[herdman]

Yes that is the test he did. Painful

[JW223]

I was diagnosed with this in both wrists last year by a hand specialist. He suggested cortisone shots and if that didn't work surgery was the next step. Had a cortisone injection in each wrist which eliminated the pain for about two months but it came back and I suffered for about another five months as I did not want surgery and thought there had to be a better fix. My wrist pain was also accompanied by some soreness/stiffness in my outer elbows as well as stiffness in the tendons in my palm and underside of my forearm. I had done a ton of research and learned that there are several causes of DeQuervain's... one of which is the muscles on the upper side of the hand/thumb getting pulled out of position by tightness in the palm (I'm simplifying). The other tricky thing is that the hand gets little blood flow so it can be difficult to heal quickly. Popping Advil may be in vain because not enough of the anti-inflammatory can get to the injured area to help the healing along. I decided to try to stretch my elbows and forearms to alleviate the pressure on the upper side of my thumb and to try to increase the blood flow to my wrist. The most effective stretch that I found is a modified version of the "Wall Stretch" described in the link below. The variation was that I opted to elevate my arm to about head height rather than parallel with the floor and held it for about 30 seconds (2x per side). The stretch felt great and when you lower your arm you can feel the blood rush back down all the way to the hand. I took two Advil about 30 minutes prior to stretching to make sure that as much anti-inflammatory as possible was getting to my wrist and elbow during the stretch. After months and months of pain, this treatment resolved the issue in about two weeks and I have been pain-free since. Will this help you? Not sure, but it probably can't hurt.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/556031-arm-stretches-on-the-wall-for-the-median-nerve/

[SunkTheBirdie]

Topical anti-inflammatories probably help for this superficial condition.

 

Voltaren Gel (diclofenac topical) is popular in Canada for this need.

[JW223]

Topical anti-inflammatories probably help for this superficial condition.

 

Voltaren Gel (diclofenac topical) is popular in Canada for this need.

 

Just an FYI, there is only one topical anti-inflammatory available in the US and it's prescription-only.

[SunkTheBirdie]

Topical anti-inflammatories probably help for this superficial condition.

 

Voltaren Gel (diclofenac topical) is popular in Canada for this need.

 

Just an FYI, there is only one topical anti-inflammatory available in the US and it's prescription-only.

 

It's Over The Counter here.

 

And our beer is stronger.

[27x10.5]

Anti-inflammatory diet, stretching, massage, graphite shafts

[herdman]

Thanks everyone for info. This kind of sucks and I hope it is not a long term issue.

[Scottz]

Anyone use the Voltaren gel for back pain with any success?

[RSinSG]

Voltaren is $50+ a tube here.

 

We had a WRX ortho surgeon give some good advice. I've had tendonitis in both elbows and cortisone was like magic. Lasted 5-8 years.

[djmnyc]

Hey guys.

 

I definitely have this. I have been hitting balls in a bay 2-3 times a week since August, when I joined a local GolfTec. I was fine up until a few weeks ago, when all of a sudden I started feeling shooting pain in my thumb and two forefingers at times. I began reading up on hand/wrist pain, and I found the Finkelstein Test for De Quarvains Tenosynovitis. That test is spot on in causing the shooting pain.

 

For those that have had this, what was your solution? I read the posts above where some people have used cortisone shots, stretching, and potentially surgery to cure this. I'm hoping the pain simply goes away after I RICE it for a few weeks, but I've also read that hand/wrist pain can linger for quite some time.

 

Are there any braces that you guys can recommend to use while playing golf to help against the injury recurring?

 

Thanks very much for any advice.

[Tim Schoch]

I'm a hand surgeon and I treat this condition on a daily basis. I never use splints. In my practice, assuming the diagnosis is correct, one steroid injection will usually cure it about 85% of the time. It usually works within a few days. I tell my patients they can resume any and all activities once they start to feel better. I don't know what EHS means, but surgery is no big deal in the minority of cases that need it. The procedure takes 5 minutes, done with local anesthesia. No golf until stitches are out 10 days later, but you really can't swing comfortably for about a month.

 

This is hopeful news. I have the left thumb, but also the pinky side of my left wrist up the forearm a bit. Aleve, wrist stretches, plenty of easy short swings will eventually get me to the point where I can hit a bucket of balls without pain -- IF I don't flip my wrists at impact. That kills. I mean, that is a stopper for two weeks.

 

I now have midsize grips and graphite shafts. In my backyard over a few months I have changed my grip strength from strangle to very light, my backswing to 3/4 at the most. The most important at impact is to feel as though I'm leading with my left wrist than extend arms and roll my right forearm over my left.

 

I have lost distance but gained accuracy with this. Now, I automatically pull a longer club and swing smoother, which is good for me and my score.

 

I have not seen a doctor yet. One more major tweak injury and I will.

 

I want to add that I wear a tight wrist sweat band on my wrists to remind me while playing to keep the back of my hands, wrists, and forearms flat. My visual is that I swing like Steve Stricker.

[Troy_McClure]

Well, guess I'll join this thread. Diagnosed Monday after a very painful round on Sunday. Took 2 months off and it immediately came back. 

I'm on oral steroids for 12 days (the taper off, 4 for 4 days, 3 for 3 etc.) Anyone with any new info here? Wearing the brace on and off during the day depending on activity and while I sleep. 

I need to be back playing and hitting balls by mid Feb for qualifiers in March. Guessing hitting off mats last summer because it was too dry to move us to turf is a big reason why. I love to hit balls for hours. 

 

All advice welcome. Tips, over the counter treatment etc. 

[Long Shot]

1 minute ago, Troy_McClure said:

Well, guess I'll join this thread. Diagnosed Monday after a very painful round on Sunday. Took 2 months off and it immediately came back. 

I'm on oral steroids for 12 days (the taper off, 4 for 4 days, 3 for 3 etc.) Anyone with any new info here? Wearing the brace on and off during the day depending on activity and while I sleep. 

I need to be back playing and hitting balls by mid Feb for qualifiers in March. Guessing hitting off mats last summer because it was too dry to move us to turf is a big reason why. I love to hit balls for hours. 

 

All advice welcome. Tips, over the counter treatment etc. 

Did your symptoms mimic carpel tunnel syndrome? Did your hands fall asleep at night due to inflammation?

[Troy_McClure]

33 minutes ago, Long Shot said:

Did your symptoms mimic carpel tunnel syndrome? Did your hands fall asleep at night due to inflammation?

Can't say I experienced that and I haven't had carpel tunnel to my knowledge although I unfortunately spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard and might have had it and just medicated through it. 

Even during the swing, I don't feel pain until about P2 to P3. If I flip to save an open club face at P7, it is torture. 

[Long Shot]

13 minutes ago, Troy_McClure said:

Can't say I experienced that and I haven't had carpel tunnel to my knowledge although I unfortunately spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard and might have had it and just medicated through it. 

Even during the swing, I don't feel pain until about P2 to P3. If I flip to save an open club face at P7, it is torture. 

I ask because I have been diagnosed with CPS but I have my doubts as I thought it could be tendonitis. But my hands fall asleep at night if I don't wear a brace. I have had some issues with autoimmune arthritis due to a bad reaction to covid vaccine the past year and a half.

[Troy_McClure]

1 minute ago, Long Shot said:

I ask because I have been diagnosed with CPS but I have my doubts as I thought it could be tendonitis. But my hands fall asleep at night if I don't wear a brace. I have had some issues with autoimmune arthritis due to a bad reaction to covid vaccine the past year and a half.

Oh man. Not good. May be some others on this thread that have had that symptom. This was the test that sealed it for me. 

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Finkelstein_Test

Doing that is torture. 

[Long Shot]

4 minutes ago, Troy_McClure said:

Oh man. Not good. May be some others on this thread that have had that symptom. This was the test that sealed it for me. 

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Finkelstein_Test

Doing that is torture. 

Thanks for the info. I was supposed to have CPS release surgery next Weds on my right hand, but my doc had a health issue and is out for 6 weeks. My case was taken up by the Chief of Surgery in the Unit, and I see her Monday. Probably a blessing in disguise because I wasn't 100% convinced that I have CPS, so at least I will get a second opinion. 

[TourSpoon]

On 1/18/2023 at 10:07 AM, Troy_McClure said:

Even during the swing, I don't feel pain until about P2 to P3. If I flip to save an open club face at P7, it is torture. 

So this started for me about 5 weeks ago. I started feeling a stretching feel at P3-P4 and then my tendons at the base were sore along with the thumb pad being inflamed and sore. This occurred during a 2 week period until I noticed it while playing and I limped in the last 3 holes. I went to a hand specialist and told him the story and he said I had some arthritis and gave me some anti-inflammatories and a cortisol shot. The thumb pad straightened out immediately and after a week I could chip and pitch no problem. I took a few practice swings and could still feel it between P7-P8 so I gave it some more time. Finally, at the 4 week mark I played without any problems (it was really hard to trust it). I still have a little popping when doing range of motion and occasionally I will get a random sensation in the thumb out of the blue (sometimes when texting so its voice to text now). I go back on Thursday. 

 

My feeling is that I strained the thumb from speed training with my driver and then testing out a few different driver combos by swinging full out during a 2 week period 3-4 nights a week on the range. I get that I have some arthritis, but that didn't just happen (I play a lot of golf), and the only pain point I had was in the tendon area on examination. A few days after the joint shot, I had a phone follow up and kind of discussed the tendon issue and he told me the initial recovery and treatment were the same and that we could pinpoint it during follow up. I am hoping the shot cures it along with taking it easy on the speed training.