DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis after side on car accident causing me to brace myself

by Steph
(Hampshire, UK)

Hi, I have been suffering from De quervains tenosynovitis since August 2010. All of the symptoms occured following a car accident in which I was hit side on, causing me to brace myself in some very awkward positions.

I have been treated using physiotherapy, in which the therapist used ultrasound and small exercises to try and help. As well as this I was also given 2 cortisone injections at the site of the pain which were also unsuccessful in the long term and as such I was referred to a wrist specialist.

3 weeks ago now, (27th October 2011) I had surgery and I was informed that there was "some significant thickening present", though other than this I was told nothing.

I am still suffering a lot of soreness from the site of my scar all the up into my thumb. It feels very hypersensitive, and I am at the point where I cannot wear any fabric over the site of the hypersensitivity.

I am a 21 year old female, who is otherwise fit and healthy, and was fit and healthy previous to my car accident. I am able to use my hand and wrist, but am limited to the amount of that I can do still.

It is still very tender indeed, and I still have stitches protruding through the scar where they do not appear to be dissolving. I am well aware that no-one on here can offer me a miracle solution, however I was just after some reassurance that what I am going through is normal of this procedure?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!



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Joshua Answers:

Hey Steff.

1. So...what exactly did they do during the surgery? Was it just exploratory? Or did they cut the tendon sheath?

2. You want reassurance that what you're going through is normal for your situation? Yes, it's pretty normal.

Is it ideal, or necessary? No. Obviously it's not ideal, but I want to make the point that the CAUSE of your pain and problem has not been and still is not being addressed.

Granted you were in a car accident with unusual stresses placed upon your structures.

But the mechanism of injury is incredibly predictable. I'm not sure why doctors and surgeons haven't figured it out.

Injury (with actual damage or not) --> Nervous system freaking out and kicking in a defensive mechanism --> Process of Inflammation --> Pain Causing Dynamic --> Downward Spiral of Increasing Pain and Tightness

Tenosynovitis is a special form of Tendonitis.

But it's vital to understand that the Tenosynovitis fails to get better all on it's own FOR VERY SPECIFIC REASONS.

Surgery doesn't get rid of those reasons, and often makes them even worse.

So from my perspective, I'm not surprised you're still in pain. No big deal. You just need to get to work doing the right things.

1. See: Magnesium for Tendonitis

2. Learn How To Reduce Inflammation

3. Wouldn't hurt to get my Reversing Wrist Tendonitis ebook. Everything in it applies to your thumb.


Do #1 and #2 for 10-14 days, and let me know what happens.

Take it easy on the thumb to reduce new irritation to the dynamic, and ask questions along the way.








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Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com