Thumb of a Mother: Explanation, Signs, Remedies, and Additional Information
De Quervain's tenosynovitis, commonly known as "mother's thumb," is a condition that causes inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. This condition can lead to pain and restricted movement in the thumb and wrist.
Common Causes
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is often the result of repetitive thumb or wrist movements, such as gripping, typing, texting, gardening, or lifting a baby. Overuse injuries, hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum, injury or trauma, and underlying arthritis may also contribute to this condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of De Quervain's tenosynovitis include pain and tenderness at the base of the thumb and along the thumb side of the wrist, swelling or tenderness around the thumb base, difficulty with grasping or pinching objects, and pain during activities like holding scissors, texting, or making a thumbs-up sign.
Diagnosis
A doctor may perform the Finkelstein's test to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis. This test involves making a fist with the thumb inside the fingers and bending the wrist toward the pinky, which causes pain on the thumb side if De Quervain's tenosynovitis is present.
Treatment Options
Initial treatment for De Quervain's tenosynovitis includes activity modification, splinting, rest, and physical therapy. Corticosteroid injections can also provide fast pain relief, and surgery may be necessary in persistent cases.
Who is Affected?
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is more common in women aged 30-50 and often affects the dominant hand. It is also more likely to affect females than males.
Home Treatments
Rest and home treatments are usually sufficient for a person to regain full use of their thumb and wrist. Performing hand exercises every 2 hours, with 5-10 repetitions of each exercise, may promote healing after the pain has subsided.
Recovery Time
Recovery time for De Quervain's tenosynovitis can vary. Some people may need to wear a splint for 2-3 weeks before starting hand exercises, while others may require surgery and a subsequent 1-4 weeks of splint-wearing, with a healing time of 6-12 weeks.
Other Causes and Preventive Measures
Other possible causes of De Quervain's tenosynovitis include hormonal changes, wrist strain or injury, and rheumatoid arthritis. To prevent De Quervain's tenosynovitis, it is recommended to avoid repetitive wrist or thumb movements, keep the thumb close to the hand rather than extending it away from the forefinger, use the opposite hand for activities that trigger pain, switch baby holding positions frequently, and perform hand exercises regularly.
If home remedies are not effective, a person should see a doctor for further evaluation and treatment.
- Pregnancy and postpartum hormonal changes, often associated with motherhood, can contribute to the development of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a common condition among women aged 30-50.
- In addition to overuse injuries and repetitive thumb or wrist movements, sciences such as medical-conditions related to womens' health, like mental-health and hormonal fluctuations, can potentially be linked to De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
- To support overall health-and-wellness and reduce the risk of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, home preventive measures like regular hand exercises, varying baby holding positions, and avoiding repetitive wrist or thumb movements can be effective.
- For those experiencing persistent symptoms, modern treatments like CBD oil, which is gaining popularity in the domain of health-and-wellness, may provide alternative pain relief options, in conjunction with traditional therapy methods for motherhood-related medical-conditions like De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
