Symptoms
- Pain or tenderness at the base of the thumb
- Pain when pinching
- Swelling over the thumb side of the wrist
- A snapping or catching sensation when moving the thumb
- Numbness on the back of the thumb, spreading to the index finger
- Difficulty moving your thumb and wrist
- If the condition goes too long without treatment, the pain may spread farther into your thumb, back into your forearm or both.
Causes
De Quervains is a mechanical problem caused by repetitive use of the thumb and wrists. A direct blow to the area may also cause the condition.Some activities that might cause de Quervains are:
- Wringing out wet clothes
- Hammering
- Skiing
- Knitting
- Lifting heavy objects such as a jug of milk, taking a frying pan off of the stove, or lifting a baby out of a crib
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