De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
This is a painful condition affecting the tendon of the thumb from the wrist. This mechanism of injury is not fully understood however it is common in activities which include lots of gripping and repetitive hand movements. It can affect you if you are involved in golf and racket sports or you do lots of gardening or lifting in your activities of daily living.
Symptoms include pain when turning the wrist, gripping and making a fist. Repetitive activities of the hand and wrist can aggravate the symptoms
Treatment can include; electrotherapy, frictions, massage, exercise rehabilitation, sports and kinesiology taping.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This condition is caused by compression of the median nerve which controls movement and sensation in the hands. He carpal tunnel itself is a corridor at the base of the hand/wrist which is comprised of bones, tendons (of the wrist and hand) and the retinaculum. Compression of this area can cause the following symptoms: pins and needles, numbness, pain, aching in the arm, weakness in the thumb. You can be more susceptible to this injury if you are involved in repetitive wrist/hand movements, injury to the wrist, if you are diabetic or have rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment is dependent on the symptoms you present with and what is obtained from physical examination.
Scaphoid Fracture
The scaphoid bone is part of the carpal bones of the wrist, positioned under the thumb. If you pull your thumb towards you it lies in-between the tendons of the thumb. It is the common carpal fracture and is not always clearly identifiable on x-ray. It can take up to 6 weeks for it to show. This injury normally presents as pain in the hand, increasing with thumb movements. You may also see swelling around the wrist or base of the thumb. Often this injury is misdiagnosed as a sprain, unless the pain is severe.
If it is suspected, you are suffering from this injury we would refer to your GP for further investigation. Treatment following any period of immobilisation could include, exercise rehabilitation, mobilisations
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