How i cured my de quervain’s syndrome?
It all started with a persistent pain on my right thumb that cascaded to my wrist. At first, I thought it was just a consequence of excessive usage of my mobile phone; however, the throbbing and dull ache did not subside even after days of resting. That’s when I realized that this could be de Quervain’s syndrome.
What is De Quervain’s Syndrome?
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis or more commonly known as “Blackberry Thumb” is an overuse injury affecting the tissues surrounding your thumbs – one in which they swells and becomes irritated due to repetitive movements. It got its moniker from Blackberry phones circa 2000s which were notoriously difficult to type on.
Symptoms include pain during movement or simply by applying pressure along the most affected regions such as along side of thumb down into wrist ,whistling motion, opening jars etc… Fortunately, seeking medical attention early does wonders in treating this condition.
My Initial Primordial Observations
As an innovation consultant working long hours hunched over four screens every day while doing intensive concrete modelling analyses for clients around various industries, I’m constantly using the mouse and keyboard with remarkable swiftness throughout each day.
That being said – what was triggering me? Could it have been taking eleven sugars instead of two in coffee? Alternatively, had extensive video gaming harmed me finally?
Regardless! In order to figure out whether i actually had a problem or if there wasn’t any major misfunctioning issue with my human mechanical body unit 😉 (aside from general social awkwardness), i did run some impromptu tests.
- Did asking Karen at work hurt my hand/body?
- Was fidgeting away those uncomfortable feeling shoes responsible for making things worse?
- Or could holding open doors & picking up weights be attacking nerves?
All in all, i couldn’t find a conclusive answer. So, I decided to visit the GP.
Consultation with The General Practitioner
During my initial consultation appointment with my General Practitioner, we established that I did have De Quervain’s syndrome based on her clinical examination and discussing in detail what had led up to the onset of pain.
Afterwards, she provided me with several options for treating this condition. These included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), splinting or bracing; however none seemed substantive enough after further assessment.
| Treatment | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| NSAIDS | Reducing inflammation/ pain relief | Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers |
| Rest , Ice Packs | ||
| Splinting or Bracing Inexpensive Overuse risk if not applied correctly | ||
| Surgical operation instant results More invasive than other methods |
It was then suggested alternative therapies such as combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit treatment which caught my attention by way of instant relief.
How To Apply Electrical Stimulation
If you’re anything like myself – one can hardly claim to be an ‘expert’ in home-electricals or medical devices so let me assure you it’s rather straightforward:
1 – First off – Clean your hands!
2 – You take out two electrodes which upon close inspection look somewhat similar band aids because they are quite easy to fix onto your injured wrist- leading me to agree with the commonly held belief: “If all else fails, duct tape should fix my de Quervain’s syndrome. Reach for ten strips”.
3 – Apply these electrodes on either side of your carpal tunnel, switch on your battery-pack and begin zapping!
In summary it’s comparably therapeutic & rather relaxing after a stressful day at work.
Enriching Your Diet
Yes, you read that right! It might sound odd but adding certain foods into your diet can be beneficial in managing symptoms of De Quervains Syndrome.
Indulge In These Foods:
- Protein such as fish or chicken which provide amino acids required for repair and growth.
- Anti-inflammatory fruits such as blueberries which have been associated with inhibiting inflammation.
- Green Leafy Supplies like Kale
Reduce The Intake Of The Following:
- Sugar Rich Snacks
- Plastic Based water bottles (namely BPA)
Never underestimate the impact of quality nutrition…it has phenomenal effects!
Be Mindful Of Your Posture
As we mentioned earlier – Desks may not be comfortable but they’re necessary. Therefore, it is highly advised to maintain correct body posture while doing so.
This means three important factors one must adhere to are :
1 – Aligning the head with shoulders to reduce spinal strain.
2 – Placing computer screens in an appropriate position immediately below eye level whilst maintaining elbow height placed parallel with keys providing easy access when typing .
3 -Lastly create good habits by ensuring modified task within each hour long stretch!
Taking regular breaks from prolonged ergonomic pressure goes a long way towards reducing stress injuries over-time.
Stay mindful about how much time spent hunched over devices per day; give yourself consistent intervals every half-hour/hour makes entire difference avoiding avoidable woes!
Wrapping It Up
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis needn’t cause extreme discomfort forever, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) offers an exceptional step in the right direction.
In addition to this chiropractic care – with thorough posture care plus ensuring proper nutrition and hydration beneath sound ergonomic principles have personally worked wonders for me.
Take it from practically everybody who has ever suffered from De Quervain’s syndrome – no single method of solving this condition exists which works universally on every individual!
All it takes is a certain level of trial and error testing over-time to discover what suits your own distinct needs properly.
Here’s hoping that these tricks will give you some reprieve too 😊.