Wrist & thumb
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis — North Vancouver
A sharp, dragging pain at the thumb side of the wrist when you lift a baby, pour a kettle, or turn a key. We calm the irritated thumb tendons and rebuild the wrist so the everyday tasks stop stinging.
What it is
Understanding your de quervain's tenosynovitis.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is an irritation of the two tendons that run along the thumb side of the wrist, where they pass through a snug tunnel near the base of the thumb. When those tendons and their sheath swell, the smooth gliding turns into a painful catch. The hallmark is a sharp ache at the thumb-side of the wrist that flares when you grip, pinch, lift, or twist — and often radiates up the forearm or down into the thumb.
It earns the nickname "mother's wrist" for good reason: repeatedly scooping up an infant with the thumb splayed out is a classic trigger, which is why we see it so often in new parents. But it isn't only that. Hours of texting and thumb-typing, a sudden block of repetitive hand-tool work, racket sports, and lifting with the wrist deviated to the thumb side all load the same tendons. An acute wrist injury or a fall onto the hand can also trigger it outright. Conditions like inflammatory arthritis and the hormonal shifts of pregnancy can make the tendons more prone to flaring.
The pattern matters because the thumb side of the wrist hosts more than one problem. Thumb-base arthritis, a scaphoid issue, or radial nerve irritation can mimic it. A careful assessment — including thumb and wrist positioning tests — sorts out whether it's genuinely the tendons or something that needs a different plan.
What to expect
Many cases settle meaningfully over 6–8 weeks when the aggravating load is managed early and the tendon is offloaded before strengthening begins. New-parent cases can be slower simply because the triggering task — lifting a growing baby many times a day — is hard to avoid; we focus on technique and splinting to work around that. If pain stays severe despite a fair trial of conservative care, a cortisone injection or a hand-specialist opinion may be the right next step, and we'll point you there.
Get a plan
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Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About de quervain's tenosynovitis.
Why do new parents get this so often?+
Lifting an infant typically means scooping under the arms with the thumbs splayed wide and the wrists bent toward the thumb — exactly the position that loads these tendons. Do it dozens of times a day, every day, and the tendons don't get a chance to settle. That's why it's nicknamed mother's wrist. A big part of our plan is retraining the lift so you can keep caring for your baby while the tendons calm down.
I'm on my phone and keyboard all day for work — is that the cause?+
It can be a major contributor. Sustained thumb-typing and repetitive keyboard and mouse work keep these tendons under steady load. For North Shore desk workers we look at workstation setup, typing and phone habits, and break patterns alongside the hands-on treatment, because fixing the tendon without fixing the daily trigger tends to invite a relapse.
Do I need a cortisone injection?+
Not as a first step for most people. Splinting, load management, and graded rehab settle a lot of cases on their own. If symptoms stay severe or don't improve after a fair trial of conservative care, a cortisone injection can be effective for De Quervain's specifically — we'd discuss that with you and coordinate with your physician. Persistent cases that don't respond may warrant a hand-surgeon opinion.
Is this the same as carpal tunnel?+
No — different problem, different part of the wrist. De Quervain's affects the thumb-side tendons and causes pain with thumb and wrist movement. Carpal tunnel involves the median nerve in the centre of the wrist and tends to cause numbness and tingling in the thumb and first few fingers, often worse at night. The assessment tells them apart, and they need different treatment. See our carpal tunnel page if numbness and tingling are your main symptoms.
Do you direct-bill extended health?+
Yes — direct billing for most major extended-health insurers, plus ICBC and WorkSafeBC.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).
Related reading
- Carpal tunnel syndrome — median nerve compression, the numbness-and-tingling wrist problem →
- IMS dry needling — release the forearm tension feeding into the thumb tendons →
- Class IV laser therapy — to settle stubborn inflammation around the thumb tendons →
- Sport physiotherapy — the assessment, splinting, and graded-loading plan behind recovery →