About this topic
Your tendons connect your muscles to your bones. The synovium is the cover for the tendons in between your joints. It makes a fluid that lubricates your joints so they can move freely. Tenosynovitis happens when this cover gets inflamed. This can be caused from an infection, injury, or straining from overuse of the tendon. This illness can affect a lot of body parts like the hand or wrist. If it affects the thumb, it is called De Quervains tenosynovitis. If the middle or fourth finger is affected, it is called trigger finger. ‚
Treatment includes drugs, controlling movements, therapy, and surgery, if needed. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may put your affected hand or foot in a splint or bandage to limit the movement. Keep your splint in place. Remove this when your doctor tells you to.
- You may be told to wrap the swollen part with a stretchy bandage to help stop the swelling. Your doctor will teach you the right way to put this type of bandage on.
- Your doctor may give you crutches, a cane, or walker. Your doctor will teach you how to use these the right way.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Use pillows to prop your injured part when you are resting.
- Keep your injured part above the level of your heart for a few days to help stop swelling.
- Rest the painful area. Avoid any activity that makes the pain worse.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If your doctor used a splint or bandaging on your injured part, you may need to make a visit to the office to remove it.
- Your doctor may send you to a physiotherapist, physical therapist, or a rehab center.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
- The pain from tenosynovitis may limit movement of the affected part.
- If your doctor used a splint or bandage, you will have trouble doing your normal activities. Try using your other hand or leg or ask for help from someone else.
What problems could happen?
- Movement problems
- Tenosynovitis may come back
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do regular stretching exercises to build up your tendons.
- Wear the right equipment when playing sports. This includes protective equipment and padding.
- Avoid repeat movements, if possible.
- Take breaks often doing activities like typing, running machinery, and using the mouse on your computer.
- Try to massage your hands, arms, or legs after doing hard activities. Do gentle stretching before and after any exercise. If a joint feels tired or painful, stop the activity and rest.
- Do not ignore or try to work through pain.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Very bad pain of the affected part
- Swelling that is getting worse
- Affected part gets red or feels warm to the touch
- Tips of your fingers or toes or nailbeds become blue
- Stiffness that wont go away
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain, stiffness, or swelling or my fingers or toes are cool or blue.
Where can I learn more?
American Society for Surgery of the Hand ‚
http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/TriggerFinger.aspx ‚
Tenosynovitis ‚
http://www.tenosynovitis.org.uk/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚