Mother's thumb - advice?

[noodleoo]

I've started having pain in my wrist below my thumb and my googling says it may be De Quervain's tenosynovitis (aka mother's thumb).  I've been trying to pick DD2 differently, but it isn't getting better and now my other wrist is starting to hurt too.  I never had this with DD1!  Who do I need to see about this?  I don't have a primary care dr (I know, I really need to find one), so I'm thinking of going straight to PT or something?  I've been taking ibuprofen, icing it at night, doing some exercises I found online but nothing seems to be helping. 

[redpenmama]

Have you tried wearing a wrist brace? I had it with my son, and the brace really helped. In fact, it resolved it in a month or so, so I never saw a doctor.

[noodleoo]

Sept 5, 2019 10:32:28 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

Have you tried wearing a wrist brace? I had it with my son, and the brace really helped. In fact, it resolved it in a month or so, so I never saw a doctor.

Oh really?  Can you link to the brace?  

[dixeedeluxe]

I get it occasionally due to using my phone (yeah, too much). Wearing a thumb stabilizer overnight clears it right up!

[pooh8402]

I've had it twice, after both kids. The first time after E1 was born, I let it go too long before seeing my primary. I did try to manage at home with round the clock NSAIDs (ibuprofen) and a wrist brace, but the brace prevented me from picking up babies--my own and the ones I worked with. I needed a week long course of oral steroids to clear it. I still had occasional problems for a few months after.

This time, after E2 was born, I recognized it for what it was, and started round the clock NSAIDs (took naproxen when I had to work, and ibuprofen when I was home) and wore a wrist brace when I could, mostly when I was sleeping. I also got in to my doctor quicker, within a couple weeks of first noticing the symptoms. A shorter course of steroids cleared it this time and I've had no lingering problems.

If oral steroids don't work, the next line treatment is a steroid injection into the joint itself, which requires an orthopedist.

[AdaraMarie]

I had this with dd1 and it was terrible. I went to pt for a long time, got an injection in my wrist, and wore a couple different braces for ages.
I would start with a pt and if that alone doesn't help enough they can refer you to a specialist.

[redpenmama]

noodleoo, this is the one I bought. Worth trying b/c it's cheap!

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AU1ZU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[achi]

I definitely had this with DS when he was tiny. I didn't think it was an actual "thing" at the time so I never got help for it. It went away on its own.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I get this when I use my phone/kindle too much. I bought this brace from CVS and wear it at night every night until the pain goes away (took a few months the first time because I ignored the pain for a while) and during the day if I'm going to be sitting and using one of my devices for a while. It can be used on either hand, which is great because I've had it in both hands!
www.amazon.com/Futuro-Stabilizer-Improves-Stability-Stabilizing/dp/B00CRF0Z1K/ref=asc_df_B00CRF0Z1K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310135323596&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=791429786745034436&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005950&hvtargid=pla-539709902575&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=62847861838&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=310135323596&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=791429786745034436&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005950&hvtargid=pla-539709902575

[nicolewi]

I also had this. Just got a cheap brace at Walgreen's (any drug store). It worked wonders. I couldn't believe how well it worked! I would wear it all night, and sometimes during the day if I was at home.

[soozy87]

I had this with my first. My I mentioned it to my chiro and she adjusted my wrist with her hands and it was an almost instant fix, never flared up again. So that might be another solution if you believe in that sort of thing.

[momin2013]

I had it and my doc prescribed a wrist brace that I initially needed to wear 24 hours a day. Then I was able to gradually scale back to just during the day, then to a portion of the day, as it got better. I'm sure you could find a decent brace without an Rx, though; like PP's have said, try Walmart or a pharmacy.

[kitty]

I had it with my first and once I realized it and adjusted my technique it slowly went away on its own. I was able to avoid it with the second and third by being really mindful of how I lifted them.

[tennisgal]

If you are going to go to the doctor, I'd just go right to orthopedics, ideally a hand specialist. A lot of orthopedic places now have walk-in 'urgent care' clinics so you could likely get it done quickly without having to wait for an appt.

[Ashley&Scott]

I had this when DS1 was a baby. I went to ortho & they gave me a steroid shot. I also had to wear a brace for a few weeks. Luckily I didn't need surgery, but the ortho said that many people don't follow the brace instructions then end up with surgery.

My advice if you're not ready for the doctor. Wear a brace that immobilizes your thumb for 1-2 weeks, ideally all day/night except in the shower. If the brace solves the problem great, if not see a doc. Long term - don't use your thumbs to type on your phone & adjust how you pick up your baby.

[sunflower17]

I had it after having DD and I needed a steroid injection. It worked well, but came back 6 months later and I needed a second injection. I’ve been fine since and that was about 8 months ago. (Ortho told me the next step was to surgically cut the tendon).

[sillygoosegirl]

A brace made a huge difference for me.

[Deleted]

Thumb brace
NSAIDs
Rest (HAHAHAHA)
Stretching

I've had three cortisone shots for mine. I'm trying to aggressively rest and stretch it for the next two weeks, and if that doesn't work, I'm just scheduling the damned surgery.

[greenmonkey1]

I had this with all three of my boys and it was most pronounced with DS3. What worked for me was (1) changing how I fed the baby so their weight was not resting on my wrist/thumb, (2) thumb stablizer brace (Target Futuro), and (3) I had to watch how I loaded the kids in their carseats because again, I was putting all their weight on the one hand.

It is such a pain because there is so little opportunity to rest the injured area. Good luck!