Do you ever experience pain when moving your fingers or wrist? Pain in your fingers or wrist may be caused by tendonitis
Tendonitis is said to be more common in women and people who overuse their fingers and wrists on a regular basis. In the Reiwa era, most people probably use smartphones, but have you ever experienced pain in your fingers after using them for long periods of time?
In this article, we will explain how tendonitis occurs, what to do about it, and the different types of tendonitis
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What is Tenosynovitis?
Muscles are connected to bones by tendons, which are covered by tissue called the tendon sheath to protect them from friction
Tendonitis is a condition in which the tendon sheath that surrounds the tendons becomes inflamed, causing pain when moving the fingers or wrist
Tendonitis is most likely to occur in the wrists and fingers and is said to be caused by overuse
If the tendonitis is mild, symptoms can be improved by applying topical ointments or reducing the strain on the hand. However, if the condition recurs or the pain is left untreated, the symptoms may worsen and develop into a condition known as trigger finger
In recent years, many people have been experiencing pain in their thumbs due to using smartphones
Tendonitis also includes conditions such as trigger finger and De Quervain's disease. We will explain each of these conditions below
Trigger finger
When you have trigger finger, your finger gets stuck when you try to straighten it from a bent position. Trigger finger is a condition in which it becomes difficult to straighten your finger using your own strength, or your finger suddenly straightens as if snapping
Trigger finger does not develop suddenly, and is thought to progress in the following manner:
The process leading to trigger finger
- Overuse of the fingers can cause inflammation of the tendons and tendon sheaths
- Symptoms may be temporarily relieved, but may recur
- The inflamed area gradually thickens, reducing the space between the tendon and the tendon sheath
- The finger begins to get stuck when moving, resulting in trigger finger
In this way, trigger finger occurs due to the tendon and tendon sheath getting caught
De Quervain's disease
De Quervain's syndrome is a tendonitis around the wrist, which mainly causes pain in the tendons used to straighten the thumb and spread the hand wide
In recent years, the number of people suffering from De Quervain's disease due to using smartphones has been increasing
The causes of pain are the same as when tendonitis occurs in other fingers
Overuse of the thumb can cause inflammation of the tendons and tendon sheaths that extend the thumb, resulting in pain when moving the wrist or thumb
Characteristics of people prone to tendonitis
People who overuse their fingers and wrists are more likely to develop tendonitis. People who write or draw a lot, use computers frequently, and use rackets for sports also need to be careful about tendonitis
It is also said that women are more susceptible to tendonitis due to hormonal factors, as a decrease in estrogen makes the tendons more susceptible to injury
Therefore,It is said that women in menopause, pregnancy and postpartum women should be especially careful
Furthermore, people with diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are also said to be more susceptible to tendonitis, as these conditions make inflammation more likely to occur and make it harder to reduce
To prevent tendonitis
People who work on a computer for long periods of time need to reduce strain on their wrists and fingers by adjusting the angle of the keyboard, desk and chair, or using a cushion
In sports, tendonitis can be caused by poor form. By learning a form that does not put strain on the wrist, tendonitis can be prevented
Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause tendonitis, so it is important to keep these diseases under control. To stabilize symptoms, review your lifestyle and make sure you don't forget to take your medication
If you think you may have tendonitis
First, rest the affected area. Avoid using the painful area and wait for the inflammation to subside
If the painful area is swollen or hot, apply ice to it
Icing should be done for about 20 minutes, then a break is recommended. If the fever persists after about two hours, ice the area again
Treatment for Tenosynovitis
First of all, you will need to rest, but you may also use topical ointments to reduce inflammation in the affected area
It is also effective to stretch the muscles that are under strain
To treat trigger finger, injections may be given to the area where the tendon is not sliding properly, or surgery may be performed to partially open the tendon sheath
Please be sure to consult with your medical provider regarding your treatment plan
summary
In this article, we have explained the pathology and characteristics of tendonitis
Tendonitis is mainly caused by overuse of the fingers and wrists, but it can be prevented by being mindful of your environment and stretching to avoid putting too much strain on the hands
If tendonitis is suspected, rest and icing are required. If symptoms persist, it is important to consult a medical institution as soon as possible
Excessive use of smartphones is also one of the causes of tendonitis, so be sure to take breaks when using them
References
・Misako Nishimori et al.: Pathological characteristics of flexor tendonitis (trigger finger) as seen in joint ultrasound images, Ultrasound Examination Techniques, Vol. 38 (2013) No. 1, pp. 13-20
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jss/38/1/38_13/_pdf/-char/ja
・Kosuke Uehara: Stretching for stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Vol. 65, No. 4 (April 2022), pp. 451-455
https://webview.isho.jp/journal/detail/pdf/10.18888/se.0000002100
Shuhei Kurihara et al.: Study on the thumb operation characteristics of smartphone users, Vol. 55 Annual, 2017, 5PM-Abstract, p. 476
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsmbe/55Annual/5PM-Abstract/55Annual_476/_pdf/-char/ja
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda