De Quervain's tenosynovitis — sometimes called "texter's thumb" or "mother's thumb" — is inflammation of the tendon sheath on the thumb-side of your wrist. It's caused by repetitive thumb use combined with wrist motion, and it's on the rise as phone use has exploded.
Classic symptoms
- Sharp pain on the thumb-side of the wrist, right where it meets the forearm
- Worse with grasping, pinching, or lifting objects
- Pain radiating up the forearm or down into the thumb
- Sometimes visible swelling or a tender bump on the tendon sheath
- Popping or catching sensation with thumb movement
The Finkelstein test
Make a fist with your thumb tucked inside your fingers, then bend your wrist toward your little finger. Sharp pain on the thumb side of the wrist is highly suggestive of De Quervain's.
Common triggers
- Heavy phone use — scrolling, texting, gaming
- Repetitive lifting with an outstretched thumb (new parents lifting babies is a classic setup)
- Racquet sports
- Occupational demands — cashiers, hairstylists, hairdressers
- Hormonal factors — more common in women, especially postpartum
Treatment
Activity modification — often the single most important intervention. Swipe with a finger instead of thumb, hold your phone lower, share carrying loads with the other hand.
Splinting — a thumb spica splint immobilizes the wrist and thumb during flares, allowing the tendon sheath to calm down. Often worn 2-6 weeks.
Manual therapy — soft tissue work on the involved tendons and forearm musculature.
Shockwave therapy — increasingly used for stubborn De Quervain's.
Progressive tendon loading — once acute pain settles, gradual strengthening of thumb and wrist muscles.
Class IV laser therapy for symptom management and tissue healing.
What to avoid
Pushing through the pain, ignoring modification, and grinding out the aggravating activity. Chronic De Quervain's is harder to resolve than acute cases.
When to consider referral
If 6-12 weeks of conservative care doesn't help, or if the pain is severe, corticosteroid injection or (rarely) surgical release may be considered.
Come in early. Most De Quervain's cases resolve well when treatment starts within the first few weeks.