Tendonitis Treatment - Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Ventura

Hand Surgery: Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons. It is most often an overuse condition, due to repetitive use of a certain tendon without adequate time for it to recover. The principle symptom of tendonitis is pain, followed by some degree of weakness of the tendon. Although any tendon in the hand, wrist and forearm can be affected, some tendons are notorious for developing tendonitis. Often it is the external lining of the tendon, the tenosynovium, that becomes inflamed leading to the condition termed tenosynovitis.

De Quervain's tendonitis, or tenosynovitis, is inflammation of the tendon that is involved in lifting objects using the thumb and wrist. It is classically described in a new mother who is constantly picking up her newborn child, however it can develop in anyone performing similar types of lifting. The pain occurs over the thumb side of the wrist. Other tendons can become inflamed at the wrist and even at the elbow. A very common form of tenosynovitis in the palm is the trigger finger, in which the finger (or thumb) triggers and can even lock upon attempting to straighten it from a bent position.

Various athletic activities such as tennis and weight lifting, as well as certain occupations involving repetitive motion can cause tendonitis and tenosynovitis.

Tendonitis must be differentiated from other hand conditions such as arthritis and nerve compression syndromes since the treatments are often very different.

Our surgeons offer multiple treatment approaches for tendonitis, including non surgical treatments such as oral medication, splinting and steroid injections, as well as surgery. Our hand fellowship-trained surgeon, Gil Kryger, md, directs the hand clinic at the Kryger Institute of Plastic Surgery and will make sure that the appropriate treatment is chosen for you.