“My only regret is that I waited so long to see Dr. Concannon and have this fixed once and for all.”

Posted June 02, 2010 in De Quervain's, pain, rock climb, surgery, tendons, without pain

De Quervain’s is a condition affecting the thumb side of the wrist. There are two tendons, the abductor pollicus longus and extensor pollicus brevus that pass through a tunnel on the thumb side of the wrist and are covered by a soft tissue layer called a synovium. With this condition, the tendons become swollen or irritated causing the lining around the tendons, the synovium, to swell. The result is pain with movement of the wrist and pain in the thumb. It is often brought on by repetitive motion and in rare cases by an acute injury.

Monica Harris reported to Dr. Concannon three years of pain and restricted motion in her left wrist. As Mrs. Harris is predominately left handed the condition limited many of the activites she enjoys. “My husband and I enjoy rock climbing and rappelling, activities that require constant use of your hands and you must be able to trust that your wrist and hands will hold your body weight as you climb. I could not climb safely or belay another climber as my movement was restricted due to severe pain.” Over the past three years, she tried occupational therapy, steriod injections and splinting. These conservative measures would provide temporary relief, but the symptoms persisted.