Is Your Hand Pain De Quervain’s or Trigger Finger?

You’re experiencing pain in your hand, and it’s not getting any better. It could be located at the base of your thumb or on a finger. The pain intensifies when you try to grip a stair railing or anything smaller, like a tennis racquet. You could have one of two ailments that produce this type of pain: De Quervain’s disease or trigger finger. You wonder if you’re going to have to give up tennis for the season. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, gently presses your thumb and/or fingers, has you perform certain physical movements with your hand, and asks you key questions about your symptoms to ascertain a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. The following are similarities and differences between De Quervain’s syndrome and trigger finger. 

Similarities between trigger finger and De Quervain’s 

These two conditions share several similarities.

Location of your pain 

Both De Quervain’s and trigger finger can cause pain at the base of your thumb, where your finger joins your palm. 

Inflamed tendons

Both conditions cause inflammation in your thumb or finger. The worse the inflammation, the worse the pain. 

Swelling  

Both hand conditions can cause swelling at the base of the thumb. Inflammation produces swelling. 

Cause of your pain 

Both conditions result from inflamed tendons caused by overuse.  If you work in the trades, you may develop this type of inflammation from gripping a hammer or paint roller. If you love to garden, you could overdo it by gripping gardening tools such as a spade or a hose attachment. 

Differences between De Quervain’s and trigger finger 

Location of your pain 

While both hand conditions can cause pain at the base of the thumb, trigger finger may instead cause pain in your ring finger or middle finger. In addition, pain often centers on your palm, whereas pain with De Quervain’s occurs mainly along the base of the thumb, extending into the side of your wrist. If you have trouble opening jars, turning a key into a lock, or carrying a water can because your thumb hurts, your pain is likely De Quervain’s. 

A finger that locks into position or snaps to straighten 

Does your finger get stuck in a bent position to the point where you need to straighten it out using your other hand? A finger that freezes into one position is a hallmark of trigger finger. Your finger could also straighten suddenly with a snap. If your finger catches or clicks when bending or straightening it, you most likely have trigger finger. 

Don’t wait to seek orthopedic treatment until your symptoms are so severe that they interfere with daily life. If you have trouble buttoning a shirt or gripping a frying pan, call our office for an appointment to receive a prompt diagnosis and receive treatment. 

A variety of hand conditions can feel similar in early stages; it’s important to get a correct diagnosis and start treatment to prevent permanent tendon damage and chronic pain. Call or message Coastal Empire Orthopedics in Savannah, Georgia, if you have unexplained hand pain.