Glossary
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful condition in which tendons that move the thumb become irritated where they pass through a narrow tunnel on the thumb side of the wrist. Repeated thumb and wrist movements, such as texting, can worsen it.
Updated October 16, 20263 cited facts, each traced to its source
Also called De Quervain's, texting thumb.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful condition on the thumb side of the wrist. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, through its OrthoInfo patient site, describes it as a condition in which tendons that control thumb movement become irritated inside the narrow tunnel they pass through from the wrist to the thumb 1. The nickname texting thumb reflects how often the condition is linked with phone use.
The narrow tunnel is where the irritation happens
The tendons glide through a sheath at the wrist. When that space is crowded, each movement of the thumb rubs the tendons against the sheath. The result is pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist, which often gets worse with thumb use.
Texting and typing can worsen the condition
The cause of de Quervain's tenosynovitis is not completely understood. OrthoInfo says the condition can be worsened by movements of the wrist and thumb, including typing, texting or lifting 2. That wording describes aggravation, not a proven cause, and the source gives no rate of occurrence among people who text.
Most cases are treated without surgery at first
Nonsurgical treatment comes first. OrthoInfo says surgery may be recommended if symptoms are severe or do not improve after 6 weeks of nonsurgical treatment 3. Dictation can cut the number of thumb taps needed to write a message on a phone, which is one practical way to reduce the load while you recover. It does not replace rest, splinting or a clinician's advice.
Related terms and guides
Related terms: tendinitis, repetitive strain injury (RSI), median nerve, dictation.
Guides that cover thumb and wrist pain from phone and computer use:
Evidence
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Related terms
- Speech to Text for Accessibility, RSI and DisabilitiesThe topic this term belongs to
- Access to WorkAccess to Work is a UK government grant for people with a disability or health condition who need support to do their job. GOV.UK says it can help pay for specialist equipment and assistive software, among other support, and that the grant does not affect other benefits and does not have to be paid back.
- Assistive technology (AT)Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment or product system that increases, maintains or improves what a person with a disability can do. Speech recognition, voice control and screen readers are common examples.
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a clinical practice area that supplements or compensates for impairments in speaking or understanding language. It uses tools such as picture boards, letter boards and speech-generating devices, and it is augmentative when used alongside speech and alternative when used instead of speech.
- CART captioningCART captioning is a live text service in which a trained captioner types what is said, usually on a stenotype machine, and the words appear on a screen as they are spoken. CART stands for Communication Access Realtime Translation, and it is also called real-time captioning.
- Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is UK government support for students with a disability, mental health problem or long-term illness, to cover study costs that come from the condition. It depends on individual needs rather than household income, and it does not have to be paid back.
- DysarthriaDysarthria is a speech disorder that happens when brain or nerve damage changes the way the muscles used for speaking work, so speech can sound slow, slurred or hard to understand. Speech recognition trained on typical voices can make more errors with this speech, so accuracy depends on the person and the software.
- DysgraphiaDysgraphia is a difficulty with writing that does not match a person's cognitive level and age, even after adequate instruction. It can affect letter formation, spacing, spelling, writing speed and composition, and speech to text lets a person get their words onto the page without writing each letter by hand.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP)An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written statement for a child with a disability, developed, reviewed and revised under the federal IDEA regulations. For US students, it is the school's plan for the special education and services the child needs, and the team must consider whether the child needs assistive technology.
- Median nerveThe median nerve is one of the main nerves of the arm. It runs from the forearm through the wrist into the hand, giving feeling and movement to parts of the hand.
- Reasonable accommodationA reasonable accommodation is a change to the job, the workplace or the equipment that lets a qualified person with a disability do the work. Under U.S. law, employers with 15 or more employees must provide one unless it would impose an undue hardship.
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an umbrella term for pain and damage to muscles, tendons and nerves that builds up from repeated movements, held postures or sustained effort, felt in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and neck.
- Screen readerA screen reader is software that reads what is on a computer or phone screen aloud, or sends it to a braille display, so that people who are blind or have low vision can use the device. The most used screen readers on Windows are JAWS and NVDA, and VoiceOver is the one built into Apple devices.
Pages that use this term
- Speech to Text for Accessibility, RSI and DisabilitiesTopic
- RSI From Typing: Symptoms, Causes and RecoveryGuide
- Hand and Wrist Pain From Typing: What Is Causing ItGuide
- Can RSI from typing affect your thumb, elbow or fingers?Question
- Do compression gloves help RSI from typing?Question
- Is it carpal tunnel or de Quervain's tenosynovitis?Question
- What does RSI from typing feel like?Question
- What is RSI called now?Question
- Median nerveGlossary
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)Glossary
- TendinitisGlossary