Causes of recurrence of wrist tenosynovitis

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on March 31, 2025
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Tendinitis is most commonly seen in the wrist or metacarpophalangeal joints. Typically, patients will experience redness, swelling, heat, and tenderness in the wrist, along with limited joint mobility. It is usually recommended that patients rest and avoid overexertion. Due to repeated friction caused by overexertion, swelling of the annular ligament or tendon sheath can occur. This leads to insufficient circulation of synovial fluid within the joints, and excessive friction can cause damage to the tendons and tendon sheaths, resulting in chronic inflammation and swelling. This is how tendinitis develops. Repetitive tasks, such as flipping a spoon at the wrist or cooking, can cause pain, with the most common being de Quervain's tenosynovitis, which can be confirmed by physical examination. Activities like wringing a towel or cooking can lead to pain. When necessary, treatments such as injections or small needle knife therapy may be required. Rest can relieve most symptoms, but there is a high chance of recurrence. Attention should be paid to wearing wrist braces and applying local heat can help.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What department should I go to for tendon sheathitis?

Tendinitis refers to a sterile inflammation of the tendon sheath around the tendons, caused by chronic strain, characterized by local pain and limited mobility. If tendinitis occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention at the orthopedics department of a formal hospital. After assessing the extent of the inflammation and its impact on movement, and determining the presence of symptoms of constrictive tendinitis, an appropriate treatment method can be selected. In the early stages, conservative treatment such as rest and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications can be used. If the symptoms are severe, surgery may be required to remove the narrowed tendon sheath or the inflamed sterile tendon sheath to alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Tendinitis mild and severe symptoms

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to the exudation and adhesion between the tendon and tendon sheath caused by excessive flexion and extension activities, resulting in a sterile inflammatory response with symptoms of localized pain and limited mobility. In the early stages of adhesive inflammation, there is severe pain in the affected area along with limited flexion and mobility. As the condition progresses and with increasing age, severe proliferation of the tendon sheath may cause compression on the tendon, leading to symptoms of constrictive tendon sheath inflammation, particularly in the extensor tendons of the index and thumb fingers, commonly known as trigger finger.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to completely cure tenosynovitis?

The only definitive treatment for tenosynovitis is surgery, because the clinical treatment of tenosynovitis is divided into three steps. The first step is general treatment, which mainly involves immobilization, medication, and topical application of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs; the second step is injection therapy; if these two methods do not work, then surgery is the only option. Therefore, surgery is the only way to completely cure tenosynovitis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to massage tendinitis?

Tendon sheath inflammation is caused by chronic strain and repeated activity, leading to a sterile inflammation of the tendon sheath surrounding the tendon. This results in impairment of tendon movement, causing symptoms such as pain and restricted movement. Tendon sheath inflammation primarily arises from repetitive activity and chronic strain. It can be relieved by appropriate resting, topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy. In severe cases where tendon impingement occurs, surgery is required to alleviate the symptoms. Massage therapy is not recommended for this type of sterile inflammation, as it does not have a significant effect.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Can tenosynovitis heal itself?

Tendon sheath inflammation is primarily due to long-term engagement in certain frequent activities, causing inflammatory damage to the tendons and tendon sheaths. This results in symptoms such as swelling and limited mobility. It is difficult to cure without treatment intervention. For the treatment of tendon sheath inflammation, it is firstly important to rest and stop the frequent activity. Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics can also be used. Additionally, treatments such as applying heat, physiotherapy, and local encapsulation can be employed. Through these treatments, some patients can recover effectively. When there is a significant impact on life due to functional impairment, surgical treatment may also be considered. Post-surgery, it is important to start functional exercises early to prevent adhesion. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)