Diagnosis and Tests
If your healthcare provider thinks that you have de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, they will ask you some questions and do a physical exam to confirm you have this condition. Some of the questions your healthcare provider might ask you include:
- When did your symptoms start?
- Is there anything that makes your symptoms worse?
- Are your symptoms getting worse, staying the same, or getting better?
- What other treatments have you tried so far?
During the physical exam, your healthcare provider will look at and press on the part of your hand that is giving you problems.
Usually, imaging tests like x-rays are not needed to diagnose this condition. Instead, your healthcare provider might do a Finkelstein test. During this test, your healthcare provider will ask you to:
- Bend your thumb across your palm.
- Bend your fingers over your thumb.
- Bend your wrist toward your little finger.
If doing this causes pain on the thumb side of your wrist, your healthcare provider might be able to diagnose de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
