What is mother’s wrist and how can it be treated?

You may have heard of mother's wrist in passing

Yet now that you're getting aches and pains in your wrists and thumbs after welcoming your baby you're starting to wonder what it is exactly.

Well, just keep reading, we may have some of the answers for you.

What is mother's wrist?

Also known as de Quervain's tenosynovitis, it's a condition characterised by painful thumbs and wrists.

It can also cause the development of a bump or a cyst near the base of your thumb.

It is believed that it's caused by things that come with new motherhood such as hormonal changes from pregnancy and increased pressure on the tendons in your wrist from holding and lifting your baby.

Symptoms can include:

• Pain when you move your thumb or wrist that can travel up the arm
• Pain when you tuck your thumb in and make a fist
• Swelling and tenderness on the thumb side of your wrist
• A catching or snapping feeling when you move your thumb

How to treat it

Though it's no doubt an irritating and painful ailment to have, there are things you can do to relieve it such as:

• Applying an ice pack but remember to only apply for no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time, followed by a half-hour break between sessions. Also don't put the ice pack directly on your skin, instead wrap it in a tea towel and them apply it.
• Stretching techniques, for example, the HSE recommends that you put your hand on a table, palm facing down. Use your other hand to gently move your thumb upwards and away from the table for 10 to 15 seconds. Bring your thumb down slowly. Repeat 5 times every 2 hours. You can also rest the side of your hand on a table, with the little finger at the bottom. Then use your other hand to move your thumb away from your fingers. Bring your thumb back down slowly. Repeat 5 to 10 times every 2 hours.
• Painkillers such as paracetamol
• A rigid wrist splint

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