de Quervain's Tendonitis, de Quervains Tenosynovitis, Quervain's Stenosing Tenovaginitis (sometimes referred to as "new mom's syndrome")

What You Need To Treat de Quervain's Tendonitis

• Freezie Wrap^® Cold Compression Therapy
• Inferno Wrap^® Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™
• Therapeutic Ultrasound

de Quervain's Syndrome is an inflammatory condition that is commonly caused by cumulative injury, and is one of the most common diagnosed conditions treated by hand surgeons. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome also theorized to be caused by repeated and cumulative trauma, is one of the major causes of lost workdays at the present time. Regarding de Quervain's tenosynovitis, there is potential for symptoms in the arm other than those involving the tendon. This can result from the close proximity of the nerves, tendons, sheaths, and fascia of the forearm to the site of inflammation.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

de Quervain's tendonitis was initially common in new mothers who hyperextended their thumbs while holding the head of their babies. This syndrome is also fairly common in older individuals as well.

The primary symptom of de Quervains tendonitis is pain at the base of the thumb near the wrist. The pain can be sudden and sharp or increase on a gradual basis with use of the thumb or hand. de Quervains is almost always associated with tenderness and swelling of the styloid process of radius bone. Pain can radiate into the forearm and thumb.

de Quervains tenosynovitis is the thickening and inflammation of the sheath containing the tendons of the inner wrist and thumb area (extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons). de Quervain's Tendonitis results from inflammation or constriction of the tendons of the muscles of the thumb at the point where they pass into the wrist. In many cases both tenosynovitis and tendonitis occur, a condition known as tendinopathy.

Diagnosis of this condition is based on the location of pain, decreased hand function, and the presence of swelling in the hand.

Treatment

Surgery is not usually necessary, and is typically the option of last resort. A troublesome complication of surgery for de Quervains tenosynovitis is a painful neuroma of the radial nerve as well as increased presence of scar tissue due to the invasive nature of surgery. Controlled exercise several times daily is commonly recommended, especially to prevent frozen shoulder, after the acute inflammation is controlled. Injection within the tendon sheath of a corticosteroid is also sometimes very helpful. The application of Ultrasound may be very useful for decreasing inflammation, gently increasing flexibility, and speeding the healing rate of the tendon. However, there are occasions where ultrasound is not recommended, so ask your physician if it is right for you!

Ultrasound treatment is quickly becoming very popular for treating tendons, ligaments and muscles, as results have been very positive as long as the patient (1) keeps the area inactive throughout the healing process and (2) sticks to the treatment properly until healing has completed.

Our therapeutic ultrasound system is great for tendonitis because the patient can treat themselves continuously without delay, as would happen if they went to a therapist for all their ultrasound treatments.

Therapeutic Products

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™

You can help your body repair itself by speeding its natural healing process with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™. During normal activities, the movement promotes blood flow through our body. Our body responds to the movement by sending oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the muscles, joints, tendons and other soft tissue in the body. When at rest, the blood flow to your tendons is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, when your tendon is injured it requires rest but it also needs the blood flow to promote the healing process. Since you can't work your tendon without danger of further injury, you need to stimulate the blood flow another way. Our innovative Inferno Wrap^® gives you the best Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™ available. The Inferno Wrap^® creates energy waves that stimulate blood flow by penetrating through the outer layers of your body. The energy waves reach deep into your muscles, tendons and cartilage, reducing your pain as they heal the inner tissue.

An Inferno Wrap^® gives you unparalleled blood flow stimulation to your injured tendon. You simply won't find a comparable product on the market. Other therapy products can not come close to offering the comfortable, contoured fit and targeted energy treatment an Inferno Wrap^® provides. You will experience a soothing, penetrating warmth deep in the tissue as it works to stimulate your blood flow, we guarantee it. Now you can reduce your pain and heal yourself with the comfortable, light weight Inferno Wrap^®.

The Inferno Wrap^® provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

When your tendon has healed somewhat and it comes time for more aggressive rehabilitation, stretching and activity, Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™ warms the muscles in the injured area which increases range of motion and allows for a safer more thorough stretch.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound Therapy is also a great tool for pain prevention of tendonitis or healing a tendon tear, and having a portable ultrasound device at home can be a powerful and convenient treatment tool. If you have symptoms of tendonitis or are recovering from a tendon injury, using ultrasound on a regular basis before your activity or throughout the day will help relax your tendons and muscles, diminish pain and inflammation, soften scar tissue and contribute greatly to the healing of your injury.

Therapeutic Ultrasound massages your soft tissue giving you three primary benefits. First, it increases blood flow in the treated area which speeds your body's natural healing process. Second, it reduces swelling and edema which are the main sources of pain. Third, ultrasound softens existing scar tissue and minimizes the build up of new scar tissue resulting in reduced pain while healing and greater flexibility once healing is complete.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with Phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than Ultrasound Therapy alone.

Our MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel is the only topical therapeutic gel that is also a Phonophoretic Ultrasound Gel. It is made with natural medical ingredients including eucalyptus, peppermint, Bulgarian lavender and menthol. These effective ingredients have anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, decongestant, and circulatory stimulant properties. When applied topically and massaged into the skin, MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel relieves pain and speeds healing without any side-effects.

Cold Compression Therapy

Our cold compression wraps work by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the area of your injured tendon. Once blood vessels are damaged they can no longer carry oxygenated blood to the damaged tissue and therefore cells begin to break-down. The deep cold provided by our cold compression wraps slows cell function thereby reducing cellular break-down. Less damage means less healing is necessary and a shorter recovery time

Aside from preventing tissue damage, cold compression therapy reduces pain by gently numbing nerves in the injured area and providing comforting support to your tendons. Initially, you may use pain killers or anti-inflammatory medications but these can affect your organs and should never be used for a long period of time. Cold compression therapy is the natural way to reduce pain quickly.

Freezie Wrap^® cold compression therapy is an effective and innovative way to treat your painful tendon. The therapy behind the Freezie Wrap^® has been doctor recommended for centuries but the Freezie Wrap^® itself is a new, safer way to get it!