Waking up with stiff hands is a relatively common problem with a variety of potential causes. Arthritis, tendon changes, and even nerve compression may be to blame for this annoying and potentially disabling concern.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis (also called de Quervain's disease) is a condition that affects tendons that attach to two muscles of the thumb—extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus.1 This condition typically develops from repetitive use of the thumb for activities such as twisting and pinching, but the cause is not always known.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) develops when inflammation narrows the tunnel and compresses the nerve.
Do you feel aches and pains specifically at the base of your thumb? Do you find that the pain becomes worse when performing certain types of pinching, grasping, or gripping? Have you been experiencing stiffness, weakness, or a loss of motion at the base of the thumb?
De Quervain's tenosynovitis (pronounced da-KWUHR-vanes teena-sine-ah-VITE-us) is a complicated name for a condition that's been referred to as "mother's thumb," "mommy wrist" and "gamer's thumb"—all associated with repetitive use of the hands and wrist. It is a condition that causes extreme pain in the wrist and thumb area.
