Women’s Health Physiotherapy: Mummy’s Wrist And 3 Tips To Help With The Pain

Physio&SoleClinic Mummy's Wrist, Physiotherapy April 19 2022

Most new mums in Singapore have experienced a nagging pain at the base of their thumb and sometimes their wrist. This condition is known as mummy’s wrist or De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. It is no surprise that this type of tendonitis in the wrist is common in caregivers of young children. Many patients affected by De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis often have trouble opening jars, turning doorknobs, and lifting their children. 

Read on as we share more about the causes of mummy’s wrist, wrist exercises you can do for pain relief, and the benefits of seeing a woman’s health physiotherapist in Singapore. 

What Causes Mummy’s Wrist 

Mummy’s wrist can be associated with direct injury to the wrist through a fall. However, the most common reason for this condition is the excessive use of muscles in your thumb and wrist. The repetitive use of muscles in your thumb and wrist can eventually cause irritation, swelling, and inflammation of the tendons. During swelling, the tendons cannot glide freely through the sheath (a tunnel at the base of your thumb). Hence, not only are your movements limited, you may experience pain as well as a locking or snapping sensation in your wrist.

Most new mums have an increased risk of developing this condition since they need to perform repetitive tasks daily – changing diapers, breastfeeding, picking up and holding their baby for a length of time etc. – putting a strain on the muscles in their thumb and wrist. The other common reason for new mums to develop this condition is the changes their bodies go through during pregnancy and into the post-partum stage – increased swelling, fluid retention, and the loosening of their ligaments.

However, many new mums in Singapore often do not seek treatment for their wrist pain as they are breastfeeding and cannot take anti-inflammatory medications. Aside from medications, most mums are also unable to rest their thumb and wrist in a rigid splint as it hinders their activities, resulting in them not wanting to seek treatment for their condition, which may further exacerbate their condition. 

However, here at WACC, our women’s health physiotherapists in Singapore understand these difficulties that new mums experience. As such, we take a holistic treatment approach by teaching new mums exercises they can do to alleviate wrist pain complementary to their physiotherapy. 

Symptoms of Mummy’s Wrist

Here are some common symptoms to look out for if you think you could be suffering from mummy’s wrist: 

• Swelling and tenderness at the base of your thumb
• Pain – for some patients, the pain can be quite severe, whereas, for others, the pain is sharp and may occur suddenly. Some patients experience a dull ache in their wrist with a progressive onset. 
• Difficulty in performing twisting movements, grabbing and holding objects. 
• Locking or snapping sensation on the thumb side of the wrist 
• Restricted movement as a result of pain associated with the condition. 

Tips To Help With The Pain  

Most patients suffering from De Quervain’s tendonitis tend to improve with time and do not require surgery. The treatment goals aim to reduce inflammation and swelling, as well as minimise strain on both the tendons and muscles. Here are some treatment options available: 

1. Rest And Ice

Many women’s health physiotherapists in Singapore may recommend resting and icing your wrist on top of exercises. Resting helps relieve pain associated with the overworked tendons, whereas ice can reduce inflammation and swelling. You can apply ice to the affected area throughout the day in 10-minute sessions. Do not place the ice directly on your skin; instead, you can use an ice pack or wrap ice in a cloth before applying it onto your wrist. 

2. Lifestyle Modifications

While it may be difficult for new mums to rest their affected hands, it is best to do so as much as possible and limit yourself from performing aggravating movements. We recommend you ask your family members for assistance whenever possible. 

When you lift your baby from under their arms with your fingers on their back and thumbs on their chest (L-shape), it puts a lot of strain as well as pressure on both your thumbs and wrists. Our women’s health physiotherapists in Singapore recommend you scoop your baby by lifting its bottom or keeping your thumb tucked in next to your index finger instead of extending it away from the hand. It will help if you keep the palm of your hand facing up to redistribute the pressure and prevent aggravation of the tendons. 

3. Physiotherapy And Exercises For Wrist Pain

Some hand doctors in Singapore may refer you to see a physiotherapist to treat mummy’s wrist. 

Going for a women’s health physiotherapy session aims to reduce strain on the thumb and wrist tendons through appropriate wrist exercises and treatment modalities. At WACC, our women’s health physiotherapists will take a thorough history of your condition. This is for us to understand your symptoms before coming up with a diagnosis and optimal treatment plan. We will then conduct a physical assessment to check for restrictions in movement.

Besides physiotherapy, we would also recommend some simple wrist exercises for pain that you can do at home. Some wrist exercises include: 

• Thumb Lifts 

Place your affected hand on a flat surface with your palm facing up and thumb extended away from your palm. From there, you gently bring your thumb into the palm and back out again. Try to do this eight to 10 times per session, several times a day. 

• Finkelstein Stretch 

Hold your hand outstretched with your thumb up and pinky down as if you are shaking hands. You can keep your fingers out long or make a fist and use your other hand to point your fingers/knuckles to the ground gently. Hold it there for 15 to 30 seconds each time, and you will start to feel a stretch in the tendons that join your thumb to the wrist. Repeat this four to five times per session. 

Don’t Live Your Life In Pain 

As mentioned above, mums are more susceptible to developing mummy’s wrist. To recover fully, it is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis and establish a personalised treatment plan that would work for you. At WACC Singapore, our expert women’s health physiotherapists provide a comprehensive treatment plan crucial for your complete recovery. Your health is just as important as your baby’s. Hence it is best not to ignore the pain you are experiencing in your wrist and hands. Seek treatment early so that you can make a quicker recovery and get back to enjoying motherhood. Make an appointment for a women’s health physiotherapy session with us today.