Key points
Pain near your thumb after chopping or washing up is not always tendonitis. Learn how to reduce strain, what to consider with a wrist support, and when to seek care.
Hello, I’m Dr. Hong Myeong-hwi, Chief Physician at Hyunginjae Korean Medicine Clinic Gangnam (Acupuncture Hyunginjae Gangnam Diet Korea).
While preparing a holiday meal, lifting a frying pan or wringing out a cloth can bring on a sharp pain near your thumb. A short break eases it, so it’s tempting to carry on.
Start with the location. Does your whole wrist ache, or is there one tender spot just below the thumb? I put weight on a simple principle: similar symptoms can have different causes. Pain after cooking does not, by itself, establish a diagnosis of tendonitis.
1. Why moving your thumb can hurt your wrist
Two tendons that move your thumb outward and straighten it pass through a narrow tunnel on the thumb side of your wrist. Irritation and swelling in this area can make the tendons glide less easily. This is known as de Quervain tenosynovitis.
Firm gripping or twisting may make the pain more noticeable, and the area near the base of the thumb may swell. These are clues, not a diagnosis. Thumb joint problems and injuries can feel similar and need an examination to tell apart. Don’t repeatedly copy an online test that involves gripping your thumb and forcefully bending your wrist.
2. What resting your wrist actually involves
A pain-relief patch doesn’t remove the strain if you keep doing the same amount of work. Reduce the load first. Use a tool instead of wringing out cloths, and avoid lifting a heavy pot with one hand. Divide the contents into smaller containers or ask someone to help.
Break up chopping and washing-up tasks. If you spend the break scrolling on your phone with your thumb, consider whether your hand is getting a rest. Don’t return straight to your usual workload just because the pain eases a little.
For a painful, swollen area, a cold pack wrapped in a towel can be applied for about 15 minutes at a time. Never put ice directly on the skin. Check with a clinician first if you have reduced sensation or circulation problems.
3. Supports and stretching need care
Wrist supports differ. A problem involving the thumb-side tendons may call for a support that holds both the thumb and wrist in a comfortable position. Tighter is not better. Loosen it if you develop tingling or a change in skin colour, and check the fit and design.
Avoid forceful stretching into pain or pressing hard on the tender spot. The range of gentle movement and the right time to start exercises depend on your symptoms. I consider structure and function together when thinking about the wrist. Increasing pressure or intensity before identifying the painful movement calls for caution.
4. When care should not wait until after the holiday
Seek prompt medical care if a fall or blow causes marked swelling, a change in shape, or difficulty moving your wrist or holding things. Loss of feeling in your hand, or a red, hot wrist accompanied by fever, also needs prompt attention. Don’t wait. A fracture or infection may need to be ruled out.
Arrange an assessment if pain interferes with daily activities or keeps getting worse. Even mild symptoms need review if they haven’t improved after 2 weeks of reducing strain at home. Explain when it started, where it hurts, which movements bring it on, and whether there is numbness. Treatments such as acupuncture or medication should be chosen after assessing the cause. Suspected fractures or infections require the relevant tests and medical care first.
This article is general health information and does not replace a personal diagnosis. If symptoms persist or worsen, please see a doctor.
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