The small tendons within the hands connect the tiny bones to the hand muscles. Repetitive overuse or traumatic injury of the hands can cause inflammation within the hand tendons, a condition broadly called tendonitis or tendinitis. Two major forms of tendonitis affect the hands: trigger finger and DeQuervain's disease, according to medical experts at the Cleveland Clinic. People who develop tendonitis symptoms in the hands should consult a doctor for evaluation and care.
Finger or Thumb Tenderness and Pain
Inflammation of the tendons within the hands can cause sensations of pain. People who develop tendonitis because of a trigger finger can experience tenderness or discomfort along the fingers, especially when they attempt to straighten the affected finger, according to the University of Washington Medical Center. Alternatively, people with tendonitis because of DeQuervain's disease can develop pain that radiates along the thumb and into the wrist. Those with this condition also may notice that the affected thumb appears unusually puffy or enlarged from swelling. Attempts to move the affected hand region can exacerbate finger or thumb tenderness and pain in people with tendonitis in the hands.
Popping, Clicking or Catching
Trigger finger occurs when the tendon in an affected finger becomes caught or stuck, causing the finger to appear involuntarily bent. Individuals with this form of hand tendonitis may notice a popping or clicking sound when they attempt to move the finger, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the tendon is stuck, patients are unable to straighten the affected finger normally. People who develop this symptom should consult a doctor.
Limited Hand Movement
When the tendons in the hands become inflames because of tendonitis, patients can experience a decrease in their ability to move the affected hand normally. People with DeQuervain's disease or trigger finger can find particular hand activities, such as gripping a doorknob or holding a pen, uncomfortable or problematic. Normal use of the thumb or wrist may exacerbate pain or swelling symptoms in patients with DeQuervain's disease, the Cleveland Clinic says. Hand movement difficulties can become more severe if people with tendonitis symptoms in the hands do not receive prompt medical treatment.
