Originally published on December 2, 2024 by Vital Physiotherapy & Wellness, now part of the Bravella Health network. Original author: Team Vital.
It’s about time someone talked about the real changes that come with new motherhood! While your body is doing amazing things to nurture your little one, it’s also sending you signals that deserve attention – and that’s where physiotherapy shines as your trusted partner in postpartum care. At Vital, not only do we NOT believe in suffering in silence, or assuming aches and pains are “part of being a parent,” we know you not only can feel better, but you deserve better!
Our pelvic health physiotherapists are breaking down barriers, starting conversations, and offering expert solutions for the unique physical challenges of early parenthood. And the best part? The comprehensive, compassionate care we are known for extends to ALL your physiotherapy concerns postpartum! Most people immediately think about diastasis recti, scar mobilization, or other pelvic symptoms, but we are here to help you thrive, not just survive, in your parenting journey. There are so many postpartum changes to your body, it can be hard to keep track! One of the most common, but unspoken issues new mothers face is thumb pain.
You know that sore thumb you get when lifting or feeding your baby? That’s one of them! Welcome to Postpartum Thumb Pain, also known as Mommy’s Thumb, also known as DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis! Postpartum Thumb is 6 times more common in women compared to men [3], with postpartum DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis being responsible for up to 40% of all cases [3]. Like other common postpartum conditions that you probably never heard about…it’s common, but it’s NOT something that you have to live with. Your physiotherapist is here to be your ally in feeling strong, capable, and supported.
What’s the medicine behind Postpartum Thumb Pain?
Postpartum Thumb Pain is a condition where the tendons around your thumb become inflamed as they travel from the arm, into the wrist and attach onto the thumb. This inflammation is what causes pain! Research suggests that a combination of swelling during pregnancy plus the mechanical stresses placed on the hands during caring for your baby that results in overuse of the thumb tendons [1]. It is one of the most common postpartum conditions and often gets overlooked because of the (understandable) priority that mothers give to caring for their baby!
How does Postpartum Thumb Pain happen?
When holding, picking up, and nursing your baby, new mothers tend to end up with their wrists and thumbs in a position where the thumb is extended, where the wrist is bent inward towards the body (we call this ulnar deviation). This position is usually sustained for long periods of time, especially when feeding [5].
The overuse of your thumb in these positions can cause inflammation and irritation to the small, enclosed area at the base of your thumb where the tendons run. This eventually causes the pain that you notice with those same activities!
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What are the symptoms of Mommy’s Thumb?
The most common symptoms are pain, swelling along the wrist at the base of the thumb, and a decrease in thumb motion [4,5]. The pain is often described as sharp or can feel achy, and it originates at the base of the thumb or thumb side of the wrist. You may also notice swelling at the base of the thumb or thumb side of the wrist. This is the tunnel within which the tendons run, and swelling can gather in that area with repetitive use. Decreased mobility of the thumb is the last symptom. You may have difficulty using the thumb, and it will feel as if your thumb isn’t moving like it normally does. Activities such as picking up, holding, and carrying your baby will be difficult. You may also find it hard to hold, pinch, or grasp things.
What can be done to manage Mommy’s Thumb?
Initial treatment for Postpartum Thumb Pain focuses on reducing pain and swelling, and increasing range of motion [4]. A great way to help is to use a thumb spica brace [2,5]. The goal of wearing a brace is to keep your hand in a neutral position so that your tendons are more ergonomically supported and at less risk of overuse! Resting as much as you can and intermittently icing the area will also help reduce pain and swelling and increase your range of motion.
Modifying the way you use your hands when doing daily household tasks and when taking care of your baby is also a way to help reduce the stress placed on the wrist. We often suggest trying the scooping technique for handling and caring for your baby, where you keep your thumb close to your palm and your wrist in neutral [5]. It is also encouraged that you intermittently do a range of motion exercises of the thumb and wrist in order to maintain mobility while you heal! Keep in mind that these exercises should always be done in a pain free range of motion, so as to prevent more irritation and inflammation in the area. Once pain and swelling have reduced, wrist and hand strengthening exercises are a good addition to your exercise program to help strengthen the hands and prevent re-injury! A physiotherapist (including a pelvic health physiotherapist!) in your community would be a great support to help you determine which exercises and pain and swelling management strategies would be best for you!
Is there a way to prevent Postpartum Thumb Pain from happening?
Research shows that early awareness of proper techniques when holding, feeding, and caring for your baby can prevent or reduce the severity of Postpartum Thumb Pain in new mothers [5]. When breastfeeding, try keeping your wrists and thumbs neutral and prop the baby’s weight against your own body instead of trying to hold her with your hands and wrists. Using pillows specifically designed for breastfeeding are also helpful, as they take the pressure off your arms and allow you to hold your baby close to you without overusing your wrists and hands. Using a thumb spica brace while breastfeeding or baby-carrying is also a way to support healing while still being able to engage in everyday tasks.
At Vital, we are here to support you along your journey of motherhood! We see clients with Mommy’s Thumb all the time and are here and ready to help you heal in a way that gets you to your goals and beyond!
Book your initial assessment here!
References:
[1] Anderson, S. E., Steinbach, L. S., De Monaco, D., Bonel, H. M., Hurtienne, Y., & Voegelin, E. (2004). “Baby wrist”: Mri of an overuse syndrome in mothers. American Journal of Roentgenology, 182(3), 719–724. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.182.3.1820719
[2] Daglan, E., Morgan, S., Yechezkel, M., Rutenberg, T. F., Shemesh, S., Iordache, S. D., & Kadar, A. (2023). Risk factors associated with de quervain tenosynovitis in postpartum women. HAND, 19(4), 643–647. https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447221150524
[3] Ferraro, E., Ferraro, J., Pavlesen, S., Carlson, C., Ablove, T., & Ablove, R. (2023). De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in Primary Caregivers. WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 122(2), 110–113.
[4] Garg, A., & Sharma, S. (2023). De Quervain’s tenosynovitis in postpartum woman: A case report. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 13(1), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230113
[5] Virzi, A. (n.d.). Positioning Techniques to Reduce the Occurrence of DeQuervains Tendonitis in Nursing Mothers. https://doi.org/10.33015/dominican.edu/2010.edu.09
