Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis

At its simplest, tenosynovitis it is an inflammation of the thin, fluid filled membrane that allows a tendon to glide smoothly. When that membrane swells, each flex or grip becomes a reminder that something has gone wrong.

What exactly is tenosynovitis?

A healthy tendon sits inside its own tiny sleeve, the synovial sheath. The sheath produces lubricant so the tendon can move hundreds of times a day without friction. Tenosynovitis begins when that lining is irritated and thickens. The result is localised swelling, warmth and a pain that is often sharp on the first movement after rest. Although any tendon with a sheath can be affected, cases commonly arise in the hand, wrist, forearm and ankle where repetitive work is routine.

How De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is different

De Quervain’s is a specific sub-type named after the Swiss surgeon Fritz de Quervain in 1895. It targets just two thumb tendons as they pass through a narrow tunnel on the radial side of the wrist. The hallmark is pain when you try to grip, pinch or lift with the thumb positioned away from the hand. A simple Finkelstein’s test, where the thumb is tucked inside the fist and the wrist is deviated towards the ulna, will often reproduce the pain instantly. Put simply, all De Quervain’s cases are tenosynovitis, but not all tenosynovitis is De Quervain’s. The distinction matters because the thumb tendons run through a particularly tight compartment with little space for swelling, so De Quervain’s can become disabling far more quickly than inflammation around larger sheaths such as those of the ankle.

Modern industry demands speed and precision. Assembly line packers, data-entry clerks, chefs, cleaners, dental technicians and even professional gamers repeat the same wrist angles thousands of times a shift. Over time the synovial sheath is forced to work in a permanently inflamed state until the lubricant thickens and becomes gritty, locking the tendon. Employers have a legal duty, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, to carry out risk assessments and provide adequate controls such as task rotation, ergonomic tools and rest breaks. If those safeguards are absent or ignored and an employee develops tenosynovitis, there may be a clear route to claim compensation.

How our solicitors can help

We arrange prompt independent medical examinations, gather ergonomic reports, collate earning and overtime data, negotiate interim payments for lost earnings and, when necessary, issue proceedings in the county court or High Court. Whether your case involves classic De Quervain’s from scanning on a till, or general flexor sheath tenosynovitis from prolonged use of vibrating tools, we pursue the maximum compensation for pain, private treatment, prescription costs and any future loss of earnings. Tenosynovitis is treatable and a successful claim can fund the therapy you need to get back to work safely. Contact our team by phone for free 24/7 or via the online form for a no-obligation assessment. If we believe your employer is at fault we will act on a no-win, no-fee basis so you do not pay a penny unless we succeed. The sooner you act, the stronger the medical and occupational evidence is likely to be, and the faster you can move from pain to progress.

We’re here to help you – FREE of charge and without ANY obligation. To learn more, simply call our experienced Tenosynovitis claim team FREE, 24/7 on 0800 028 2060.

You can also start a claim online or request a FREE call back from our specialist Tenosynovitis team.

How Do I Start a Tenosynovitis Claim?

It’s really simple. You can contact one of our highly trained solicitors absolutely free of charge, either by calling our freephone helpline on 0800 028 2060, or alternatively you can click here to provide us with your contact details, and one of our team will call you back at a time of your choice.

When making an enquiry about claiming, you should remember that in most cases strict time limits must be adhered to in order for the case to stand, so contact us today.

When you call us, or we call you back, you are not in any way obliged to continue with the enquiry any further than you wish to. We will not force you into anything; we aim only to guide you through the claims process as swiftly and easily as possible, and to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.