@aeg8 wrote:
Hello,
I was curious if anyone else has experienced an onset of tendonitis since wearing a Fitbit watch? Or any pain in their wrist?
Long story short- I started experiencing numbness on my left wrist/arm last year which gradually became very severe pain to the point where I cannot use my left hand/thumb/wrist. I assumed it was an injury from a car accident I was in paired with a decade-old wrist break. After seeing two functional therapists for the injury, the car accident was ruled out as the cause. I saw a pain specialist today who diagnosed me with de quervain's tenosynovitis and I received a long, very painful session of shockwave therapy. If it wasn't for my age, the therapist would have assumed I have arthritis as he commonly sees my issue in 50-60 year-olds. I am 25. The main issue is the tendons on my inner wrist/thumb, but it also extends up my forearm to my elbow. I have about 75% less movement in my wrist from the inflammation and my left forearm is swollen as well. The therapist could only assume the tendonitis was from repeatedly picking up my child and texting, but was still dumbfounded as to why it was only on my non-dominate side. It dawned on me tonight that my Fitbit is the only factor in this situation.
Needless to say- the watch is now off, but I am worried about the severity of damage to my wrist at this point.
aeg8: Stenosing tenosynovitis (de Quervain's tenosynovitis) commonly involves the Abductor Pollicis and the Extensor Pollicis Brevis tendons of their sheaths in their common osteofibrous canal as it makes a turn around the radial stylus process. Pain is felt over the distal Radial aspect of the Radius perhaps radiating distally into the thumb or even proximally up the forearm. Pain is felt on restricted thumb extension and abduction. Pain on wrist ulnar deviation with the thumb held fixed in flexion. Tenderness tp palpation over the tendon sheath in the region of the radial styloid process. Treatment: injection in the sheath with a steroid preparation an or local anesthetic, but with such treatments recurrence is common.
Physical therapy may try iontophoresis, ultrasound and or friction massage, if none of these relieves symptoms splinting of the wrist and thumb is a treatment of last resort. You can remove you Fitbit but it was NOT the cause of your condition. It was caused by repetition of wrist and thumb motions above.
This condition is seen most commonly in women aged 30-50. I'm a retired Physical Therapist with 38 years experienced. I retired in 2012 before the advent of Fitbit. In my many years in Orthopedics and rehab I have see numerous clients with Ganglion cysts, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and yes even Tennis Elbow and none yes none were caused by wearing a Fitbit. Please ask your therapist if your de Quervain's was caused by the Fitbit. Hope you have a great day! No the other factors include an old wrist fracture, you are a women, but younger than 30, involved in baby and child care.
Best Answer