Recurrent tenosynovitis after steroid treatment
symptom
[Symptoms] Tendonitis of the left thumb
The patient developed the condition three years ago and received steroid injections.
The symptoms subsided for two years, but recurred in July of last year.
The doctor told me, "Repeated steroid injections can weaken the tendons, so they are not recommended." After that, I tried to improve the condition with electrical treatment, anti-inflammatory drugs, and compresses, but the pain and swelling just wouldn't go away.
Writing and working on a computer are particularly difficult.
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Visitors
50's
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Period
February 2018 - March 2018
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Visit Frequency per week
2 - 3
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Number of Visits
10
Treatment and progress
[First visit to third visit]
After careful observation of the movement of the thumb and wrist, it was determined that there was a problem with the movement of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, and acupuncture treatment was performed. Immediately after treatment, the movement of the thumb improved slightly, so the same treatment was repeated for the next three consultations.
[4 to 10 examinations]
After the fourth consultation, the pain and swelling gradually decreased as the movement of the thumb improved.
At the 10th visit, 80% of the pain had disappeared, and the patient was able to work on the computer without stress. After that, I instructed her to use moxibustion at home as a form of self-care, and now she uses it once a month to check her condition.
Treatment is ongoing for management and health promotion.
Acupressure points used
Summary
As in this case, there are surprisingly many patients who come to our clinic seeking acupuncture treatment after undergoing repeated steroid treatment.
There are various cases of tendonitis where acupuncture treatment is effective and recovery occurs after just a few treatments, and others where the condition improves gradually over the medium to long term. However, acupuncture has no side effects and can be used as much as necessary with peace of mind.
In this case, the cause of the tendonitis in the hand was not considered to be a problem in the fingers alone, but rather the spine, which is closely related to the condition, was carefully observed, leading to a favorable treatment course.
