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Dr. David Maine, Director, Center for Interventional Pain Medicine.

Dr. David Maine, Director, Center For Interventional Pain Medicine, Discusses Treatment of "Mommy Thumb" On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

A condition commonly known as "mommy's thumb" that brings pain to the arms and wrists is treatable.

Eight months ago, Kimberly Brenninkmeyer would have had great difficulty picking up her handbag, putting it on and buttoning her coat. She said the pain started during pregnancy.

"My third trimester is when it started. There was lots of pain in my wrists and around my thumb," she said.

She had excruciating pain from any kind of stretching or grabbing motion, including picking up her baby and stretching when she woke up.

Brenninkmeyer was referred to the Center for Interventional Pain Management at Mercy Medical Center, and pain management specialist Dr. David Maine. Dr. Maine noted that he knew "exactly what was going on" — De Quervain's tendonitis.

"It's inflammation that comes from overuse of two tendons attached to the base of the thumb," Dr. Maine explained.

While the condition can happen to anyone, women are predisposed to it.

"The third trimester of pregnancy is an independent risk factor, as is the postpartum period, because of all the new activities with the baby," Dr. Maine added

Brenninkmeyer ended up needing cortisone injections.

"I didn't get instant relief, but in two weeks, I was in pain and then completely pain free," she said.

Anti-inflammatories, ice and rest are the first line of treatment.

To view Dr. Maine's interview with WBAL-TV11 online, visit this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/26778773/detail.html