Written by Mavis Tham, Shamaine Soh and Yuna Zhuang, Principal Hand Occupational Therapists at Phoenix Rehab.Clinically reviewed by Nigel Chua, Principal Hand Occupational Therapist & Director, AHPC A1300362Z.Last reviewed 13 October 2026.

Wrist tendonitis is an irritated tendon at the wrist: pain on one side of it when you grip, lift, type or turn the hand, usually with a tender spot you can put a finger on. It is an umbrella term. More than a dozen tendons cross the wrist, and where it hurts tells you which one, which changes the plan. Most settle once the load is changed and the right splint is worn, over a few weeks to about three months. Rest alone often calms it, then it flares again the week you go back to the same work.

Key takeaways

Wrist tendonitis is an irritated tendon at the wrist: pain on one side when you grip, lift, type or turn the hand, usually with a tender spot you can put a finger on.
Where it hurts identifies the tendon. Thumb side of the wrist usually means De Quervain’s. Little-finger side, back of the wrist, worse turning the palm up, usually means the ECU tendon.
Most settle once the load is changed and the right splint is worn, over a few weeks to about three months.
In a tendon that has hurt for months, the problem is usually overload rather than inflammation, which is why rest calms it but rarely ends it.
A soft shop brace usually leaves the thumb free. In De Quervain’s, the thumb is the part that needs holding.
Suddenly being unable to lift the thumb off the table, especially in the weeks after a wrist fracture, needs a doctor the same day.

Which tendon is it?

Where it hurts tells you most of it.

Where it hurts	Usually	Common trigger
Thumb side of the wrist, worse lifting a baby or wringing a cloth	De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, sometimes called mummy wrist	New parents, thumb-heavy phone use, racquet sports
Back of the forearm on the thumb side, about 4 to 8 cm above the wrist, sometimes creaking as you move	Intersection syndrome¹	Rowing, paddling, a new weights block
Little-finger side, back of the wrist, worse turning the palm up	Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon²	Tennis, golf, badminton. Easily confused with a TFCC tear
Little-finger side, palm side, over the small bone at the heel of the hand	Flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) tendon	Gripping tools, carrying with the palm up
Thumb side, palm side, near the wrist crease	Flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon	Push-ups, front-rack holds, load through a bent-back wrist
Middle of the back of the wrist, worse with weight through a bent-back wrist	The extensor tendons, or a ganglion or joint problem underneath	Push-ups, yoga, burpees

Pain at the base of the thumb itself, rather than the wrist, is a different problem: see thumb joint pain. Numbness or tingling in the fingers is a nerve, not a tendon: see carpal tunnel syndrome.

Is it really inflammation?

In a tendon that has hurt for months, the problem is usually overload rather than inflammation. The tissue changes more than it swells.³ That is why gels, tablets and rest calm it down but rarely end it. What changes it is getting the load right: less of what provokes it, then more of what the tendon can be trained to take. De Quervain’s is the exception when it comes to treatment. The tendons run through a tight sheath, the evidence for a steroid injection there is strong,⁴ and whether you need one is a question for your doctor. A thumb splint is often worn alongside.

How long does wrist tendonitis take to heal?

What it is	Usually
Caught early, with the cause changed	2 to 6 weeks
Months of pain that comes and goes	6 weeks to 3 months of graded loading
De Quervain’s, with a splint and, where the doctor advises it, an injection	Often settles within weeks; some take longer
Not settled after 3 to 6 months of consistent care	A hand surgeon’s view. Surgery is uncommon and is the surgeon’s decision

These are typical ranges. The measures decide each step, not the calendar.

Wrist tendonitis treatment in Singapore: who does what

A doctor (your GP, a sports doctor or a hand surgeon) diagnoses it, decides whether you need a scan, and decides about medication or an injection.
A hand therapist makes and fits the splint, changes the load at work and in sport, and runs the strengthening, measuring as it goes.
Surgery is uncommon. For De Quervain’s that has not settled, a surgeon may release the tendon sheath.

At Phoenix, wrist cases are seen by our hand therapy team, one to one, for 45 minutes per appointment.

Does a wrist brace help?

Sometimes. A soft shop brace usually holds the wrist but leaves the thumb free, and in De Quervain’s the thumb is the part that needs holding. Worn all day, a brace can also stiffen the wrist. A splint shaped for the tendon involved, worn for the tasks that provoke it and at night in the early weeks, is the usual choice. See custom hand splints.

What we measure

Grip strength in kilograms, both hands, on a dynamometer.
Pinch strength, for the thumb-side tendons.
Which resisted movement brings the pain on, and how much.
A questionnaire (the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation) that scores pain and function, so progress is a number, not a feeling.

Tested, not dated. The grip number decides when the load goes back up.

What you can do at home this week

Change the task, not the whole hand. Swap sides, use a thicker handle, break up long typing or phone use.
If the pain is on the thumb side, lift a baby by scooping under the bottom and behind the head, thumbs kept alongside the fingers, not under the arms.
Keep the fingers and wrist moving gently through the day.
A cold pack for 10 to 15 minutes after the task that set it off can ease it.
Don’t stretch hard into the painful spot.

When to see a doctor first

Go to the emergency department now if the wrist or a finger is hot, red and swollen and you have a fever. Also go now if, after a cut, bite or puncture, a finger swells along its whole length, rests slightly bent and is very painful to straighten. That can be an infection in the tendon sheath.⁵ And go now if, after a cut, you can no longer bend or straighten a finger or the thumb.
See a doctor the same day if you suddenly cannot lift your thumb off the table, especially in the weeks after a wrist fracture. A thumb tendon can rupture.⁶ Also the same day for a hot, swollen wrist with no injury.
See a doctor soon for numbness or tingling in the fingers, several joints that are swollen or stiff for more than an hour in the morning (see rheumatoid arthritis in the hand), or a lump that is growing.

Where are you with this right now?

1. It is early, or it is settling

Caught early, most wrist tendons settle within a few weeks once the load is changed. Changing it well is the hard part: which task to cut, which to keep, how to hold the hand, and when the tendon is ready for more. A hand therapist guides that and treats it alongside, with guided loading, ultrasound therapy and a splint shaped for the tendon involved. If the pain is easing week on week and you are gripping, typing and lifting more, you are on course.

2. It has stopped improving

Six weeks of the shop brace and the gel. It calms down over the weekend, then Monday’s typing or the baby’s bath brings it straight back.

Rest calms a tendon. It does not train it. The load has to change and then build back up, and that is measured in grip and pinch strength, not by how it feels on a quiet day.

The Stalled Recovery Review is three appointments over three weeks with the same therapist, because what a tendon does under load cannot be read in one visit. The first finds what is limiting it. The next two measure how it responds. $690, nett, no GST, which is three appointments at $230.

3. You have had surgery, or you have a date

Recovery after an operation has a shape, and knowing which stage you are in tells you whether you are on it. If your release was on the thumb side of the wrist, see the De Quervain Tenosynovitis Program, or hand therapy after surgery if you are not sure which applies to you.

All of it runs on the same four stages. The Phoenix Recovery Protocol explains what each stage works on and what you have to meet to move up. No referral needed to start.

Next step

Find out which stage you are in

Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. One Assessment and Treatment is a single 45-minute appointment at $230, nett, no GST. Your therapist finds what is actually limiting you, treats it in the same appointment, and you leave with your current stage and a written plan.

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Prefer to phone? Each of our five clinics has its own number on the clinics page. No referral needed to book.

What our patients say

Google reviews from our clinics in Singapore.

       
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   Micah 
 53 days ago
 
 
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Amazing experience with Phoenix Rehab, was assisted by Mavis. She’s very kind and professional and did thorough check on my wrist. I feel very comfortable during the process.

I went in for thermoplastic splint, and everything went smoothly. She was able to address my needs on my left wrist sprain.

They were prompt with appointment process and inquiry. Also the clinic is very close to Tanjong Pagar MRT. I highly recommend!
  
 
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   Chiky Phan 
 57 days ago
 
 
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Fist time doing ultrasound for my tennis elbow!! Let’s hope it gets better the next few weeks!! Thank Mavis Tham!!
  
 
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   XIN WANG 
 74 days ago
 
 
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Great treatment from my therapist. My painful wrist felt a lot of relief after the session. I’m glad I can slowly get back to doing my usual activities without constant pain.
  
 
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   Abby Lee 
 90 days ago
 
 
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Very helpful and friendly !
  
 
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   雪梅Cui 
 128 days ago
 
 
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The masseur is very professional and provides excellent service ，yati is very good!
  
 
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   Tra Nguyen 
 219 days ago
 
 
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I wasn’t able to close my fingers due to an injury. Nurul at Phoenix Rehab has helped me tremendously with my recovery process. I have been able to resume my daily activities and exercises after only a few sessions. Nurul has been very professional and positive throughout the entire process. Thank you so much for your help!
  
 
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   Juzer K 
 257 days ago
 
 
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Huge shoutout to Yuna Zhang from Phoenix Rehab for helping in my recovery from golfer’s elbow 🙌

I walked in with persistent elbow pain that was affecting workouts and everyday tasks, and Yuna immediately made me feel confident I was in the right hands. She took the time to properly assess my condition, explain the root cause, and tailor a treatment plan to my specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach.

What I really appreciated was how personalised every session felt. The exercises she gave me were practical, easy to follow, and actually worked. Within a short time, the pain reduced significantly and my strength and mobility improved much faster than I expected.

On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable and affordable, which made committing to recovery much easier.

Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring — highly recommend Yuna at Phoenix Rehab if you’re dealing with hand-related sports injuries 💪
  
 
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   Fazal Hanafi Chaudhry 
 341 days ago
 
 
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I enjoy coming to Phoenix rehab as they offer a wide variety of services. I had a finger accident and was working with a very experienced hand therapist. Place is clean and comfortable.  Staff were friendly and appointment was on time
  
 
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   Stella Yam 
 482 days ago
 
 
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Very good
  
 
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   Juliana 
 484 days ago
 
 
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Have both physio n Tcm visits here, highly recommend!
  
 
 
  
 
 
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Sources: 1. Grundberg AB, Reagan DS. Pathologic anatomy of the forearm: intersection syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 1985;10(2):299-302. 2. Campbell D, Campbell R, O’Connor P, Hawkes R. Sports-related extensor carpi ulnaris pathology: a review of functional anatomy, sports injury and management. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47(17):1105-1111. 3. Cook JL, Purdam CR. Is tendon pathology a continuum? A pathology model to explain the clinical presentation of load-induced tendinopathy. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43(6):409-416. 4. Richie CA, Briner WW. Corticosteroid injection for treatment of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis: a pooled quantitative literature evaluation. J Am Board Fam Pract. 2003;16(2):102-106. 5. Kennedy CD, Huang JI, Hanel DP. In brief: Kanavel’s signs and pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016;474(1):280-284. 6. Roth KM, Blazar PE, Earp BE, Han R, Leung A. Incidence of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture after nondisplaced distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 2012;37(5):942-947.