De Quervain’s Tendonitis is a condition caused by an inflammation of the tendons located at the thumb side of the wrist.  Tendons are tissues that attach our muscles to our bones.  They can become swollen and sore from over use.  Traditionally, de Quervain’s Tendonitis was called “Washer Woman’s Syndrome.”  This is because the repetitive hand movements used for wringing wet clothes-- thumb pinching, squeezing, and moving the wrist outwards towards the little finger, are the motions that can cause de Quervain’s Tendonitis.