A 52-year-old secretary complains of pain and swelling in her wrist, particularly on the side of her thumb. She also reports a sensation of "catching" or "snapping" when moving her thumb. What could be the issue?
This patient's symptoms are suggestive of de Quervain's tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It's often caused by overuse from repetitive hand or wrist movements, like typing.