A 45-year-old male presents with pain at the base of his thumb that has been worsening over the past few months. He reports difficulty gripping objects and occasionally hears a "catching" or "snapping" sound. What might be the issue?
The patient's symptoms suggest de Quervain's tenosynovitis, a condition that affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. This condition is typically associated with overuse or repetitive movements of the thumb and wrist, leading to inflammation and pain.