From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ibuprofen tablets and other treatment options before deciding to use ibuprofen tablets. Mild to moderate pain: 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as necessary for relief of pain.
The initial treatment for thumb pain due to tenosynovitis is 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 to 6 hours as necessary for relief of pain 1.
From the Research
The initial treatment for thumb pain due to tenosynovitis should be corticosteroid injection, as it has been shown to be more effective than immobilization alone, with a relative risk of 1.61 and 95% confidence interval of 1.21-2.15, as demonstrated in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 2. This approach is supported by the most recent and highest quality study, which prioritizes morbidity, mortality, and quality of life as the outcome. The treatment options for tenosynovitis include:
- Corticosteroid injection, which has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and disability scores, with a cure rate of 83% when used alone, as reported in a study published in 2003 3
- Immobilization, which can be used as an adjuvant therapy to corticosteroid injection, with a relative risk of 2.15 and 95% confidence interval of 1.77-2.62 when combined with injection, as demonstrated in the 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis 2
- Ultrasound-guided injection, which has been shown to be superior to conventional blind injection, with better short-term outcomes measured by functional, clinical, and US scores, as reported in a study published in 2016 4 It is essential to note that the treatment approach may vary depending on the severity and underlying cause of the disease, and a detailed medical history, targeted clinical examination, and modern imaging techniques may be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, as discussed in a review article published in 2025 5 and a clinical presentation and treatment guide published in 2022 6.