Hi, I had deQuervain's starting when I was 14. It took so long to figure out what it was that the steroid shot didn't work and I ended up having surgery on my right wrist. It has been fine ever since, the last 6 years. There has been slight pain when overusing (which is common because I work in assisted living), usually at that point I put a splint on it for a day and it's fine. I had deQuervains in the left hand when I was 18. Again, I had the steroid shot because we caught it right away, but it didn't help AGAIN! Up until now, it has been fine but the pain came back suddenly and terribly. I'll be seeing my hand surgeon again, however I'm quite certain I will be having the surgery for the second time on the left (even though I thought it would be on the right since I am right handed).
I honestly do reccommend the surgery for people who use their hands and arms a lot in repetitive motion. Yes, there is a chance it will return even with the surgery, but it's better than not having it at all.