“Trigger Finger” is a condition where a digit (can be any finger or your thumb) begins “catching” as it’s flexed or extended. It’s caused by a narrowing of the sheath that the tendon goes through as the digit moves. I thought it was some sort of arthritis developing, but it’s not.
I started with a mild popping and then it grew to involve 3 fingers on my right hand and, at times, I could not extend one of them without forcing it open with my other hand. Strange sensation, indeed!
Just curious to know if anyone here has gone through this…
The treatment my family member had for trigger finger, was an injection of cortisone into the joint. One shot (from the description it was rather painful) did it, and recovery of normal movement was nearly instantaneous. No more problems ever. The physician was an orthopedist who specialized in hands.
The protocol for trigger finger is first to try an injection. The injection is typically at the inflamed tendon sheath and may be guided by ultrasound. If that fails, they do a simple release. That involves cutting the tendon sheath and cleaning out the little balls of tendon lubricant that have formed. Everything is then back to normal. Trigger finger happens when the lubricant fails. It rolls up into little balls that jam into the sheath through which the tendon slides. I’ve had this done more than once. The last was done in the office. Recovery is minimal.
But I too would wonder if multiple fingers is carpal or cubital tunnel. Crabbing of the outside fingers is common with cubital tunnel. Inside is carpal: they are different nerves, with the outside being the ulnar nerve. I have cubital tunnel. The treatment is mostly “relieve symptoms”. So for example, if it’s bad, get an old pillow and duct tape it so you can put it around your elbow when you sleep. That prevents compression of the nerve in the elbow, which is the main issue for most people. Compression can also occur in the brachial plexus, which is the area in the shoulder where all these nerves run together, or in the neck. Really bad symptoms can be helped by certain surgeries, notably in the elbow to free up the nerve from compression. BUT it’s important to see a hand/upper extremities specialist.
As a note, posture and repetitive stress can be a big factor. Lots of people develop cubital tunnel because they use the same hand all the time to use a mouse/trackpad and they always bend their arm this way and maybe rest their other arm on the elbow all the time. These changes are pretty much up to you to figure.
I have trigger finger in my ring finger of my dominant hand. I have had three cortisone shots, the maximum allowed, and each worked temporarily. Now it’s back again and the only thing left is the release surgery. When my finger gets stuck I have to use my other hand to unstick it. Twice i wasn’t able to and panicked. I called my doc who said to soak my hand in warm water and luckily that worked. It’s a very annoying condition and sometimes dangerous, like when it gets stuck while I’m stirring something hot on the stove, or using a sharp knife, etc.
Thanks, everyone. All are pretty much confirming what my doc said and what I have read.
I did see a hand specialist yesterday. He remarked at how unusual it was that there were three fingers involved. He could only palpate a nodule at the base of the worst two, so he just did cortisone injections there. Hurt like, well, you know. Last night was pretty uncomfortable. Today they don’t hurt but still are popping a little. He said to give it 3 weeks.
If at that time things are not good, I will go back and ask him about the cubital tunnel thing. I DO spend a good bit of time at the computer, particularly when I have a video project to edit. Any way, we will see.
Thanks for the input!
PS I need to post on here for something other than ailments. I sound like such a decrepit old fart.
If you don’t see real improvement after a week, hate to say but it likely won’t happen. And you need to be careful about use during the period when the inflammation may be reducing.
Yeah, I read up on the surgery. It really is NOT a big deal at all.
My doc did not really say anything about being careful, but I have read that elsewhere. But what on earth does being careful really mean? That I cannot vacuum? Oh drat.
The more you bend the fingers, the more you grip with them and work the tendons the less chance the inflammation will go down. It isn’t easy to do and never worked for me.
DH had trigger finger in the middle finger of his right hand. You can imagine my comments on THAT… He had a cortisone injection and within a few weeks, it was fine. That was six months ago and he has had no recurrence to date.
I too have a pinky and ring finger on my dominant hand. Mine lock closed (crab) and it is extremely painful when this happens, especially when trying to unlock them. My sister had the surgery to fix the problem on her index finger. It did not go well and she had a subsequent surgical procedure. She now has a permanently deformed finger.
He had a cortisone injection and within a few weeks, it was fine. That was six months ago and he has had no recurrence to date.