“Trigger finger“, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when one of the fingers, or the thumb, catches in a bent position. The joint may straighten, with a snapping sensation, or fingers may become locked in position. This often painful condition tends to affect people who do a lot of repetitive gripping during their work, or when engaging in a hobby. The need for trigger finger treatment is more common in women, than in men, and certain diseases, including diabetes, make patients more susceptible to the disorder. Trigger finger treatment varies, depending on the severity of the condition, and the overall health of the patient.

Tendons are cords, which connect muscles to bones. Tendons are surrounded by a protective sheath, which is surrounded by a substance called tenosynovium. Tenosynovium releases fluid, lubricating the tendon as it moves, so that the fingers glide smoothly. If tenosynovium becomes inflamed, due to repetitive strain injury, overuse, or an inflammatory condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the tendons of the fingers will not glide smoothly through the sheath, necessitating trigger finger treatment.

Certain people are more susceptible to developing trigger finger. People who engage in repetitive gripping (for example, of power tools, or of a musical instrument), for extended periods of time, run the risk of needing trigger finger treatment. Also, people with diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, amyloidosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, may find themselves requiring trigger finger treatment, along people who have certain infections, like tuberculosis.

Most patients experience similar symptoms before getting trigger finger treatment. The most common sign is finger stiffness, which is often most noticeable upon waking. When patients try to move their fingers, they may feel a popping or clicking sensation. Fingers may catch or become locked in a bent position, and then suddenly pop straight; in more serious cases, patients will be unable to straighten their fingers at all. Some other symptoms include tenderness and nodule formation at the base of the affected fingers.

Diagnosis does not require in-depth testing. Doctors will take a medical history and perform a physical examination of the hand, before attempting trigger finger treatment. Often, doctors ask patients to open and close their affected hand, so that areas of pain, smoothness of movement, and evidence of locking can be seen. If the physical exam is particularly painful, doctors may inject the affected finger with a local anesthetic. Then, doctors will decide on a course of trigger finger treatment.

Trigger finger treatment differs according to the seriousness of each case. For mild cases, doctors may recommend rest, which usually means four to six weeks of curbing any work or hobbies which require repetitive gripping. Doctors may also recommend splinting, which helps to rest the joint, by keeping it in an extended position for up to six weeks. Splinting also keeps patients from curling their fingers into a fist while they sleep, which tends to cause difficulty with movement in the morning.

Doctors may recommend other at-home trigger finger treatment, for mild cases. Sometimes, doctors prescribe exercises for the fingers, to maintain mobility, or massage, which provides pain relief, even if it does not relieve inflammation. Sometimes, soaking the fingers in warm water will reduce the severity of the catching sensation.

Doctors recommend more aggressive trigger finger treatment for serious cases. To relieve the inflammation and swelling which leads to the trapping of the tendon, doctors may recommend an anti-inflammatory drug. Sometimes, doctors inject steroids into the tendon sheath, to reduce inflammation. Steroids work best if injected soon after symptoms appear, and may not be effective for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis.

In some cases, when no other trigger finger treatment works, surgical procedures are required. If the finger is locked, and the patient is unable to pop the joint, doctors may perform a percutaneous trigger finger release. This treatment involves using a needle to release locked fingers, and works best in the index, middle, and ring fingers. If nothing else will release the tendon, doctors may recommend surgery.

Patients should do some pre-work to guarantee an effective doctor’s appointment, to help doctors provide the most effective trigger finger treatment. When making the appointment, patients should ask if they have to do anything in advance, to prepare for their evaluation. Also, patients should write down their symptoms, and prepare a list of pertinent medical information, including the names of medications and vitamins which they are taking. Also, patients should write down any questions that they may have, about the causes and duration, as well as about trigger finger treatment. Sometimes, doctors may recommend websites or brochures, to provide more information about trigger finger treatment.

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