Trigger Finger Treatment

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a disease that affects the tendons that bend the fingers and thumb. When you bend and straighten your fingers, you may feel like they are locking or catching. Finger and thumb pain and stiffness are also possible signs.

Most of the time, the little finger and thumb are affected, but any of the fingers can be impacted. When the thumb is involved, the condition is called trigger thumb.

Trigger Finger Symptoms

Trigger finger symptoms often start slowly and don't seem to be caused by a clear injury. They can happen after a long time of using your hands a lot, especially pinching and grabbing.

The common symptoms include:

A painful bump on the palm side of the hand at the base of the finger or thumb
A feeling of stopping, popping, or locking when you move your finger or thumb
Pain when the finger is bent or straightened
After being still for a while, like when you wake up in the morning, stiffness and locking tend to get worse

If you use your hand gently and regularly throughout the day, your symptoms may get better.

What Causes Trigger Finger?

Tough cords called tendons connect muscles to bones. Each muscle has a sheath around it to protect it. Trigger finger happens when the tendon sheath of the affected finger gets sensitive and swollen. This makes it harder for the tendon to slide through the sheath.

Most of the time, there's no reason why this soreness and swelling starts for someone.

Because of the constant discomfort, a small lump of tissue can form on the tendon. The name for this bump is a nodule, which can make it even harder for the muscle to move smoothly.

Treatment for this condition depends on the severity of your condition. Nonsurgical treatments include:

Medications
Rest
Splint
Stretches
Steroid injections

Your doctor might suggest hand surgery if your symptoms are serious or if nonsurgical treatments haven't helped. A surgeon can cut open the narrowed part of the tendon sheath by making a small cut near the base of your injured finger.

Trigger Finger Care in Michiana

You can trust the orthopedic doctors at OSMC to give you the best care and treatment for your hands. To find out more, call OSMC at (574) 264-0791 or make an appointment online now. We look forward to seeing you at one of our many convenient locations.