Trigger Finger Treatment

Ever had one of your fingers get stuck in a bent position while you were just going about your day? You try to straighten it, but it snaps back, almost like pulling a trigger.

If this sounds familiar, you might have a trigger finger.

Dr. Pamela Mehta is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon based in San Jose, with experience in treating trigger finger. She can take you right through your journey from pain and mobility problems to treatment and recovery.

Here we’ll cover everything about trigger finger, including:

• Causes,
• Symptoms,
• and How to treat it.

From trigger finger injections to surgery, explore your options for relief.

What is a Trigger Finger?

The trigger finger is called stenosing tenosynovitis in medical terms.

It occurs when a finger or thumb gets stuck in a bent position, then suddenly snaps back when you try to straighten it.

Trigger finger often affects the ring finger and thumb, making everyday activities difficult. About 2–3% of the general population experiences trigger finger once in their life. This rate rises to 10% for those with diabetes. 

Causes

To understand why it happens, think of tendons as ropes. They connect your muscles to your bones, helping your fingers move.

Normally, these ropes slide smoothly through a protective tunnel called a sheath. But when they get swollen or irritated, they can’t move as easily.

Sometimes, a small bump forms on the tendon, making it even harder to slide. This bump can get caught in a narrow area called the A1 pulley. As a result, your finger can feel stiff, get stuck, or even lock in a bent position.

Risk Factors

Lets look at the common risk factors that make trigger finger more likely:

Personal Characteristics

• Age: People in their 40s and 50s are more prone to trigger finger as their tendons lose flexibility with age. However, it might also appear in children under 8 years old.
• Gender: Women are more at risk of getting trigger finger than men due to hormonal differences.

Movement

• Repetitive movements: Frequent gripping or grasping can also irritate finger tendons, causing swelling. 
• Job or hobbies: Jobs or hobbies that involve hand movements or vibrations, like playing instruments or golf, can strain the tendons. The more you use them, the more susceptible they become!

Health

• Health problems: Conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low thyroid function, and gout can cause swelling in the tendons.
• Dupuytren’s contracture: This condition thickens the tissue in the palms. This causes fingers to bend inward and can interfere with finger movement.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome can increase your risk of trigger finger. This is because both conditions involve inflammation in the tendons of the hand.

Symptoms

If you think you might have trigger finger, keep an eye out for these symptoms:

• Finger stiffness, especially in the morning
• Clicking or popping sensation during movement
• Your finger locks in a bent position
• A little bump in your palm near your finger
• Swelling and tenderness around the tendon
• Hand pain, usually at the base of the affected finger

Beware that these symptoms can sometimes be confused with Dupuytren’s contracture. It’s best to consult your doctor or orthopedist for an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment for Trigger Finger

If you suspect you have trigger finger, seeing a doctor is the best first step. 

Usually, diagnosing the trigger finger is pretty simple. Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, so you won’t need any extra lab tests. However, if you have other health issues, like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, they might suggest some extra tests.

In rare cases, they might ask for an X-ray or an ultrasound.

You can contact Dr. Pamela Mehta, an experienced orthopedic surgeon, for accurate diagnosis if you’re in San Jose or the Bay Area. She can advise the best treatment based on the severity of your symptoms. 

Let’s explore what could be the possible treatments:

Cortisone Injection

Cortisone injections are often a first-line treatment for trigger finger. Cortisone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. After numbing the area, your doctor uses a small needle to inject it directly into the tendon sheath. It helps:

• Reduce swelling in tendons
• Allow the tendons to glide more easily
• Relieve pain and stiffness in the affected finger

Research shows that about 66% of people get relief after their first cortisone injection for trigger finger. If a second or third injection is needed within six months, success rates can go up to around 79%.

However, the more injections you have, the higher the chances of surgery later on. Plus, if you have rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, the injections might not work well.

After getting the injection, some people notice improvements within just a few days. While some might take a couple of weeks. On average, most people get relief from pain and triggering after few weeks. While you might feel less pain within a week, the finger might take longer to stop sticking.

Although cortisone injection is most common, you might consider alternatives like NSAID injections and orthobiologics.

Surgery

If cortisone injections aren’t working for you or if symptoms are severe, hand surgery is the next option. Two primary surgical options for trigger finger are open release and percutaneous release.

In an open release, doctor makes a small incision in your palm to cut the tight part of the pulley. This helps the tendon move freely. On a flip side, in a percutaneous release, the doctor uses a needle to cut the pulley without making an incision

The surgery has a success rate of 90% to 100%. Though rare, some people might experience minor complications like stiffness, swelling, or pain.

Major complications can occur only in 2–3% of people after an open release. But overall, it shows excellent results, with significant improvements over time. 

After surgery, you should be able to move your finger right away. And full movement should return within two weeks. Also, follow your doctor’s care instructions for faster recovery.

Massage

Massage therapy can be a great way to complement your treatment for trigger finger. It improves blood flow and reduces tension in the tendon.

As a result, massage promotes healing and decreases inflammation. Methods such as trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage can be very effective.

While massage alone might not completely cure trigger finger. But it can be effective when combined with trigger finger injections or splinting.

Other treatments

There are many alternative treatments to consider for trigger finger, including:

Rest

Sometimes all your fingers need is a little break. Avoiding activities that strain your fingers can ease the symptoms.

Splinting

Wearing a splint can also help. It keeps your finger straight, especially during sleep, which can help reduce discomfort.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen, can manage pain and swelling. They can help you feel more comfortable as you heal.

Exercise

Regular stretching and strengthening exercises can also improve flexibility and alleviate symptoms.

In fact, you can combine physical therapy with advanced techniques like A1 pulley. This can reduce pain and activity limitations in chronic trigger finger cases.

Trigger Finger and Golf

If you love playing golf, trigger finger can be a real hassle.

In general, playing golf doesn’t directly cause trigger finger. However, the repeated gripping and swinging motions can irritate the tendons. This causes swelling and increase the risk of getting trigger finger.

Plus, it also worsens existing symptoms.

Also, if you have trigger finger, you might struggle to keep a firm grip on your golf club. This is because the condition can cause your fingers to feel stiff, stuck, or even locked in a bent position. This can impact your performance, making it difficult to swing.

Take breaks, adjust your grip, and seek treatment to manage symptoms and stay on the course.

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