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Trigger Finger

Sarah69 said:
Hi, thanks for your reply. Can you tell me what keying is please? I’ve looked it up but I can’t find anything. I couldn’t bend my finger back for an hour yesterday and when I finally did it was so painful I could have cried!
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Hi my name is Mike, 75 years old. I have OA in my fingers and shoulder. I don't know if what I have problems with is trigger finger but my fingers are locked in the morning. I have found a unit "Theragun" a massage machine, on the lowest setting, although painful at first seems to loosen my fingers well. I have been using this method for 11 months with no side effects.
Only just found this post, hope it helps. Mike
ps. also use a computer a lot !
 
 
I think you have to make a nuisance of yourself to get yourself taken seriously! I had all my triggers operated on which released them. Took the doctor no time at all (he was very good) at the hospital and fingers crossed, no trouble since and that was 6/7 years ago.
 
I’ve had it in the left hand, and after an injection to try to dissolve some tissue in the tendon sheath, which delayed it for a year, I had the surgery to release it ( severing the tendon sheath), fully recovered , but now it’s happening on the right hand!
 
Hi Sarah,

About 6 months ago I was referred to a physio for trigger thumb, he basically told me to buy a brace and take painkillers, but offered the steroid injection which I took.

During the last week of so it has returned with a vengeance, more painful and stiffer than last time.

I'm booked into the Doctors for another steroid injection next week.
 
I had trigger finger some years ago and started physio but it was nonsense; very painful, carried out by someone who had no real idea what it was and kept trying to bend my fingers straight. I had the steroid injection and it hurt for a day or two and then a week later I had full use of my hand again. I have not had it since (praise God) and hope not to. In summary - take your brave pills, have the steroid injection and avoid the nonsense of physiotherapy.
 
I had trigger finger and twice had steroid injections to sort it out. First time worked a treat and no trouble for about a year. Then trigger finger came back and second injection did not work at all! Eventually I elected to go with the last option - surgery! That was two months ago and so far so good, no trigger finger, though the finger now does not straighten as well as the others. Don't know if that's the surgery or me not doing full and proper exercises after surgery!
 
Hi
I have had type 1 diabetes for the last 10 years & 5 years ago, developed trigger finger. Sometimes it is in 2 or 3 fingers. I have a steroid injection in my hand in the area that links with the afflicted tendon that fixes the problem for 7-12 months. It’s a painful injection because of the inflammation but it’s worth the 2 mins of agony!
It takes a few days to work but I find it 100% successful. As I play the harp, having flexible fingers is vital!
I would go for that as massage, physio did not work at all for me.
 
Hi, Yes I have had trigger finger a couple of times. My excellent GP injects something or other into the joint at the base of my finger. It hurts like hell but really works after a couple of days. The injection provides decent relief, but only for a year. I suggest you change your Doctor and not waste time with a physio.
 
Agreed!
 
I’ve had this and my doctor gave me a steroid injection which was painful but stopped it for more than a year. Had another injection about six months ago and it’s still fine. I’m not sure about the answer if it comes back again as presumably one can’t have steroid injections ad infinitum. I know how painful the condition can.
 
Hi Sarah, I had severe trigger finger in my thumb and middle finger on my dominant right hand, about 8 yrs ago. I used finger splints to help with the pain and to using them but eventually had surgery because both were pulling in towards my palm. Recently it's started on my index finger on the same hand so I've been using a finger splint to help. Available online not too expensive. The surgery was done as a day patient.
 
Hi there!

Yes I was referred to physio and given something exercises which didn't help. The Doctors have to explore the more conservative types of treatment before offering surgery. Nothing helped my trigger fingers (middle finger, both hands) until I had surgery and thankfully, both operations were successful. Hope that helps? X
 
Yes I've had 2 painful trigger fingers with Cheiroarthropathy. Physio eased pain but needed surgery to resolve function problem. Very successful many years ago with physio afterwards to prevent scarring.
 
 
Hi Sarah

Yes, I am a Type II diabetic and I have this issue as well. I have it in one finger of my left hand and two on my right.

I did go on the Physio route which actually made it worse. I was then offered a steroid injection by the physio which worked for about six weeks. I’ve then had a more invasive injection under local anaesthetic which has worked for now but the end of my finger still has lingering pins and needles, which I am advised is normal.

If this doesn’t last for a long period of time, I suspect I will have the procedure where they snip the hook that holds the tendon in your finger. I would say that this is all happened on the single finger on my left hand to find the best way, according to the doctors, that will treat the remaining fingers that have the issue.
 
Hive had surgery for 5 trigger fingers over the years. I was never offered physio but twice took them up on steroid injections which ultimately didn’t work. I also got D’Quervains- similar thing in the wrist at the base of the thumb leaving you with a painful and weak wrist. I had surgery for that about four months ago. It’s still not fixed.
I’m not sure that Physio would work considering it’s a common diabetic complication annd therefore likely to get worse ans time goes on. I’m interested in seeing how this works out for you.
 
I had my last operation (under a local) for trigger finger about 25 years ago, and five ops in all over a 6/7 year period. Three ops on my right hand and two on my left (still have the scars to show for them). Physio at that time was never even mentioned but things must have changed. I agree that it is a very painful condition. When I first saw my GP about it he recommended, and gave me, steroid injections into my hand at the base of the finger affected, and it did relieve the pain for some weeks, but eventually returned even worse. Physio these days has become a very trusted treatment for many conditions so it's got to be worth a try. I wish you the best of luck.
 
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