If you experience finger stiffness, tenderness, or locking, a condition called trigger finger might be the cause. At Texas Orthopedic and Hand Specialist in Amarillo, Texas, orthopedic surgeon Kent Weinheimer, MD, and the highly trained team can diagnose and treat trigger finger. Treatment can restore our finger’s function and reduce discomfort. Call the Texas Orthopedic and Hand Specialist office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
Trigger finger causes one or more of your fingers to get stuck in a bent position. The finger might straighten or bend with a snap, similar to pulling and releasing the trigger of a gun. The condition happens when the space in a sheath that surrounds a tendon in the affected finger becomes inflamed and narrows. Treatment can relieve your discomfort and restore proper finger function.
Common symptoms of trigger finger include:
Trigger finger can show up in any of your fingers or your thumb. It can affect more than one finger at a time. You might notice triggering in the affected finger when gripping objects, straightening your finger, or waking up in the morning.
Anyone can develop trigger finger, but some things increase your chance of having it. Examples include:
At the first sign of a problem, see the Texas Orthopedic and Hand Specialist team for an evaluation.
To find out if you have trigger finger and develop a treatment plan, Dr. Weinheimer reviews your symptoms and medical history. He then examines the affected fingers and hands, asking you to open and close your hand to assess its motion and look for signs of locking. Finally, he feels your palm to see if there’s a lump present.
Depending on how severe your trigger finger is, Dr. Weinheimer will suggest one or more of the following treatments:
Home remedies that relieve trigger finger symptoms include resting the affected joint, avoiding repeated grasping, and wearing padded gloves while working with your hands. You might also use a splint if needed.
Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce the pain caused by trigger finger and improve your finger’s range of motion.
Physical therapy stretches can improve the mobility of a trigger finger. Dr. Weinheimer shows you exercises to do at home to relieve your discomfort.
Steroid injections reduce inflammation, allowing the affected finger’s tendons to glide more freely.
Dr. Weinheimer can numb your palm and do an in-office trigger finger release. He inserts a tiny needle into the targeted tissues around the affected tendon, breaking them apart to smooth the tendon motions.
Dr. Weinheimer makes a tiny incision near the base of the affected finger to cut a constricted part of the tendon sheath. This relieves trigger finger discomfort and other unpleasant symptoms.
Don’t live with trigger finger pain and a restricted range of motion when simple treatments can improve your quality of life. Call the Texas Orthopedic and Hand Specialist office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
