Trigger Finger: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

This comprehensive guide is designed to serve as your go-to resource for everything related to trigger finger treatment. From understanding the root causes and symptoms  to exploring a wide range of treatment options and prevention strategies, we hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights. When non-surgical treatments fail to alleviate the symptoms, surgery may be necessary.
Your doctor will diagnose trigger finger based on your medical history, symptoms, and a physical examination. During the exam, they may ask you to move your fingers in different ways to assess for pain, stiffness, or clicking. In some cases, your doctor may use an ultrasound or an X-ray to rule out other conditions. Normally, the tendon slides easily in and out of the sheath as you bend and straighten the finger.

To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, healthcare providers could employ physical tests, like Tinel’s sign and Phalen’s maneuver, along with nerve conduction studies. Identifying these signs sooner can help you get the support you need to manage your symptoms effectively and prevent further discomfort in your daily life. In daily life, it’s easy to overlook how much we ask our fingers to do. Repetitive activities, like typing or playing instruments, can lead to overuse injuries, resulting in pain or joint pain. Tendonitis and tenosynovitis are common issues, caused through inflamed tendons from strain.
This content is written, edited and updated by hand surgeon members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Untreated infections can escalate to serious issues like cellulitis or sepsis, making it essential to seek treatment and follow strict sourcing guidelines to avoid complications. Don’t ignore rapid or severe symptoms, as deeper infections like flexor tenosynovitis require urgent care. While the size of ganglion cysts can vary from pea-sized to golf balls, they could cause discomfort should they press against nearby nerves.

We’ll work with you to create a customized treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and goals. Top Doctors recently had the pleasure of speaking with distinguished consultant plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgeon,Mr Alexander Armstrong all about trigger finger. Here, in this article below, Mr Armstrong explains what exactly trigger finger is, and details when surgery is required for the condition.
One study suggests that the most cost-effective treatment is up to two corticosteroid injections followed by open release of the first annular pulley. Choosing surgery immediately is an option and can be affordable if done in the office under local anesthesia. Injection of the tendon sheath with a corticosteroid is effective over weeks to months in more than half of people. Steroid injection is not effective in people with Type 1 diabetes.
Any areas or specific lesions of concern will be documented and discussed with you. To assess change over time, six-monthly or annual skin cancer screening appointments are recommended. Reduces movement of finger flexor tendons and their impingement with the pulley.

Surrounding both the tendon and the sheath are soft tissue structures called pulleys. When your finger is working correctly, the tendon and sheath slide easily through the pulleys. Sometimes, trigger finger treatment leeds a tendon or the surrounding synovial sheath gets inflamed and swollen. Long-term irritation of the tendon sheath can lead to scarring and thickening that affect the tendon's motion.
Cut a piece of the egg part of the carton so that it shapes closely to the back of your thumb when it is just a bit bent. I really want to thank Mr Watt and his team for such a professional and excellent service. When I discovered the Skin Surgery Clinic I looked at the reviews and they were all good so rang them up straight away.

The plunger of the syringe should depress easily, indicating that the needle is most likely in the flexor tendon sheath. You can buy ibuprofen at pharmacies or supermarkets without a prescription. The dose varies depending on your age and other medical problems. Side-effects sometimes occur with anti-inflammatory painkillers. Cortisone injections are the recommended first line of treatment for most trigger fingers.
However, if surgery is performed, worsening nerve damage is often prevented and nighttime symptoms can be quickly reversed. This is a common condition caused by the compression of a nerve to the hand at the level of the wrist. TrueRemedies.com is a rich source of the truest and most effective home remedies to date, together with advice on handling various health and beauty related problems. Other risk factors include repeated injury, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, and inflammatory disease. By massaging your injured finger regularly, you will alleviate its symptoms naturally. However, remember to massage gently to help increase blood circulation, reducing stiffness and swelling and relax muscles.
You may hear a popping or clicking sound when it is pulled straight. Sometimes there is mild pain and/or a small swelling at the base of the affected finger or thumb. GP practice services Easily manage your healthcare with digital tools for booking GP appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, and more. Treatment options range from rest, splints, and anti-inflammatory medications to steroid injections or surgery in more severe cases. While trigger finger itself is usually not dangerous, it can sometimes signal other health issues.

However, most established cases require intervention for complete resolution. Without treatment, symptoms typically progress rather than improve—occasional catching advances to persistent locking that interferes with daily activities. Early intervention dramatically increases the chances of successful non-surgical management, potentially avoiding surgery altogether. Taking just minutes under local anaesthesia, most patients return to light activities within days. Success rates exceed 95%, making this the definitive solution for persistent cases.
Relieve nerve pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with a procedure carried out by one of our Consultant Plastic Surgeons at our clinic in Leeds. Surgery is usually effective and requires a small skin incision in the palm but can be done with a needle through a puncture wound . Mild cases which cause no loss of function require no treatment or avoidance of activities which precipitate triggering and may resolve spontaneously. Trigger finger might start with the discomfort felt right at the base of the thumb or finger, where the affected finger joins the palm.