Trigger finger is one of the most common conditions that our hand doctors see at Elite Sports Medicine. This condition occurs when one of the fingers is stuck, causing locking or snapping.
The most common symptoms of trigger finger are locking or snapping. There also may be pain and stiffness, especially in the morning.
There is not a specific cause of trigger finger; we see it in all types of patients ranging from sedentary people to very active people.
Although there is not a specific cause of this condition, certain people may be more likely to develop trigger finger. Conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome may all increase the risk of developing trigger finger.
When you come to see one of our hand specialists at Elite Sports Medicine, they may recommend watching your symptoms to see if they worsen. They may also recommend steroid injections or surgery.
If you think you have trigger finger, but your condition is not bothering you, a hand doctor may recommend keeping an eye on the symptoms to see if they worsen. Sometimes the symptoms will go away on their own.
Steroid injections are typically the first treatment option that our hand doctors will recommend. Often times, trigger finger can be cured from the first injection. If your symptoms come back after the first injection, your hand doctor may recommend more injections or surgery.
One or two injections for trigger finger are completely safe. Once you get three or more injections there is risk of the tissues in the hand weakening. Although it rarely happens, it can cause the surrounding tendons to rupture. If you need more than two injections it is likely that you’re trigger finger will come back, so it typically makes the most sense to get surgery at that point.
Trigger finger surgery is not a long procedure; however, you may have symptoms for a few weeks up to one year.
Most of the time, people can move right away and they start physical therapy after 2-3 days. For most people, symptoms like stiffness will last for a few weeks. For others, symptoms may last for a few months to one year.
If you think you may have trigger finger, seek help from a hand doctor near you. Our hand and upper extremity specialists in Nashville, TN are some of the best. To schedule an appointment, call us or request an appointment online.
