Recognize the Symptoms of Trigger Finger

It’s getting increasingly difficult to open a jar or button your shirt. You’re losing flexibility in your hand. It’s hard to open your hand all the way; a couple of your fingers seem stuck in position. You likely have a condition called trigger finger. It’s time to see a specialist. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Dr. Shults examines your hand and tests its flexibility, including the movement of your fingers and thumb; he may also take an X-ray to ensure you don’t have a fracture. 

What is trigger finger? 

Tendons are an important part of your musculoskeletal system. They connect your muscles to your bones. They glide back and forth inside a protective sheath as you move.  

Your fingers, thumb, and hand all have tendons. When tendons or the sheath around them become irritated, they can swell. Swelling causes stiffness and impairs mobility. 

Trigger finger usually affects your thumb and ring finger the most, but it can occur in any finger. When the tendons swell, you lose ease of movement. When you can’t open your fingers from a closed position and have to use your other hand to do so, you’re looking for relief. Now you have trigger finger. 

It’s hard to get through the day when one of your hands is almost immobilized. Don’t wait to get help until your hand is effectively frozen. Call our office for an appointment. 

Risks for trigger finger 

Do you have a job that requires repeated hand grips? Perhaps you’re a carpenter using power tools or a musician holding a guitar or violin. Using repetitive movements of your hands places you at risk of trigger finger. 

On the other hand, you’re also more at risk if you have diabetes or an autoimmune disorder or if you have a previous hand injury. Scar tissue may have formed after the injury, preventing the tendons from gliding smoothly back and forth. Aging is also a risk factor. 

Trigger finger symptoms 

The following are common symptoms of trigger finger. 

You hear a sound when you try to move your fingers

Do you hear a noise like a pop or snap when you try to extend your fingers or close your fist? Perhaps your fingers seem caught in position; you can’t easily move them up and down. 

Pain in your thumb, fingers, and/or hand

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is amiss. When you have trigger finger, it hurts to move your finger. You may not be able to fully extend or bend it. Your palm at the base of your finger may hurt as well. 

Your finger is tender and may be swollen 

Irritated tendons may swell, causing discomfort. You may feel a lump where your finger joins your palm. 

Lack of mobility; finger locking 

Is your finger simply stuck? You can’t bend or straighten it without using your other hand. You need medical treatment now. 

Most trigger finger cases resolve with conservative treatment. If these conservative methods don’t work, we can use a needling procedure to separate bands of scar tissue, preventing you from moving your fingers. Dr. Shults may also recommend a minor surgical procedure that releases your tendons. 

Contact Coastal Empire Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online today if you experience unexplained pain in your hand, thumb, or finger.