I Have a Trigger Finger - And Not the Good Kind!

[etrain16]

Well I honestly never knew that "trigger finger" was an actual medical condition, but I do now.

I've been suffering from pain in the thumb of my right hand for 2 full months now. It hurts at night, sometimes enough to wake me up. During the day it tends to hurt less, but I'm unable to use that thumb normally. When it's really bad, I can hardly bend my thumb, unless I use my other hand to flex it. If I try to flex it on it's own, it's like it gets 'caught' on something, then it finally breaks free and almost gets stuck in the new position, and flexing it straight again comes with pain - from the joint down to the joint in my hand at the base of my thumb. I tried icing it, heating it, stretching it, nothing helped.

I finally went to see my GP a the urging of Mrs. Etrain. I've been living with this as while it's been limiting me somewhat, it hasn't been unbearable, just a nuisance and somewhat uncomfortable. Doc checked me over for all of 2 minutes and diagnosed it as "trigger finger". You have got to be kidding me! I had no idea it was a real-deal medical issue. It apparently has to do with the sheath that surrounds the tendon that flexes your thumb. With trigger finger, that sheath gets swollen and compresses the tendon, keeping it from working normally. What's worse is that over time, it leads to scarring inside the sheath which can then lead to permanent damage.

So I'm on high doses of Ibuprofen for a week to see what effect it has - unfortunately it's only served to lessen the pain a bit, but the problem remains. Next step is PT. If that doesn't do it, cortisone. And if that doesn't do it, surgery. Having been through carpal tunnel surgery in both hands, I can say I don't look forward to another surgery. I'm hoping it doesn't have to come to that. At the moment, I can live with it, but if living with it leads to permanent damage, I'm going to have to head it off before that happens.

Just curious, anyone else here ever experience this? If so, how did it work out for you? Any non-surgical remedies that you can recommend?

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[Ura-Ki]

Sorry to hear that etrain16, sounds like a real bugger. While not suffering the same thing, I do know all to well what the loss of use of a thumb is like. I dislocated my left so many times and each time it is easier then the last, I finally had surgery which SUCKED. I was with out the use for about 5 months, and the whole process took well over a year. Never heard of trigger finger, but I do suffer itchy trigger finger when I cant get out to shoot! LOL
Hope it works it's self out for ya, and no operation needed!

 

[The Nothing]

I've suffered from trigger finger in two fingers and thumb of my right hand. Many years ago I did have a few shots of cortisone and that worked for awhile. Acupuncture never did anything for me

 

[cigars]

Wow, sorry to hear that. We all tend to fall apart as we age. All of these little annoyances, its like death by a thousand cuts. Drat this human condition! I hope that this subsides for you.
Hope the ibuprofen works.

 

[Joe13]

Damn man!


Didn't even know thatt was a thing.


Sorry to hear your dealing with it.

Closest I've come is sleeping on my arm wrong and not being able to rack the slide on my 1911 so I'm super glad I keep that thing cocked and locked.


Get better soon dude

 

[etrain16]

Sorry to hear that etrain16, sounds like a real bugger. While not suffering the same thing, I do know all to well what the loss of use of a thumb is like. I dislocated my left so many times and each time it is easier then the last, I finally had surgery which SUCKED. I was with out the use for about 5 months, and the whole process took well over a year. Never heard of trigger finger, but I do suffer itchy trigger finger when I cant get out to shoot! LOL
Hope it works it's self out for ya, and no operation needed!

It's frustrating. When I had carpal tunnel it just about ended my career. Each surgery took about 4 months to recover. I'd rather not have to go through that again. I'm right-handed so any surgery on that hand is going to hobble me for a lot of things, including shooting. We'll see how it goes!

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

dang dude im sorry to hear it. ive had ankle problems my whole life and when i turn an ankle sometimes it comes out of socket? and i will have to manually straighten it out. yeah. i wear 8" boots when i go walkin out in the woods now.



hey! on the bright side, if somehow it makes your actual trigger finger super fast and responsive maybe you'll be the next miculek

 

[etrain16]

dang dude im sorry to hear it. ive had ankle problems my whole life and when i turn an ankle sometimes it comes out of socket? and i will have to manually straighten it out. yeah. i wear 8" boots when i go walkin out in the woods now.



hey! on the bright side, if somehow it makes your actual trigger finger super fast and responsive maybe you'll be the next miculek

Exactly zero chance of that. If Jerry saw me shoot he'd probably die laughing

 

[etrain16]

I've been fortunate, many folks in my family have had knee problems, and several have had to have knee replacement. My mother has had one shoulder replacement and has to have the other done. So far, my joints have held out far better than everyone else, and for that, I am thankful.

 

[jbett98]

The problem is not located in your finger, but further down in your palm.
The tendon in question is chafing through a thin sheath of membrane and it's likened to pulling a rope with a knot tied in it through a knot hole, hence the mouse trap snap when closing the finger in question.
Just do the surgery, as that is a simple operation and all the pain and irritation will disappear.
I've had three of these operations so far and trying to fix the problem with cortisone shots just doesn't work for any length of time.

 

[etrain16]

The problem is not located in your finger, but further down in your palm.
The tendon in question is chafing through a thin sheath of membrane and it's likened to pulling a rope with a knot tied in it through a knot hole, hence the mouse trap snap when closing the finger in question.
Just do the surgery, as that is a simple operation and all the pain and irritation will disappear.
I've had three of these operations so far and trying to fix the problem with cortisone shots just doesn't work for any length of time.

View attachment 352847

I sure appreciate that information. Wow, 3 operations on 3 fingers, that really stinks. What was your recovery time like, from operation to full use? I would assume, post surgery, they want you to start using your finger very soon after - that's what happened with my carpal tunnel surgeries - reduced use, but range of motion exercises throughout the day so things wouldn't stiffen up.

 

[jbett98]

The first time I was having my left knee operated on and my $5,000 insurance deductible cleared that hurdle, so the surgeon asked me if I had any other issues I needed worked on, as it wouldn't cost me a thing.
I told him about my right hand middle finger problem and he said not to worry, he would fix that right up.
The incision is only a couple of stitches.
My Arthroscopic knee surgery was more of a issue and most of that was just maneuvering around on crutches with one hand sore.
The other two were done when I had an accident that required two different hand surgeries and the surgeon did both at the same time.
It's a real easy surgery and recovery is fast. You will know when you can start using full strength again.

 

[etrain16]

The first time I was having my left knee operated on and my $5,000 insurance deductible cleared that hurdle, so the surgeon asked me if I had any other issues I needed worked on, as it wouldn't cost me a thing.
I told him about my right hand middle finger problem and he said not to worry, he would fix that right up.
The incision is only a couple of stitches.
My Arthroscopic knee surgery was more of a issue and most of that was just maneuvering around on crutches with one hand sore.
The other two were done when I had an accident that required two different hand surgeries and the surgeon did both at the same time.
It's a real easy surgery and recovery is fast. You will know when you can start using full strength again.

Sounds simpler than the recovery from carpal tunnel - good to know. Thanks!

 

[Mark W.]

Join the club there is a doctor here in Silverton that has repaired this so many times that he is now able to do most of them with a needle in his office. His partner did both my wifes knee replacements He helped with the more difficult one (due to scaring from a car wreck) same doc also reattached my right bicep when I tore it off. Both Docs are very very good at what they do. Silverton Orthopedics clinic I believe it is called.

 

[Kruel J]

I use a 90lb grip trainer several times a week to keep my hands strong. But I have had pain in my fingers from time to time. I'm sorry to hear you have a bum booger hook @etrain16.

 

[etrain16]

Join the club there is a doctor here in Silverton that has repaired this so many times that he is now able to do most of them with a needle in his office. His partner did both my wifes knee replacements He helped with the more difficult one (due to scaring from a car wreck) same doc also reattached my right bicep when I tore it off. Both Docs are very very good at what they do. Silverton Orthopedics clinic I believe it is called.

Good to know. I've got a prescription from my GP to try some PT next at a clinic near me that is covered by my insurance. If it does come down to surgery, I'll most likely have to use someone in the Providence Preferred Provider network, otherwise my coverage drops quite a bit. If it comes to it though, I'll certainly look into that place and see if it's covered. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Mark W.]

If its any consolation I had it bad in my ring fingers and after something like 3 years its almost cleared up. Or I have finally lost enough movement due to arthritis etc that it just doesn't happen.

 

[etrain16]

If its any consolation I had it bad in my ring fingers and after something like 3 years its almost cleared up. Or I have finally lost enough movement due to arthritis etc that it just doesn't happen.

Bummer, sorry to hear that. I've not dealt with arthritis, yet, but occasionally (like every year or so) have a bout of bursitis in my shoulder. Joint pain really stinks, and really limits what you can do. I usually just fight through it until it gets better. Unfortunately this one just isn't improving on its own.

 

[Member 5605]

Well that sucks. I know the feeling to a minor degree, my right thumb will catch and not move anymore until I force it to bend. With your information above if it gets worse I'll seek medical assistance.

 

[Mikej]

The problem is not located in your finger, but further down in your palm.
The tendon in question is chafing through a thin sheath of membrane and it's likened to pulling a rope with a knot tied in it through a knot hole, hence the mouse trap snap when closing the finger in question.
Just do the surgery, as that is a simple operation and all the pain and irritation will disappear.
I've had three of these operations so far and trying to fix the problem with cortisone shots just doesn't work for any length of time.

View attachment 352847

Wifey has you beat, she's had FIVE trigger fingers fixed.

Good to know. I've got a prescription from my GP to try some PT next at a clinic near me that is covered by my insurance. If it does come down to surgery, I'll most likely have to use someone in the Providence Preferred Provider network, otherwise my coverage drops quite a bit. If it comes to it though, I'll certainly look into that place and see if it's covered. Thanks for the heads-up.

What @jbett98 says was true, PT did nothing! Same with recovery, pretty easy. Wifey even had one on each hand done at the same time. She asked if it would save money to do them at the same time and he said "Lots". She had a hand specialist Clifford Canepa, MD, FACS | Providence Oregon do all of hers. Another hand specialist I go to for cortisone in the wrist shots is very good. Mark J Buehler, MD | Providence Oregon That pic of him is like 30 years old. I tease him about it when I see him.

Good luck man...Considering recoveries from surgeries trigger finger seems pretty easy. Wifey was absolutely miserable before she got them fixed.