Stenosing tenosynovitis, more popularly known as trigger finger, is a condition that causes your fingers to get stuck in a bent or straight position. Not only does it cause pain, but it can also render you unable to perform certain tasks effectively, such as driving or typing.
If your trigger finger is already affecting your daily activities, it’s time to explore treatment options. Let’s talk about some of the most popular and effective ways to correct this condition.
Home Remedies
Most cases of trigger finger resolve on their own without intensive medical intervention. Here are some home remedies you can try to relieve your symptoms and help you return to your normal routine:
Rest and Protection
In addition to existing disorders such as arthritis and diabetes, repetitive motions are usually the culprit for trigger finger. Thus, one of the first things you should do upon experiencing the symptoms of this condition is to rest the affected fingers. Often, this is enough to relieve your pain and get your hand back to normal.
If your job heavily involves hand use, you may need to take a few days to a few weeks off from work. To protect your affected finger, you may also use a splint. Doing this keeps your finger from moving and aggravating your condition, especially at night.
Gentle Exercises and Massage
To prevent stiffness and recover your finger’s range of motion, you will need to perform gentle exercises in conjunction with rest and splinting. Below are some examples of movements you can do a few times a day to improve your condition:
Fingertip Bend
- Hold the affected finger below the uppermost joint
- Try to bend the finger’s tip without moving the bottom parts
Rubberband Stretch
- Place a rubber band around your fingers
- Open your fingers until you feel resistance from the rubber band
- Then, close your fingers and repeat
Ball Squeeze
- Hold a small ball, roughly the size of a tennis ball, at the palm of your hand
- Squeeze it with your fingers for about five seconds, release, and repeat
You may also massage your affected finger, applying gentle pressure on the joint. Doing so helps relieve inflammation by encouraging blood circulation. You can massage your joints before and after performing your hand exercises.
Medication
The pain from your affected finger may persist even after rest, protection, and massage. In this case, you can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These can relieve the aching you feel but does little to stop the swelling that constricts your tendon sheath and causes your trigger finger.
Other Treatment Options
If at-home solutions fail to improve your condition, you need to consult with your doctor about more advanced treatment options. Depending on your overall health and underlying comorbidities, they may recommend any of the following:
Steroid Injections
Your doctor may inject steroid medications, such as cortisone, into your tendon sheath. Doing so helps reduce the inflammation that limits your tendon’s ability to glide freely. One injection is usually enough to stop trigger finger symptoms within a day to a few weeks. If it doesn’t, your doctor may recommend a second injection.
This treatment option is generally not recommended for individuals with diabetes, as it seems to be less effective in this cohort. In addition, the injection causes a short-term rise in blood sugar levels, which may cause hyperglycemia.
Surgery
If your trigger finger persists or worsens even after you exhaust conservative treatments, surgery is your best option. Trigger finger surgery is common and produces positive outcomes for most patients.
During the procedure, your orthopedic surgeon will make an incision in your tendon sheath. Doing so widens the space around your tendon, allowing it to glide through more easily. You should be able to move, bend, and straighten your affected finger with ease after you recover from the simple operation.
Orthopedic Urgent Care In Clinton Township, MI
It’s best to seek urgent care as soon as you experience the symptoms of trigger finger, especially if they begin to hamper your daily activities. An orthopedic doctor can help properly diagnose your condition and advise you towards the best treatment.
If you’re looking for orthopedic urgent care in Clinton Township, MI, look no further than Movement Orthopedics. We offer individualized care and ensure the best outcomes for our patients. Our clinic is located in the Dalcoma Professional Building, and we are open to walk-in patients Monday to Saturday.
For any inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us at (586) 436-3785. You may also let us know you’re coming by filling out our online appointment request form. We look forward to getting you back to the life you love!
