Your hands perform innumerable tasks throughout each day, and unless you encounter a problem with your hands or fingers, you probably don’t pay close attention to how your hands make life as you know it possible.
If you notice a finger that isn’t moving the same as the rest — it seems stuck in a bent position and won’t straighten — you may have a condition called trigger finger. While not uncommon, trigger finger can be very stressful and can interfere with your ability to complete normal manual tasks.
Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of hand conditions, including trigger finger. If you live in or around Las Vegas, Nevada, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Williams for expert care if you develop an issue with hand function.
Trigger finger refers to a condition that freezes a finger or thumb into a curled position. While the name stems from the position your index finger might take if you tried to pull the trigger on a gun, the condition can develop in any of your fingers or thumb. It most commonly affects the third finger and ring finger.
Trigger finger develops when inflammation occurs in the tendons that attach muscles to bone in your fingers or thumb. These tendons are protected by a thin sheath of tissue. Swelling can prevent your tendons from moving freely within those sheathes, allowing fingers or the thumb to get stuck in a bent position.
It’s often impossible to determine the exact cause of trigger finger in an individual, but researchers have identified certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing the condition.
For example, if you engage in repetitive hand and finger movements during your work or hobbies, you may eventually develop trigger finger. Examples include gardening, playing an instrument, or working with hand tools. Conditions like diabetes, osteoarthritis, and thyroid disease also increase your risk.
Many people develop symptoms that gradually worsen over time. Some of the changes to keep an eye out for include:
The most severe symptom is a finger or thumb that is stuck in a bent position and can’t be moved back into normal alignment.
If you develop trigger finger, or if you’re concerned about hand changes in a loved one, you should know that there are treatments to help you use your hands normally. The process begins with a diagnostic assessment with Dr. Williams. If he determines that you have trigger finger, he explains all available treatment options.
In mild cases, you might find relief by simply taking a break from the activities that are causing inflammation in your hand. Some people use padded gloves to protect their hands from strain, and stretching exercises can help improve flexibility in your hands.
If the affected digit isn’t fully locked in an abnormal position, wearing a splint can help gradually stretch and straighten your finger. Anti-inflammatory medications can help ease swelling and manage pain.
Steroid injections can help by delivering an anti-inflammatory medication directly into the affected joints. Therapeutic needling is also an option; it uses sterile treatment needles to break apart abnormally constricted tissue and improve tendon movement.
In some cases, hand surgery is the best way to achieve release of a fully locked finger or thumb. Dr. Williams has years of experience and performs minimally invasive procedures on an outpatient basis. Recovery time is usually swift.
If you need more information about how to address changes in the shape of your hand, don’t hesitate to contact our office. The team at Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery is always happy to meet with patients to explore solutions.
Online booking is available around the clock, or you can reach us by phone at 702-703-6929 during office hours to discuss scheduling.
