Blog
2019 Continuing Education Conference
We hope you will join us at our 2019 Continuing Education Conference at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta, GA.
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, limits your range of motion and can cause a snapping sound when you bend or extend your finger.
Experts can address this condition at Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow located in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia, with corticosteroid injections, other non-surgical treatments, or surgery if necessary.
Continue reading our blog to learn more about this condition, how to treat it, and the steps you can take to prevent it.
Trigger finger occurs when inflammation causes scar tissue called a tendon sheath to narrow. Tendons pass through this sheath and can become stuck.
For example, you cannot move the flexor tendons, or you may hear a popping sound when you bend or extend it. This condition often affects the a1 pulley at the base of the finger.
A swollen tendon sheath is the most common cause of this painful condition. Inflammation can develop due to repetitive movements, such as gripping or squeezing an object.
According to the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, this condition often affects the ring finger or causes a trigger thumb.
A single injury will rarely cause a trigger finger, but forceful use and repeated movements where you bend and straighten your fingers palm side can increase your risks.
Some patients are more likely to get a stuck finger or thumb. Diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing inflammation.
Medical conditions like gout and rheumatoid arthritis of the hand can also increase your risks. Thumb arthritis may also play a factor.Â
There are a few early symptoms of trigger finger you might notice. First, note that you might feel pain when one individual finger moves, but the other fingers have no symptoms and can glide freely. It’s best to get a doctor to diagnose this as trigger finger can sometimes be confused for Dupuytren’s contracture.Â
Inflammation happens when fluids build up and cause tissues to become swollen in the finger or thumb. It can also affect nerve function.
Pain is usually one of the earliest symptoms, especially when you perform gripping or squeezing motions.
Straightening your finger can be difficult, and trigger finger release often creates a snapping sound when you extend it in a straight position.
Swelling can reduce your range of motion and cause finger stiffness. In advanced cases of trigger finger, patients often find that they’re unable to move their flexor tendon.
Trigger fingers typically become stuck in a bent position. It’s possible to experience finger articulations that freeze temporarily when the condition first appears.
As the fluid builds up and causes the tendon sheath to become inflamed, you might notice common symptoms of inflammation, such as redness, heat, and a tender lump.
A healthcare provider can diagnose a trigger finger based on a simple hand exam. Your doctor might also recommend seeing a hand therapist or hand surgeon in order to confirm that you have stenosing tenosynovitis.
Mild cases of trigger finger will typically go away after a few weeks with some rest for most patients.
However, your healthcare provider might recommend other treatments based on their findings during the physical exam:
Â
In more severe cases, your doctor might recommend steroid injections or even surgical treatment. A steroid injection will reduce inflammation locally in the affected finger, while surgery can release the a1 pulley or affected tendon.
We hope you will join us at our 2019 Continuing Education Conference at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta, GA.
Learn how to properly tape tennis elbow and get relief with kinesiology tape. Schedule a visit with our specialists at Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow.
The entire staff here at Georgia Hand, Shoulder, and Elbow was able to witness the Solar Eclipse from our very own rooftop. We all gathered with our glasses and were blown away by this spectacular phenomenon!
News Congratulations to Drs. John Seiler and Randall Alexander for being on Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor list for 2018. Thank you to our patients for the
Explore practical ways to recovery after a ganglion cyst wrist surgery in Marietta or Atlanta, GA, with the help of Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow.
Discover how to manage swelling in fingers after wrist surgery. Learn recovery tips and expert advice from Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow in Marietta, GA.