April 14, 2014

Trigger Finger


(warning medical topic)

I don't normally mention medical issues on my Blog, but the terminology the hand specialist mentioned seems humorous in an odd way and I thought maybe some of my blogger friends had dealt with "Trigger Finger" and could give me some feedback on what they did to resolve this annoying, at times painful, condition. It certainly curtails cutting with scissor or the  rotary cutter. I really didn't realize how important Miss Pinkie is when quilting.

In December the doctor injectected cortisone at the base of right little finger tendon-- Miss Pinkie is the Trigger Finger! :o) She just curls up and does not want to move up, and when she does Miss Pinkie sounds like "snap, crackle, pop"!



It did improve a lot after December, but I think removing all the sewing room stuff and perhaps holding the paint brush, sorting and placing stuff back into the sewing room--- and now dealing with the weeds that grow in leaps and bounds each day may have irritated Miss Pinkie to the point that I needed to see doctor for  another cortisone injection today to relieve some of triggering.  Mornings and evening are the worst.

He suggested surgery if this injection did not help--- of course I would like to avoid surgery if at all possible.

I wonder if acupuncture would be helpful, or special hand exercises. Splint or gloves?  Hand massage or physical therapy?


9 comments:

Lisa Boyer said...

Hi Angie! My husband the chiropractor says to Google "B Vitamins trigger finger" and see what source you trust to read the many articles about B6 pyridoxine and relief of trigger finger. He also suggests a good fish oil supplement...and avoid "popping" it, which inflames it more. Good luck!!

Kim said...

Hi Angie,
Hubby had trigger fingers and nothing worked. He was in a lot of pain especially getting up in the morning to find his fingers had locked up. He had to have surgery to fix it.

Jeanne said...

Yesterday I had the injection for middle finger and another hand issue. This has been an issue in the past, results were 50-50. I had triggering in index and thumb. The injection worked for index but not for thumb. If my middle finger does not respond to the injection I will not hesitate to have surgery. The minor discomfort of surgery is so much easier to deal with then the triggering.

Paule-Marie said...

I am heading for the doctor next week to talk about surgery. Had a shot last September, it lasted maybe 5 months. I have been putting up with it until I couldn't any more. I know one gal who just had the surgery and she said she wished she had done it sooner.

mckie2 said...

A help would be to restrict movement of the knuckle with a piece of tape so the finger can not lock up and has an opportunity to rest and the inflamation can go down. Some times a callous forms at the triggering site. Then the best solution is surgery. I've had 4 trigger finger release surgeries. They weren't a big deal but i had them done during carpel tunnel surgery.

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

I don't have this issue but I do have arthritis in both hands which severely impacts the thumbs and pinkies. The best help that I have had is wearing a brace each night without fail which realigns the bones in the hand and reduces swelling. I also have a hot wax dip which was very inexpensive and is very soothing. I take a Tblsp of apple cider vinegar with the mother each morning as well which seems to help with inflammation. I'm intrigued by Lisa's response and will be checking out her info.

Quilting_Chris said...

After several trigger fingers on both of my hands and having shots, etc. I have had them released. Oh, so much relief and fairly simple. I was sorry I waited. I did wear a neoprene sleeve my DH made around one of my fingers for almost a year to keep it from being locked when I woke up in the morning. That was super helpful prior to the surgery.

Purple Pam said...

So glad your cabinets finally arrived. DH had trigger finger. It was painful. Doctor gave him some pain meds. It helped a lot. He does not have nearly as much problem with the finger. But he quit the meds and it is still okay. I have the same thing but a milder problem right now. I am hoping it does not get any worse. My Dr also mentioned surgery. Not going there yet.

Unknown said...

Mom, I think Mr. Caskey had to have surgery for this condition. His finger would hook on his jeans and not unfold. - Chris