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Trigger Finger and Trigger
Thumb are caused by direct trauma or the result of overuse,
with symptoms ranging from a painless and occasional snapping
or "skipping" of the finger(s), to severe dysfunction and
pain with continuous locking of the finger(s) in a flexed
downward position. These symptoms can occur at any of the
finger joints which consist of the Metacaroophalangeal
(MP) joint, the Proximal Interphalangeal joint (PIP) and
the Distal Interphalangeal joint (DIP) , but most often
effects the MP and PIP joints, causing the finger to either
curl in the middle or lock down into the palm of the hand.
For many individuals, the symptoms increase during the
night and are at their worst in the morning when they first
awake. (See "Symptoms")
Trigger Finger and Trigger Thumb are
most often approached with invasive treatments like cortisone
injections to reduce inflammation and surgery release of
the affected tendon, although there are more successful
means of treatment utilizing non-invasive therapy consisting
of simple active stretches and exercises to help thin the
tendon(s) and break down the adhesions or nodules that
have formed on the tendon. See "Trigger
Finger Anatomy" |
