trigger finger

[raypepalis]

My doctor diagnosed my problem as "trigger finger" The left hand middle finger opens and closes like the blade of a pocket knife. It snaps at a certain point - with much pain. He is offering to inject Cortisone into the hand to relieve the problem, and then suggests that surgery is the last resort if the injection does not help.
I decided to hold off for a little while, but the finger is not improving, so I need to decide.
J
Have any of you experienced this problem??

Ray Pepalis

[ramsnake]

Thank goodness no, but I am so sorry to hear you are afflicted in this way as it must be very concerning for you. I hope someone comes up with some good news for you!

[cutnstuf]

I had this happen a few years back in my right hand. The ring finger would lock into my palm and snap open. It slowly got worse until one day the finger locked so tightly that I couldn't get it open. I literally had to pull it open with the other hand. I had two rounds of shots which did no good at all. So, I underwent the surgery which completely resolved the problem to this day. It took a couple of months to rehab my hand to normal function and it's been absolutely fine since then. Good luck!

Cut

[ramsnake]

I had this happen a few years back in my right hand. The ring finger would lock into my palm and snap open. It slowly got worse until one day the finger locked so tightly that I couldn't get it open. I literally had to pull it open with the other hand. I had two rounds of shots which did no good at all. So, I underwent the surgery which completely resolved the problem to this day. It took a couple of months to rehab my hand to normal function and it's been absolutely fine since then. Good luck!

Cut

That's the good news we wanted to hear!

[cn90]

I am physician and think you need surgery.
See a plastic surgeon specialized in hand surgery.
Where do you live? Perhaps I can give you some good names.

[Hans W]

I ran into the same problem with my LH thumb and the doctor said the same thing.

I decided to simply stop using the thumb as a vice grip on the neck and let it float. After a month the "snap" went away and now I play with a much lighter thumb.

Your problem sounds different. Are you really pushing down hard with yours fingers? If not, try Cortisone and if that doesn't work, then "the knife". You might end up needing the latter but try the former first.

Hans

[cutnstuf]

Here's a good article on the subject:
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00024

[chuckinphoenix]

I had the same problem some years ago on my right hand middle finger. Hurt like hell. I went to a hand specialist who suggested Cortisone. Had one shot...very painful right into the palm of my hand. Worked for several months and then pain again. I decided on surgery. Best thing I did. I couldn't play for a while but my hand and finger work great.
I suggest surgery or you'll prbably have a lifetime of painful shots.

Chuck

[cutnstuf]

As I seem to rmember, my doctor told me that 3 times the limit with the shots and then the next step is surgery.

Cut

[jcrants]

My dad had trigger finger. Especially first thing in the morning, it would just lock up so bad that he needed to use his other hand to straighten his finger out. He ended up getting the surgery a few months ago, and he's doing well now.

[Squidbilly]

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is causing these finger lock ups? Is it some kind of extreme friction in the joints? I ask only because I've never experienced anything even remotely close to this.

[cutnstuf]

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is causing these finger lock ups? Is it some kind of extreme friction in the joints? I ask only because I've never experienced anything even remotely close to this.

here is the link I posted earlier in this thread

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00024

[Robert03]

I had the same problem with my left hand middle finger. After two cortisone shots I had the surgery. It's been 5 years and no problems yet. I'm glad that I had it done. It was an orthopedic surgeon who did the operation. I was playing again after a few weeks.

[idgl]

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is causing these finger lock ups? Is it some kind of extreme friction in the joints? I ask only because I've never experienced anything even remotely close to this.

Many of the trigger finger references refer to extending the index, middle or ring fingers. I have a condition, caused by rheumatoid arthritus, whereby I cannot flex my left fourth finger without a series of painful clicks. This was diagnosed as 'trigger finger'. Maybe the term refers to more than one condition. The tendon is catching on the bony growths that have developed. A cortisone injection did very little good and a hand surgeon advised against operating.

[tom servo]

After doing to much guitar practice for some days a clicking started in my left hand thumb. Just changing thumb position and less practicing seems to help. The clicking became less frequent and weaker even with the old thumb position.

My dad had a trigger finger last year. A finger was locking and could no longer straightened without help. Surgery was advised by the doctor but my dad was to busy and in the meantime it has healed by itself.