FAQs On Trigger Finger

When you get a trigger finger, panic is a normal reaction. After all, it feels like your finger has its own mind, and you have no control over it. Sometimes it bends and snaps back into position. However, in extreme cases, the finger will remain bent.

Here are some of the FAQs about a trigger finger.

 

When Does Trigger Finger Occur?

A trigger finger usually occurs when the tendon is inflamed. The cause of the inflammation varies from person to person, but some people are at greater risk of getting a trigger finger. Women, people aged between 40 and 60 years, people with rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, and those who perform tasks that strain their fingers are more likely to suffer from a trigger finger.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Trigger Finger?

A bent finger is the most evident sign of a trigger finger. However, there are other symptoms that you should watch keenly because they sometimes occur before the finger becomes severe. Symptoms include;

• Stiffness.
• Clicking sensation around the joints of the affected finger.
• Tenderness around the joints.

These symptoms tend to be more severe in the morning.

 

Can Trigger Heal Without Medical Intervention?

In the early stages, the trigger finger tends to correct itself. Unfortunately, the problem tends to recur, often progressing and becoming worse. Over time, the finger becomes bent, needing trigger finger surgery to correct it.

When caught early, therapy, such as splints, will help fix the trigger finger without surgery.

 

What Happens When Trigger Finger Is Not Treated?

Trigger finger is a progressive condition that starts with mild symptoms and becomes more severe. Unfortunately, when left untreated, the trigger finger becomes permanently bent.

You will have trouble performing regular tasks, and should you want to straighten your finger, you’ll have to use your other hand to force it. The swelling on the tendon may also become worse.

There is also the risk of other fingers getting affected. You may end up with more than one trigger finger, making it even harder to perform tasks with your hands.

 

When Should You Worry About Trigger Finger?

You should worry about the trigger finger when the joint feels hot and inflamed. The tendon sheath is at risk of infection, making the finger worse. It also means the other fingers are at risk of getting infected.

 

How Can You Stop Trigger Finger from Getting Worse?

A visit to the doctor is the best solution once you discover you have a trigger finger. If the doctor recommends trigger finger surgery, this is the best option. You may also perform multiple therapies, including resting your hand, using a splint, or taking anti-inflammation medicines.

If the tendons are swollen, your doctor may inject the affected area with steroids to reduce the swelling.

 

Is Trigger Finger A Sign of Arthritis?

People with arthritis are prone to getting a trigger finger, but not everyone with a trigger finger has arthritis. Since arthritis causes inflammation of the joints, the tendons in the fingers are also likely to be affected. The result will be a trigger finger.

Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis are the most common types of arthritis that are linked to the trigger finger. However, a trigger finger, on its own, is not considered a sign of arthritis.

Trigger finger surgery is the best solution for the trigger finger. However, the various therapies and avoidance of repetitive gripping and grasping will help keep it from recurring.