Trigger Finger Specialist

What is trigger finger?

Trigger finger happens when one of your fingers catches as you move it. The finger remains in a bent position for longer than intended. A trigger finger snaps as you straighten it. In severe cases, the finger might not be able to straighten at all.

Trigger finger can be pretty painful, preventing you from using your hand. Symptoms can be particularly severe first thing in the morning or after another period of hand rest.

What causes trigger finger?

A trigger finger develops when part of the protective sheath around your finger tendons becomes badly irritated and inflamed. Tendon sheaths have pulleys, small straps that keep the tendon close to the finger bones. As your finger moves, the tendons glide through the pulleys.

But, when the pulley is inflamed, it swells, preventing the tendon from moving smoothly. With trigger finger, the tendon catches on one of the pulleys, often the A1 pulley at the bottom of the finger.

The pulley can thicken further over time, and the tendon may grow a bump (a nodule) in response to the irritation.

The underlying cause of trigger finger isn’t certain. But you have an increased risk of developing this condition if you have chronic illnesses like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Trigger finger might also be more likely to develop in people who routinely make forceful hand movements. For example, tightly gripping an object for extended periods every day can lead to trigger finger.

How is trigger finger treated?

Trigger finger treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. For milder trigger finger symptoms, or for trigger finger that comes and goes, treatment usually includes nonsurgical approaches like physical therapy and corticosteroid injections.

If those conservative approaches don’t relieve your symptoms or your finger’s stuck in a bent position, Ortho 1 Medical Group will recommend a minimally invasive surgery called trigger finger release. A trigger finger release cuts the tight pulley, allowing your tendon to move without catching.

If you suspect that you have trigger finger, don’t wait to call Ortho 1 Medical Group. A simple procedure can have you using your hand normally sooner than you think. Book an appointment online or call the office nearest you.