Home →
Diseases →
Trigger fingers

Trigger fingers

Alternative Names

Trigger thumb, Trigger digit

What is Trigger fingers

Trigger finger is a common disorder of later adulthood characterized by catching, snapping or locking of the involved finger flexor tendon and called stenosing tenosynovitis. Sometimes it is painful. Trigger finger occurs when the covering of the tendon in your finger becomes thick. A tendon is tissue that attaches muscle to bone. If trigger finger is severe, your finger may become locked in a bent position.

Signs and symptoms

Trigger finger can cause the following complications:

finger stiffness, particularly in the morning
a popping or clicking sensation as you move your finger
tenderness or a bump (nodule) at the base of the affected finger
finger catching or locking in a bent position, which suddenly pops straight
finger locked in a bent position, which you are unable to straighten

Possible complications

p>In most cases trigger finger cause no serious complications.

What causes

Trigger finger is triggered by a problem in the tunnel that the tendon in your finger runs through (the tendon sheath). This makes it difficult for your tendon to slide through the tunnel and triggers the pain and stiffness associated with trigger finger.

Prevention

It is highly recommended not to work through the pain. Whenever you have some pain at any part, it is always recommended to rest that part as much as possible. Overuse of the fingers must be avoided. Musicians and the computer users are at greater risk of having a trigger finger.

Taking frequent breaks between works, stretching arms, hands and neck, relaxing from a long sitting time, are a few perfecyt ways of prevention.

Treatment

It is necessary to discuss the treatment with your doctor. In some cases it goes away without treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, may help relieve the inflammation (swelling), as well as reducing the amount of pain.

There are some other ways of the treatment: