Gransnet forums

Health

Trigger fingers

(37 Posts)
Lilypops Sat 27-Sept-25 17:58:40

I have had very painful trigger fingers for a long time, the middle fingers and ring stick meant times in a day and it’s so painful to “ unstick” them
Last week I had two steroid injections in the base of my fingers, Now , they are much worse. I have ordered some finger braces from Amazon hoping it will keep my fingers straight
Has anyone else got this condition and how are they managing.? I can’t knit, or Hold my knife and fork. It’s so debilitating

MayBee70 Sat 27-Sept-25 18:01:09

Are you sure it isn’t Dupuytrans?

Lilypops Sat 27-Sept-25 18:12:22

Don’t think soMaybee. My fingers actually stick. Something to do with the tendons getting stuck in the sheath in the fingers.
My fingers haven’t closed completely like I would expect with Dupytrens contracture.

Nanato3 Sat 27-Sept-25 19:52:22

I had trigger thumb and after one steroid injection it was cured .Sorry can't be any help. Hope you get relief soon.

MayBee70 Sat 27-Sept-25 20:40:27

Is there a hand clinic at your local hospital? I’m lucky in that I have a very good one at mine. I have Dupuytrans but ( touch wood) have no contracture; along with having arthritis in my thumb joints have to be very careful with my hands. Is there a specialist Facebook page that you could join? There is a treatment for Dupuytrans that involve needles ( I can’t remember what it is called) that stops the tendons from contracting.

Lilypops Sat 27-Sept-25 20:43:31

Thankyou Nan. I was hoping the injections would have helped but they haven’t. I am due to have injections in my other hand next week, I am worried that it won’t help and I will be forever like this , Stupid fingers !!!

Lilypops Sat 27-Sept-25 20:45:46

Maybee, the clinic where I had the injections is a hand clinic. With Physios on duty. , I was really hopeful when I first attended
Will look on Fb for a group. Thankyou so much for your concern.

MayBee70 Sat 27-Sept-25 23:14:06

I was really scared when I first noticed nodules in my hands that I would get full on contracture ( then worried that I’d passed it onto my children). But there was lots of advice on the Dupuytrans Facebook page including some treatment that the hand clinic didn’t know about. I’ve just remembered that my ex had treatment at the clinic for trigger finger. He’d hurt his hand using some baling twine when we used to help the local farmer with his hay.It was a minor op and Prince Charles had been treated there for the same problem. I’ll ask him about it next time I see him ( my ex that is, not the King!).My hands have been really painful for a few days and I realised I’d been using walking poles without using padded gloves ( something I always advise other people to do). I do sometimes think that the NHS think that steroid injections are the answer to everything but it seems to be hit and miss when it comes to them helping. I only ever had one vanity in my life and that was my hands and I hate looking at them now sad.

Curlywhirly Sun 28-Sept-25 00:05:18

I had trigger finger, middle finger on my right hand. I had 2 steroid injections over a period of 5 years, they both completely 'cured' the problem, but only lasted for about 6 months. So eventually I had the operation - it was a complete success. That was about 5 years ago, no problems since.

Lilypops Sun 28-Sept-25 07:55:47

Curly whirly. If I was offered the operation to cure my fingers. I would take it, in fact if this injection is not going to work I will ask for it, I have got my ring finger taped to my index to stop them sticking, but as you can imagine it makes everyday tasks very difficult. I miss knitting , can’t even peel the veg , changing the beds is a marathon as my fingers stick pulling on the fitted sheets, , oh to be able to turn back the years when I was young and pain free, but we all wish that don’t we,

Cabbie21 Sun 28-Sept-25 22:03:04

Previous trigger fingers/ thumb have been resolved with injections, or once of its own accord. Most recently, by the time I got to see the MSK specialist it had stopped triggering so I was told it was too late for an injection, but it was still stiff and painful so I was sent for physio. Eventually the problem resolved itself, but I do recall how painful it was and how many tasks were or still are difficult eg peeling potatoes, using secateurs and scissors, gripping anything.

BlueBelle Sun 28-Sept-25 22:38:29

I read recently that high cholesterol can connect with these finger problems

Westcoaster Mon 29-Sept-25 00:16:27

I’ve had trigger fingers a few times and treated it myself with splints. Too squeamish for injections!
Anyway, each time it resolved after a few weeks. I tended to only use the splints overnight as I could stop the sticking when I was awake.
Such a nuisance though!
Hope you get some improvement soon.

Lilypops Mon 29-Sept-25 08:04:46

Cabbie 21. Ian using splints at bedtime now, but when I take them off during the day is when they stick and is so painful to unstick them. You are so right , doing every day jobs like peeling potatoes, using scissors. In fact anything that involve using my hands ,
I even got them stuck around a lever door handle once and had to force my fingers open. Not funny at the time !!
Thankyou everyone who kindly offered advice. Much appreciated. X

choughdancer Mon 29-Sept-25 09:16:08

I got carpal tunnel syndrome (the same as trigger finger but in the thumbs) many years ago, and then trigger finger in four of my fingers a few years later. I had injections which didn't resolve the problems, then had surgery on each of them. In the 30 odd years since then I have had no problems!

I think some people respond well to the injections, and if they do work, it is better than having to have surgery, but just wanted to reassure you that if you do need surgery, in my experience it works!

Good luck!

BlueBelle Mon 29-Sept-25 09:37:24

Carpel tunnel isn’t the same as trigger finger Choughdancer
CT is the nerves in the wrist causing tingling and numbness in the fingers whilst trigger finger is caused by a tendon locking or popping so a mechanical problem
I ve had CP had the injections which did nothing then had the op in both which cured it completely

But I ve never had Trigger finger

Curlywhirly Mon 29-Sept-25 12:39:16

I've had both trigger finger and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. As said further upthread, trigger finger resolved by operation, but glad to say CTS resolved just by wearing a splint at night. Up to now no reoccurrence of symptoms; hopefully it stays that way!

MadameP Tue 30-Sept-25 13:55:19

I have trigger finger in my right hand. I had two injections which didn’t work so I was told they couldn’t do this again for a while. I bought myself a splint which I wear overnight and the condition has almost gone away - just a little pain if I do too much scrolling smile. I do exercises too when I remember.

Ampersand Tue 30-Sept-25 14:08:18

I had trigger thumb 25 years years ago and had a steriod injection but sadly the relief only lasted a year. I then had surgery and it's been perfect since.

Now I have trigger finger one on each hand that have developed at different times over the past 3 years and they have got progressively worse over the past 18 months.

I have had two injections in one finger and one in the other and at the last appointment both fingers were injected at the same time (it is painful but only momentarily)

The injections have not made any improvement at all and I am now on a waiting list for surgery. I can't wait as if it was successful 25 years ago with advances in medicine, technique/s etc I have every faith it will be a success particularly as it will be done again at St Thomas' Hospital in London

vintageclassics Tue 30-Sept-25 14:11:10

I have fingers that go into spasm and lock straight - never had any treatment for it but after a few minitues i can flex them again but I do have steriod injections in both thumbs for arthritis it can sometimes cause a flare (making the pain much worse lasting up to 2 weeks before it settles) - If it happens again I'll be referred to a hand surgeon apparently

Nannapat1 Tue 30-Sept-25 14:37:57

I currently have a trigger finger, my ring finger on my left hand. It used to be my right but that went away. I have osteoarthritis which affects my hands and fingers but being hypermobile that makes my fingers more or less 'normal'! I kibd if hope the trigger finger goes away, find alternative ways of doing things, keep taking the Naproxen tablets and wouldn't entertain the steroid injections: they hurt and may not work.

Pebbles101 Tue 30-Sept-25 14:57:14

I had the injection for middle finger and it took a few weeks till it was much improved but afraid it has gradually returned.

WithNobsOnIt Tue 30-Sept-25 15:16:52

Dupuytren's contracture

I agree the a couple of the other posters that you may well have the above.

My mother suffered from it for years. Then had a simple operation to correct and was fine after that.

This hereditary condition is also known as Viking Finger. So you must have some Scandinavians way back in your family.

WelshPoppy Tue 30-Sept-25 15:45:49

Probably just a coincidence but I had two fingers and a thumb that would 'lock' and I'd had to almost force them to unlock and this continued for almost a year. I bought a copper bangle with magnets from Shein, mainly because it was pretty and I didn't think anything more. About two weeks later I realised I hadn't had to unlock them for at least a week. As I saw, probably coincidence but a year on and the locking hasn't returned.

DollyRocker Tue 30-Sept-25 16:22:26

I had a painful trigger finger for a year, wore one of those splint things like a plastic ring. By the time the consultant got to see me it had righted itself! An acupuncturist told me to massage it too which helps.