Trigger fingers

Glad you found the exercise explanation helpful @lizzypop. I understand about the pain in straightening your fingers. It’s horrible. Begin by just massaging the lower joint, regularly for a few days, the one almost on your palm. It’s this joint and the tendon just below it, that’s causing the problem. The upper joints are “just” reacting to the problem at that lower joint. Ring splints higher up the finger won’t do much unless that lower joint is splinted. It’s not easy to splint just the lower joint, that’s why the trigger finger splints go right down across the palm, and the little one I use has to be upside down.

Dizzy ribs. Thankyou. You went to a lot of trouble to explain the treatment you tried and I am very grateful.
I never would have realised how many sufferers of Trigger fingers there were. ,

Just want to say Thankyou for all your advice on my trigger fingers am
And Also the links you have sent for splints etc. I did buy some plastic ring type ones from from Amazon but it’s too soon to say if they have worked. I am too cautious to try and straighten my fingers as it’s too painful if they stick
Added to this I also have arthritis in my thumb and am having injections for that as well. A operation to remove the bone at the base of my thumb has been suggested by my GP. but will pass on that for now ,
Thankyou again for your input and helpful advice x

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The exercises do take a while, although the pain lessened considerably in the first week. I am still doing them and seeing improvement a few months later. There’s been odd days, usually when I have overdone things the day before like spending hours knitting pain free 🙄but it’s back on track after a day’s rest and massaging.
My link seems to have broken. Here it is. And how I wear it on my finger (upside down) it’s not actually for trigger finger, the “proper” way for a sprain doesn’t brace the lower joint. But this has worked wonders for me.

There are special gloves you can buy if you Google it. Also make sure you are getting enough B6.

I had two operations for the trigger finger on my left hand. Sadly neither worked .

I had trigger finger on my left middle finger. A steroid injection did only provide relief for six months or so. I then consulted my private physio who gave me several exercises to do. I did them three times a day and six months later the finger was fully working again and has been for more than two years so far. The good thing about these exercises was that I could do them anywhere, eg while eating. They were not painful or awkward.

amzn.eu/d/8I1oevG.I have trigger thumb..got steroid injection last year took a few weeks to take effect. Now it had occurred again I have a brace on whilst waiting for another injection. Amazon also have finger ones. It does help

I have trigger finger which was really painful and stuck several times a day and through the night. It’s improving a lot with some exercises that the physiotherapist suggested. When it’s not triggering and first thing in the morning I massage the joint at the bottom of the finger (often do it as I’m walking to the bus stop or shopping).
A few times a day I put my hand flat, palm down and gently pull the finger upward- not far, just to stretch it.
I also bend the finger one joint at a time- this is really hard to start with. First the lower joint, keeping the finger straight. Then relax the whole hand. Next the middle joint, bending it at a 90 degree angle, keeping the lower joint straight, relax the whole hand. Finally just the little top joint. I still find that almost impossible, not because it hurts, just because it’s hard 🙂 you need to do this with out using your other hand to help- apparently it’s something to do with voluntary movement of the muscles, not passive moving it.
Finally the best thing I did was the finger splint, but just in bed. I got a cheap one that was for keeping the whole finger straight, and wear it upside down because it’s the lower joint almost on your palm that needs to be kept straight, the joints further up, not so much as long as the lower one is straight.
This is the split I use upside down
www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/315590803?srsltid=AfmBOooNB3yAoEBkirprQL5vyZ08z_KOV1TNDz83fFflLb_yvqcwJFVj

I had a Trigger finger operation on 2/9. My consultant advised that the injection wouldn’t necessary cure it as they can return. Anyway op done and all well. I used the splints from Amazon before the op. It wasn’t permanently stuck down just got stuck occasionally- mostly when I woke up each morning or late at night.

Well - if one of our posters recommends how a copper bangle helped - I do know there's also copper flasks out there with copper drinking cups with them. General idea being to leave water in the flask for a reasonable number of hours and then drink it. Might be worth a shot.

Re medical treatment for Dupuytrens (if that's what it is) I do remember mentally noting one time that they have an effective "one treatment and you're sorted" in France - and mentally noted it because my father had Dupuytrens and there was one occasion where my mother looked at my hands and went "Agh! Wonder if you're getting it too". That was years back and, in the event, I havent....but made a mental note of "In case I do - Britain hasn't got it figured....but France has......".

I've had trigger finger in both my little fingers. One about 12 year ago and the other about 6 years ago ( roughly as I can't really remember). In both cases I had a small operation to release the tendon at local hand clinics. I was offered a steroid injection or operation for the second one but opted for the operation as I've had no problems with the first. I've never had any problems with either.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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 . I do exercises too when I remember.

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!

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

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!

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

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.