Trigger finger is a hand specific condition causing sticking, clicking, popping or locking of the finger. Despite its name, It can be caused by many different things including prolonged pressure or gripping with the hands, using vibrating tools or injury that causes hand or finger swelling. Medical conditions like chronic inflammation and diabetes can also make you more prone to trigger finger.
There are several stages of trigger finger, the progression starts at level 1 and can slowly worsen over time, to level 3.
Pain on the palm side of the hand, right at the base of the finger
Clicking of the finger with motion
Locking of the finger where you need to use your other hand to pry to back open
Why does trigger finger occur?
Glad you asked! Every finger has several muscles and tendons that bend the finger. These pass under what are called pulleys, which basically make a small canal for these tendons to travel through to ensure they stay in the right place and get the right line of pull so your muscles can work in the most efficient way. You have 5 pulleys for each finger. Trigger finger is most commonly caused by that tendon getting stuck under pulley #1. This pulley is found in the palm right at the base of the finger (usually the spot where we get calluses after using tools or hanging from the monkey bars)
The tendon can get stuck for several reasons, there can be a little nodule or growth on the tendon causing it to get stuck in the pulley, resulting in that finger locking. (think about trying to pull knotted rope through a small hole, probably wouldn't fit, and if it did it would require a lot of effort and pulling). Additionally, if you have swelling in the pulley, that takes up space, leaving even less space for the tendon to travel which gives you the same problem, causing that tendon to get stuck resulting in a clicking or locking finger.
So you think you have trigger finger…what do you do now?
If pain is completely limiting what you can do during the day, go see a hand doctor. They can provide treatment, including an injection to help decrease inflammation and stop the clicking and locking. Another option is seeing a hand therapist who can create a custom splint to prevent the muscle from contracting under that pulley. This allows things to calm down and help decrease inflammation to solve the problem. Although a custom splint will fit the best, an over the counter can be bought on Amazon. This splint should be worn just at night to limit your finger motion and the ability to make a full fist. During the day, limit the use of vibrating tools, or if unavoidable wear anti-vibration gloves. Additionally, start to try some tendon glides found in our exercise program and massage your palm. Finally if you have tried all of the above and are still suffering, a procedure or surgery may be warranted to release the pulley as mentioned above to allow that tendon to have more room to move.
Still have questions? Need treatment or a splint? Send us a message!
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