Trigger finger
Your hand is one of the most important aspects of your body. It’s a complex tool which can provide a precise, fine motor control as well as generate tremendous strength and power. This capability enables you to perform different of tasks in our daily life. If at all, you wake up with your finger stuck in a bent position and feeling a pop when you try to straighten it or having to use your other hand to open your finger, then you may have Trigger Finger!
The medical name of trigger finger is known as stenosing tenosynovitis. It is a condition where a finger or thumb gets stuck in a bent position. Also, it might straighten on its own with a sudden snap, or wise you may have to force it. It got the name because straightening the finger may cause you a popping sensation which will feel like pulling a trigger.
Symptoms
- Finger stiffness, particularly in the morning
- Tenderness or a bump in the palm at the base of the affected finger
- Finger locked in a bent position, which you’re unable to straighten
- A clicking or popping sensation as you move your finger
- Finger catching or locking in a bent position, that suddenly pops straight
Causes
Trigger finger will happen when the tendons in your finger become inflamed. Tendons are bands of tissue which connect your bones and muscles. The tendons that bend your fingers will travel through your palm and right into your fingers. Also, they move through a covering called as a “sheath” as well as pass through a series of pulleys which hold your tendons close to your finger.
So, if your tendons are inflamed and in case, there is swelling around them, then they can get stuck in the sheath. When this happens, bending the finger will pull the inflamed tendon through a narrowed sheath, making it pop or snap.
Risk Factors
- Health problems: People who have rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes are at higher risk of developing trigger finger.
- Repeated gripping: Hobbies, as well as occupations which involve repetitive hand use and prolonged gripping, might increase your risk of trigger finger.
- Sex: More than men, women are the most known victims of trigger finger.
Here are some ways using which you can deal with trigger finger
Trigger finger is a common condition for the fingers such as index, middle and ring. Here’s how you can deal with it
Rest your finger
Proper rest is a key component to healing the tendon. Also, it will reduce inflammation and soreness as well as speed up the healing time. In other words, if you put pressure on your affected finger, then you can exacerbate the pain and inflammation.
Rest the trigger finger and avoid activities which require repeated grasping, repetitive gripping or the prolonged use of vibrating any machinery such as cell phones.
Apply a cold compress
You might also notice an improvement in your condition when you use a cold compress plenty of times a day. A cold compress can offer you a numbing effect on the nerve endings, that in turn aids in reducing swelling and pain.
How to prepare one?
- Put some ice cubes in a thin towel and tie it.
- Apply this ice pack on the affected finger for at least 10 minutes.
- Take a 5 minutes break and repeat the same for 2 or 3 more times.
- Use this few times a day, as you require.
Alternatively, if you don’t like to use ice, you can use frozen veggies instead
Opt for stretching exercises
Gentle stretching exercises will be able to help maintain mobility in your finger as well as aid the healing process, so that your finger can get back to optimal functioning as fast as possible.
How to perform a stretching exercise?
- Exercise 1: First, spread your fingers wide apart, and draw them together in a fist. Do the same for 10 to 15 times. Repeat this exercise as many times as you can the entire day.
- Exercise 2: Squeeze a ball or hold a tennis ball in the palm. Squeeze it for 10 seconds and release. Do the same for 10 minutes. Repeat at least 5 to 10 times a day.
- Exercise 3: Wrap a rubber band around your fingers and thumb, then try to close and open your hand against this resistance for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat the same for several times throughout the day.
Massage your finger
Massaging your affected finger regularly is another effective way to treat trigger finger. Also, a gentle massage can help increase circulation, reduce swelling and stiffness and relax the muscles.
How to massage?
- Warm some sesame, olive, or coconut oil in the microwave.
- Then dab the warm oil on your affected finger.
- You can utilize the fingers of your other hand to just gently massage for 5 minutes.
- Repeat the same for 2 to 3 times every day.
Massage ought to always be done gently, as added stress can aggravate this condition. Also, if needed you can get help from a professional massage therapist.
Trigger fingers can be a pain, an unnecessary annoyance, and, in some cases, it can also cause pain and it can significantly interfere with the normal function. If you are experiencing the symptoms consistent with the trigger finger, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.