If one or more of your fingers gets stuck in a bent position or suddenly pops or clicks when you try to straighten it, you may have a condition many refer to as trigger finger.

Trigger finger, also called stenosing tenosynovitis, is caused when the tendons that bend your fingers become inflamed and swollen. This leads to discomfort, tenderness, and loss of motion in the affected finger(s).

What Causes Trigger Finger?

Repeated gripping motions are the most common culprit behind trigger finger. Activities like:

• Constant computer keyboard or mouse use
• Texting and tapping on phones
• Writing, typing, or using tools that require a forceful grip
• Playing musical instruments like guitar or violin

Medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and hypothyroidism can also contribute to trigger finger development.

Signs and Symptoms of Trigger Finger

• Finger catching or locking in a bent position, which suddenly pops straight
• Finger stiffness, especially in the morning
• A nodule or bump at base of affected finger
• Tenderness, pain, or soreness in the palm at the base of the affected finger
• Finger joint swelling
• Difficulty fully extending or bending the finger

Getting a Trigger Finger Diagnosis

If you’re experiencing these troubling finger symptoms, come see the hand specialists at Boston Orthopaedic and Spine. Our orthopaedic experts will examine your hand and fingers, assess your pain and range of motion, and determine if you have trigger finger.

Treating Trigger Finger

Mild trigger finger often responds well to conservative treatments:

• Resting and avoiding activities that aggravate it
• Icing to reduce swelling
• Splinting the finger to limit motion
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Hand therapy exercises

If these don’t help, we may recommend a simple in-office cortisone injection into the affected tendon sheath to relieve inflammation and pain. Surgery to release the constricted tendon sheath is also highly effective, especially for more severe trigger finger cases.

Get That Finger Back in Motion

If you’re dealing with a locked, painful finger, call Boston Orthopaedic and Spine today to schedule an evaluation. Our skilled hand surgeons will get to the bottom of your finger problem and help you regain normal function!