Anyone here ever get Trigger Finger/Thumb?

[Baz]

My left thumb has it.

I have an appointment Monday with the surgeon who performed Carpal Tunnel Surgery on the same hand 2 years ago. She's great and did a good job - so I feel good having her involved.

The pain was so bad I got an Rx from my PCP for Meloxicam 15mg, which has helped a lot.

From doing a Google search, surgery to resolve this problem can be done as an out patient and with only a local anesthesia. Guess I will find out on Monday. She will probably want some radiographs first, but hope we can get it done fairly quickly.

Anyone here go through this?

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/trigger-finger/#:~:text=Symptoms%20may%20include:%20*%20A%20tende r%20lump,Pain%20when%20bending%20or%20straightenin g%20the%20digit.

[WPOZZZ]

My ortho has a surgical suite n her office. She has done trigger release for the gf and myself. The first time, I had to go to the whole rigmarole of going to the hospital for it. Then they opened a new office and added the suite. It is so easy. Drive in, go to the suite, they give me a shot of the local. I can hear them digging in and cutting but there is no pain. Bandage up and I drive home.

[Crowbob]

I’ve had it twice. Different finger on different hand. A rigorous regimen of non-steroidal anti inflammatories (aspirin, ibuprofen) and rest with mild stretching throughout the day had no effect so I scheduled appts. with hand doctor. Scheduling the appts. did the trick. Within one day of scheduling the condition went away both times.

For me, I think, minimizing the inflammation and not aggravating the tendons involved took about two months. Now I am careful to avoid repetitive motion such as using a screwdriver and/or a hammer: so far so good.

More than a few people told me it would just get worse with time. Not true in my case-twice.

[John Rogers]

Years ago I had trigger finger on two of the fingers of my right (shooting trigger puller) two fingers and for some reason I was also getting "claw" symptoms of the right hand thumb. Youg lady did the surgery on my hand and no problems since. Well not true exactly as my left hand is getting the shakes so it becomes too hard to shoot black powder off hand so few if any matches now. I do have several muzzle loaders on Gunbroker.
John Rogers

[herr_oberst]

Maybe get a blister on your
trigger finger
Maybe get a blister on
your thumb!

[Baz]

Thanks for the replies and input, guys.

Will keep you posted.

Can't wait to get this behind me!

[Noah930]

You have two choices: steroid injection or surgery.

The injection hurts (briefly), but has a 70% chance of curing it. The surgery is, well a surgery. It's "easier" than the carpal tunnel release you already had. Day surgery, don't have to go to sleep, takes 20-30 minutes. 98-99% chance of success.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Best of luck with the treatment. I have bad arthritis in both of my hands in the CMC joint of the thumb. I just had another round of steroid injections. They hurt like he!!. I'm facing surgery, just need to decide when, and which hand to do first.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Noah930

You have two choices: steroid injection or surgery.

The injection hurts (briefly), but has a 70% chance of curing it. The surgery is, well a surgery. It's "easier" than the carpal tunnel release you already had. Day surgery, don't have to go to sleep, takes 20-30 minutes. 98-99% chance of success.

I have it on one finger on my right hand. My regular doc has sent a referral to a hand surgeon.

I will ask about the injection as my right hand is my dominate hand, and I know even brushing my teeth would be a challenge with my left hand if my right is in a cast or bandage.

[Baz]

Met with surgeon today and she offered two options, as mentioned above by Noah930 (Post #7) except she wants to use the *Twilight Anesthesia for the surgery....her reasoning being she doesn't want to risk me moving my hand during surgery.

I'm not happy at all about not being able to just do a local so I can drive there and back without needing a ride, which involves extra logistics on MY end. I asked a couple times if we could do that and was told no, so unless I want to go with a different surgeon , this is what I will do.

I feel she is very good so I will just suck it up and get it done.

The earliest she could get me in, unless there's a cancellation, is August 26. So that's what we have scheduled for now.

They took some xRays - I wish I had asked for copies. Will call tomorrow.

Thanks everyone!

* Twilight anesthesia is an anesthetic technique where a mild dose of sedation is applied to induce anxiolysis (anxiety relief), hypnosis, and anterograde amnesia (inability to form new memories). The patient is not unconscious, but sedated. During surgery or other medical procedures, the patient is under what is known as a "twilight state", where the patient is relaxed and "sleepy", able to follow simple directions by the doctor, and is responsive.

[GH85Carrera]

I went to the hand specialist today. He gave me a shot of steroid in the palm of my hand close to the base of the finger. That stung a bit. He said to try to avoid using my right hand for anything strenuous. He said it should take about a week for the trigger finger issue to go away.

Of course I "get" to mow and edge the yard this afternoon. And I have to replace the two pressure switches on the master cylinder on my 911. The brake lights are stuck on if the key is on. Getting to the back switch is not fun at all. Gotta get it fixed so I can drive the 911 safely.

[jcwade]

I had trigger finger in my right-hand ring finger.
It lasted for quite some time before I went to the doctor and discovered what it was.
He injected steroids and it cleared up in a couple of days.

That was earlier this year.
I would try that first.

[syncroid]

Baz, I wish you the best with your upcoming treatment.
I had surgery last November for something similar. My Doc said it will come back eventually. So far so good. I can still straighten it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=dupuytren%27s+contracture&oq=Dupu&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggBEAAYsQMYgAQyBggAEEUYOTIKCA EQABixAxiABDIPCAIQABgKGLEDGIAEGIoFMgoIAxAAGLEDGIAE MgcIBBAAGIAEMgcIBRAAGIAEMgcIBhAAGIAEMgcIBxAAGIAEMg cICBAAGIAEMgcICRAAGI8C0gEJMTY4MTZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Baz]

Thanks Dan - and back at ya. That sounds awful!

And thanks again for all the feedback and input. On the strength of your comments I called today and cancelled the surgery and have an appointment next Wed. for a steroid injection. Will keep you posted on what happens.

Cheers all!

[GH85Carrera]

My hand doc acted almost surprised I knew to call my finger a "trigger finger" and he said he almost always does the steroid injection first, before surgery becomes a option.

He asked my pain level on the 1 to 10 scale and I said 0.25 or less. Virtually no pain, but it will never just spontaneously heal. So lets try the easy option first, before it gets painful. I really don't want to put my dominate hand out of commission for weeks.

The shot is uncomfortable, but not near as bad as the dentist shot of Novocaine to the gums.

[vash]

mine locks up if I do something stupid like yard work.

but usually it happens when I wake up. just a finger or two locked. I run my hand under warm water and massage that tendon and work it all loose. 2 days of annoyance and I am good to go.

is this how it started for you all? a little at a time?

[vash]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The shot is uncomfortable, but not near as bad as the dentist shot of Novocaine to the gums.

my retired dentist.. (next month ). causes no pain...he jiggles my cheeks and goes slow..I feel nothing. my childhood dentist was the same..that dude wouldn't even let me see the contraption.

I had a few in between that relished my body getting rigid in pain..but I never saw them more than the first times..."errr..send my dental records to...."

that maneuver doenst need to hurt at all. my oral surgeon and the dude that did my implant were gentle as well...I'm keeping them. and they are a two hour drive away. (Worth it!)

[WPOZZZ]

Hmmm, right and left hands had index, middle and ring fingers done. Tried steroids first, but the triggers would always come back. After surgery, it should not come back at all.

[Baz]

My appointment went great this morning. The injection didn't hurt at all. If anything just a brief discomfort, as it would be for anyone having a needle inserted into your thumb!

She said to give it 3 days to do anything noticeable and 3 weeks to know how effective it will be. I could return for a second injection if needed.

So we'll see.....

[WPOZZZ]

Give it the full 3 weeks.