Trigger Finger Update 3/24, page 2

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I have had a clicking in my thumb for about a week. Have a drs. appt. for Monday. He thinks it is a trigger finger and that he will need to send me to a specialist.

Has anyone been diagnosed with this?
Does anything relieve the pain?
Did you have burning in your hand and did your knuckle burn?

And lastly, what did they do to get rid of it?

Thanks, Diane.

 

[GSDRescuer]

First they tried a cortisone shot, but it didn't work.
Surgery fixed it.
Didn't have burning in my hand, just pain when the finger (thumb) got "stuck".
Good luck to you!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

First they tried a cortisone shot, but it didn't work.
Surgery fixed it.
Didn't have burning in my hand, just pain when the finger (thumb) got "stuck".
Good luck to you!

Okay going to hope for the cortisone shot, but if surgery is the only answer, how long were you "out of commission". What restrictions did you have, and did they use a local or put you under? Oh and sorry for all the questions.

 

[GSDRescuer]

It was local. They put a sheet over my head in the OR so I wouldn't turn and look at the procedure LOL.
I wasn't out of commission for very long. Stitches came out in 10 days and I was able to use it as long as it wasn't lifting something really heavy.
Hopefully the cortisone will help you. If not, though, the surgery really isn't bad.
Keep me updated!!! Any more questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It was local. They put a sheet over my head in the OR so I wouldn't turn and look at the procedure LOL.
I wasn't out of commission for very long. Stitches came out in 10 days and I was able to use it as long as it wasn't lifting something really heavy.
Hopefully the cortisone will help you. If not, though, the surgery really isn't bad.
Keep me updated!!! Any more questions, feel free to ask!

Thank you. The pain is horrible, or I am really becoming a wimp. Typing sucks. Never realized how much I use my thumbs.

 

[wowsmom]

I had a trigger thumb as well. Tried the cortisone shot and a custom made brace, which I wore most of the time. It helped for a bit, then got worse. After ignoring it for a while, I finally went back to the doctor and he recommended the surgery.

They did a local (and actually put me to sleep just long enough for the actual surgery - not a general, but something like versed - but brought me out in time so I could bend the thumb when the doc asked me to).

I had my stitches in for a week. It was bandaged for that whole time (no changing the bandages). Since I can't take any pain meds, I just used tylenol and as long as I took it every 4 hours, it controlled any discomfort I had.

My doc said it could hurt for about a month after the surgery - and I did have occasional pain - but for the most part, it wasn't bad. Plus, it was nice to be able to use my thumb again! I'd gotten to the point where I couldn't use a can opener or open a jar or anything like that (even holding a Mickey-head ice cream was a challenge).

Don't be afraid to go for the surgery - I put it off for many months and once it was done (and I realized it wasn't that bad), I wanted to kick myself for being afraid.

ETA: I think the worst part about the surgery (for me, at least) was not being able to get my hand wet (made for difficult showering) and having to rely completely on my DH and kids the first few days for food prep.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I had a trigger thumb as well. Tried the cortisone shot and a custom made brace, which I wore most of the time. It helped for a bit, then got worse. After ignoring it for a while, I finally went back to the doctor and he recommended the surgery.

They did a local (and actually put me to sleep just long enough for the actual surgery - not a general, but something like versed - but brought me out in time so I could bend the thumb when the doc asked me to).

I had my stitches in for a week. It was bandaged for that whole time (no changing the bandages). Since I can't take any pain meds, I just used tylenol and as long as I took it every 4 hours, it controlled any discomfort I had.

My doc said it could hurt for about a month after the surgery - and I did have occasional pain - but for the most part, it wasn't bad. Plus, it was nice to be able to use my thumb again! I'd gotten to the point where I couldn't use a can opener or open a jar or anything like that (even holding a Mickey-head ice cream was a challenge).

Don't be afraid to go for the surgery - I put it off for many months and once it was done (and I realized it wasn't that bad), I wanted to kick myself for being afraid.

ETA: I think the worst part about the surgery (for me, at least) was not being able to get my hand wet (made for difficult showering) and having to rely completely on my DH and kids the first few days for food prep.

Thank you very much for posting. I will definetely do what ever the Dr. recommends, even the surgery. The clicking is increasing and lack of use in that hands is decreasing by the hour. Today alone, I dropped two glasses, and opted for frozen pizza for dinner because I can't use a knife for food prep. What amazed me the most was how quick it happened. A few clicks last week and bamm this week, disaster.

 

[wowsmom]

I think you're smart to be getting this checked out so quickly.

Mine started to hurt on Mother's Day last year. I finally saw the doctor in early July. Got my shot and brace that day. Wore the brace for all of July and about half of August.

Finally, in November, I had realized surgery was the only thing left, so called for an appointment - and then had to wait 3 more weeks to get in. Ugh! And then it was 3 more weeks until the surgery could be scheduled.

So I went from Mother's Day (early May) until December 29th for my surgery. What was I thinking?

 

[Art 1]

Cortisone shots and a brace should clear it up.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay everyone talked about a "brace". What does it look like?

 

[Art 1]

Okay everyone talked about a "brace". What does it look like?

A piece of metal or plastic that goes beneath your finger and is wrapped with a bandage.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

A piece of metal or plastic that goes beneath your finger and is wrapped with a bandage.

Okay, like a splint then, not something that takes over your whole hand.

 

[wowsmom]

Okay, like a splint then, not something that takes over your whole hand.

Mine was made of plastic...went completely around my thumb (immobilizing it and keeping it slightly sticking out from my hand) and over the top of my hand...and had velcro that went from the side of my hand across my palm and attached on the area below the thumb.

So I guess in my case, you could say it took over my whole hand.

 

[minniecarousel]

I had trigger fingers in the "middle" finger of both hands. It started in the left hand (which I thought was wierd since I'm right-handed and this is usually associated with over-use). The cortisone shots worked on the left hand for several years. I finally gave in and had the hand specialist release a tendon in the office. That didn't help, so I had the surgery. I also had special hand therapy and wore a little elastic sleeve on the finger. I remember being out of work for a week with the first (the second one was done in the summer and since I work for a school, I didn't need to take time off).

When the right one flared up, I just went ahead and had the surgery. Turns out: I had an aunt with this problem and two of her daughters. So it was a congenital thing for me.

I have a friend who had triggers in her thumbs. She had the release surgery for it too. It sounded much more painful and debillitating when it invloved the thumbs. It's good to have the consult on this and get some sort of treatment.

All told, it took a few months for the fingers tp get back to 100%.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Eeks, my body has terrible timing. DD is graduating in a few months and we will be going to Disney to see her perform in April. I guess there is never a good time, but I hope that I could be brace-less for the trip. I will update more after the drs. appt. Thanks for everyone who has posted so far and I will continue to look for any thoughts or ideas that may be posted. Okay, off to try and get some sleep now.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I had it in several fingers and thumbs.

Cortisone shots worked pretty well.

I still occasionally get stiffness, but not like I had before.

good luck!

 

[GeorgeG]

I get it in my left hand. It mostly affects my middle finger, but sometimes my index finger and thumb. I get a pain in my palm just below the finger and the knuckles jam up a little. A drummer that I play with has been getting the cortisone shots for his, but is having the surgery in a few weeks. I'll probably get the surgery, eventually, but I need to get a knee replacement first.

 

[GSDRescuer]

I guess my ortho doc went from one cortisone shot straight to surgery. Haven't had trouble with the thumb since! (LOL)

However, I had drop (mallet) finger on my middle finger. A brace for two months worked beautifully. Same ortho doc.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I have had trigger finger in my left ring finger for years. It progresses from "popping" to having the finger freeze up in the bent position, and I have to straighten the finger out with my other hand!
I had three cortisone shots, about 2-3 years apart and they were a good temporary fix. However, last fall the cortisone didn't work at all, so I had the tendon release surgery. I am not really happy with the result. The base of the tendon (in my palm) is all lumpy, and I still have a bit of pain and swelling in the finger (I have not worn my wedding ring for months!)
Hope your results are better than mine!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I had my appt. this morning. Definetely a trigger finger. I had the cortisone shot in the office. She said if it works I will see the results within two weeks. It will last between 3-6 months in most people. (some people last a lot longer) That would get me through our April trip and DD's graduation. If it comes back they go immediately to the surgery, no second shot. She said it is done out patient with just a local, little slit at the bottom of the finger and they remove the "channel". Three to Four week recovery? So does this sound right?