Natural Treatment for Trigger Finger

Treatment for Trigger Finger

A diagnosis of trigger finger rarely requires a battery of tests and investigations. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and take note of your medical history before checking your hand for painful areas and proof of the any locking. In case the examination is too painful, your doctor may inject the area with a local anesthetic but this is done only in a few cases.

The treatment of trigger finger will depend on the severity of the symptoms as well as the duration of the condition. For mild cases of trigger finger you may be required to:

Wear a splint around the affected finger for up to six weeks. This splint will help rest the joint and speed up the healing process. Wearing the splint will also reduce any unwanted movements of the hand and prevent it from curling up while you sleep (as this can increase the feeling of stiffness in the mornings).

You may be asked to perform a series of hand and finger exercises to increase the mobility in your fingers and strengthen the muscles around it. These are gentle exercises that should be carried out under the supervision of a trained physiotherapist or chiropractor only.

Mild cases of trigger finger respond well to rest. Try and avoid repetitive movements that may have caused the conditions. If you need to use any instrument or tool for long periods of time for your work, it may be necessary to take a break for a few weeks until the situation is treated.

More serious cases of trigger finger may require the following treatment:

Your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.

Steroids may be given by an injection near the affected tendon sheath to reduce inflammation. This treatment is the most effective if administered as soon as the symptoms of trigger finger become evident. Repeat injections may be given but they are often not as effective as the initial injection. Steroid injections are not recommended for people who also suffer from diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.

Percutaneous trigger finger release is a procedure where your doctor will use a needle and release the lock on the finger tendons. This is performed under local anesthesia and is most effective for trigger finger of the index, ring, or middle fingers.

Surgery is an option only when no other treatment is successful. Surgery involves slicing through the pulley (part of the ligament) that attaches the tendon to the bone in order to increase mobility in the finger once again. Surgery for trigger finger has a 90 to 100% success rate though you may need to take time off from work during the recovery period. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes approximately twenty minutes to complete. Most patients return home the same day of the surgery. In case you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a special type of surgery known as tenosynovectomy will be performed to prevent any further complications.

Post surgery you may benefit from therapy such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy to improve the range of movement of your hand and make practical everyday tasks easier to perform.

Alternative therapies to treat trigger finger include acupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound and phonophoresis (ultrasound with an anti-inflammatory dexamethasone cream). However the efficacy of these treatments has still not been proven and should be carried out only after consulting with your doctor.

References

A. Freiberg, R.S. Mulholland, R. Levine, Nonoperative treatment of trigger fingers and thumbs, The Journal of Hand Surgery, Volume 14, Issue 3, May 1989, Pages 553-558, ISSN 0363-5023, 10.1016/S0363-5023(89)80024-3.
A.V. Bonnici, J.D. Spencer, A survey of ‘trigger finger’ in adults, The Journal of Hand Surgery: British & European Volume, Volume 13, Issue 2, May 1988, Pages 202-203, ISSN 0266-7681, 10.1016/0266-7681(88)90139-8.