1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Trigger thumb: What helps?

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Sep 16, 2022

It may seem fairly unimportant, considering the major joint issues here, but I got punished for extreme (weather/timing) related repetitive motion - weed pulling, pruning - by suddenly having a trigger thumb. It is very irritating, mildly painful, and definitely limiting in what I allow myself to do. It is hard to impossible to resist using the thumb as usual - 73+ years of no problems can’t overcome innate moves. PT person I saw for back issues told me to lay off, and maybe it will resolve itself in a week or 2. Stiffness, clicking, and pain easing up some after 5 days, but not much. Any quick-fix suggestions so I can get back to normal hand use? I usually do not take anti-inflammatories as a matter of course. Or pretty much any OTC meds, period, so I have not tried that route. May try Voltaren topical treatment…. .

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mari | @mari | Nov 30, 2022

I went to hand drs. and PT in 2 states. PT = use trigger finger. Stretch back to extreme. Use finger Often.

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mari | @mari | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @ellerbracke "@sequoia: I read about the oval 8 rigid plastic brace/device, and actually ordered one from amazon..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

@sequoia: I read about the oval 8 rigid plastic brace/device, and actually ordered one from amazon ($ 26.00), but unfortunately the size was way too small. I wish a local pharmacy/drugstore would carry this, so I could try on for size. I may give it another shot, if the actual recent shot does not help. Thanks!

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HAND DR. AND PT and fits them and will give it to you. Easy to lose.

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mari | @mari | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "Trigger thumb needs surgery usually. I’ve had trigger fingers and it’s not fun I understand that...." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

Trigger thumb needs surgery usually. I’ve had trigger fingers and it’s not fun I understand that. The tendons and ligaments get caught and it will not resolve itself as far as I know. The surgery is not a big deal. I had two trigger fingers on my left hand it was the ring finger in the middle finger. They would get caught and I have to literally pull them up. My son was born with a trigger thumb and when he was 18 months old he had to have the surgery. Again, it’s not a big deal it be better for you to have the surgery and to put up with that. Best of luck with that. My hand is so much better now.

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SusanEllen66 Please tell me that you tried PT first?

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1 reply
jsmtgal | @jsmtgal | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @ellerbracke "Labor Day weekend of this year I developed a trigger thumb on my right hand. I..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

Labor Day weekend of this year I developed a trigger thumb on my right hand. I tried to ease or reverse it with - in order - rest, ice, Aleve, Voltaren gel, assorted specific exercises, laying off Letrozole for a few weeks (oncologist’s suggestion), ingnoring it, and overworking it again. Pain level varied, from moderate to severe, sometimes going all the way to the lowest thumb joint. I finally got a cortisone injection in base of thumb 2 weeks ago, and it has helped a little, so far. I was told to see how it feels after 4 weeks, then discuss potential surgery.
I know many people have done this relatively minor surgery, and I’m quite ready to do this, IF: this is a one-time thing, and if the root cause of the trigger thumb makes no difference in the outcome.
I had absolutely overworked my thumb with hours of intense yard work (weed pulling) 2 consecutive days prior to start of symptoms, and on the other hand had been on Letrozole for 18 months but without any side effects, so it’s a toss-up which is the cause.
Any thoughts on this?

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I have this on right ring finger and left middle finger. I had a couple injections but they told me it it doesn't help I should get surgery. I am very active and use my hands for cycling,skiing,kayaking and more. It even bothers me when cutting vegetables in the kitchen!
Not much pain, fortuneatly. I figured it was overuse and age.

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1 reply
jnb | @jnb | Nov 30, 2022

I was fitted for my first finger splint by a physical therapist. To get the best size, you might ask your orthopedic doctor to recommend a PT center with a hand specialist on its staff, then call to ask if they can fit a plastic finger splint. Still you may fall between sizes, in which case you may have to apply hand lotion to help slip the splint on at night, then soap suds to get it off in the morning. A splint may not cure you; at best it might put off surgery.

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1 reply
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @mari "SusanEllen66 Please tell me that you tried PT first?" + (show)
@mari

SusanEllen66 Please tell me that you tried PT first?

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Yes, I had shots, splints etc. I had 2 fingers on my left hand that would “catch” When it got bad enough I chose to have the surgery.
The surgery was easy, and I would do it again if I needed it for another finger.

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sequoia | @sequoia | Nov 30, 2022
In reply to @jnb "I was fitted for my first finger splint by a physical therapist. To get the best..." + (show)
@jnb

I was fitted for my first finger splint by a physical therapist. To get the best size, you might ask your orthopedic doctor to recommend a PT center with a hand specialist on its staff, then call to ask if they can fit a plastic finger splint. Still you may fall between sizes, in which case you may have to apply hand lotion to help slip the splint on at night, then soap suds to get it off in the morning. A splint may not cure you; at best it might put off surgery.

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@jnb the finger/thumb splint Oval 8, cured my trigger thumb in about 3 weeks. Resting the finger of thumb is helpful.

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marye2 | @marye2 | Dec 1, 2022
In reply to @jsmtgal "I have this on right ring finger and left middle finger. I had a couple injections..." + (show)
@jsmtgal

I have this on right ring finger and left middle finger. I had a couple injections but they told me it it doesn't help I should get surgery. I am very active and use my hands for cycling,skiing,kayaking and more. It even bothers me when cutting vegetables in the kitchen!
Not much pain, fortuneatly. I figured it was overuse and age.

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I use scissors to cut up many items. For any finger that has a click when moving, I do the RICE--rest, ice, compression/splint and stretches. It is basically a tendon/tendon sheath issue . I like finger exercises like Dr Jo Thumb Range of Motion and Trigger Finger.

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1 reply
jsmtgal | @jsmtgal | Dec 1, 2022
In reply to @marye2 "I use scissors to cut up many items. For any finger that has a click when..." + (show)
@marye2

I use scissors to cut up many items. For any finger that has a click when moving, I do the RICE--rest, ice, compression/splint and stretches. It is basically a tendon/tendon sheath issue . I like finger exercises like Dr Jo Thumb Range of Motion and Trigger Finger.

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thank you! I sometimes do those exercises. Seems my hands are so very stiff in the morning. I will keep at it!
judi

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mari | @mari | Dec 1, 2022

I've been to 2 hand dr. in 2 states. PT in 2 states > must do lots of exercise. Hands get heated then fingers get bent backwards. lots of items used to EXERCISE fingers. Braces can be fitted for hand /fingers.
Keep using fingers a lot.

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