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Trigger thumb: What helps?
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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I’m dealing with trigger ring fingers (both). My right one just folds down and I have to lift it up with my left hand.
The left finger either won’t bend or it gets stuck too.
I’ve already had surgery on my left hand. Arthritis is my problem…
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1 ReactionAfter physical therapy on trigger finger on my ring finger, I had a "release" operation. It healed fairly quickly and has resolved the issue.
I have been taking Anadtrozole for about 8 months. I had occasional bouts of trigger finger but it seemed to be getting worse. My oncologist took me off Anastrozole for 8 weeks but there was not any change with the trigger finger. He has decided to change medication to a low dose of Tamoxofin because he doesn't want my hand to get worse and I am not having bone pain now. He believes my chances of a blood clot taking Tomoxofin are low even though I have the Factor Five Leiden Gene. I thought this information might be helpful to others.
Soak in hot Epsom salts water
Definitely try Voltaren and I suggest wearing a thumb brace at night and during the day as much as possible.
Anastrozole is giving me thumb pain to the degree the dr suggested thumb joint replacement. What are the chances of cancer returning if I simply quit anastrozole?!!
There is no cut and dried answer here. Cancer can recur even with an aromatase inhibitor. But you should certainly ask your oncologist directly. The type of breast cancer you have can in part determine risk. If it is low, you might lean towards quitting and if high you'd need to consider it. But speaking as a 70 year-old woman with breast cancer--and many other things!--I definitely include quality of life in my decision making. I kind of look within, weigh the information, and remind myself no decision is perfect--but I can still make a good one for me. Whatever you do, I wish you peace of mind. You might also try another AI if you haven't. I've done fine on letrozole for two years.
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3 ReactionsHi @katrii, I moved your question about thumb pain to this discussion in the Breast Cancer Support Group:
- Trigger thumb: What helps?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trigger-thumb/
You may find some helpful tips that members have shared.
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1 ReactionHello,
Years ago I woke up with trigger finger in both thumbs. I had surgery on the right because I needed to work. The left, I just happened to ask my chiropractor if there was anything he could do. He did something with gel and a device like an ultrasound instrument, and after about six treatments I was good and it hasn’t returned.
Sorry I don’t remember the name of the process but if you have a chiropractor I bet he would know.
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1 ReactionHad trigger release surgery on both thumbs, six weeks apart, many years ago and both were successful. I had injections in both thumbs prior to surgery, it was not helpful and very painful. I would do the surgery route again in a heartbeat. I understand how useful our opposable thumbs are 🙂