Trigger Finger

The symptoms of trigger finger vary from person to person and often get worse without treatment. The condition often starts with tenderness around the tendon in your palm when pressed and pain in the affected finger. Symptoms are often worse in the morning and may improve throughout the day. 

Other symptoms include: 

• a tender lump or swelling in the palm of your hand

• 'locking' or 'catching' of the affected finger when you bend it 

• pain and stiffness when bending the affected finger or thumb towards your palm

• pain near the base of your affected finger or thumb, especially when gripping or grasping 

• your affected finger or thumb may get stuck in a bent position, and you may need to use your other hand to gently straighten it out

• inability to bend or straighten your affected finger or thumb (this is an advanced stage) 

The cause of trigger finger isn’t fully understood, but the condition is more common in women, people over 40 years old, and those with certain chronic medical conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and hypothyroidism. It may be caused or worsened by repetitive hand use, prolonged gripping or a previous injury.

At your initial consultation, you’ll be seen by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. They’ll ask you about your symptoms, general health, medical history, and any medications you take regularly.

They will examine your hands and fingers to check for signs of trigger finger, such as a lump in the palm of your hand, pain, tenderness, stiffness, and difficulty moving your affected finger. 

Your consultant can usually diagnose trigger finger based on your symptoms and a physical examination. In some cases, they may order tests such as an X-ray or ultrasound scan to examine your bones and soft tissues for any abnormalities. 

Trigger finger can’t always be prevented, but you can reduce your risk of developing the condition by: 

• avoiding overuse and repetitive movements involving your fingers and/or thumb 

• taking frequent breaks and alternating your activities if your job or hobby involves repetitive hand movements

• using ergonomic tools to reduce pressure on your hands 

• learning the correct posture and technique for activities that involve using your hands

• doing gentle hand and finger exercises to stretch and strengthen your tendons 

• starting new activities gradually and building up slowly 

• managing any underlying medical conditions like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis

Trigger finger is a treatable condition and isn’t usually serious; however, untreated trigger finger can lead to your finger being permanently stuck in a bent position, resulting in difficulty performing everyday tasks involving your hands like gripping, driving, eating and writing. 

Long-term inflammation can also lead to tendon damage, which can cause persistent pain and restricted movement. 

Treatment for trigger finger depends on the severity of your symptoms and any treatments you’ve tried previously, but may include: 

• no treatment – mild trigger finger sometimes gets better on its own, especially if you rest your hand and avoid or limit activities that put pressure on your affected finger

• splinting – wearing a splint at night keeps your finger straight and reduces strain on the tendon

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can help with pain and inflammation

• steroid injection – if your finger is painful and clicks, but doesn’t lock, a steroid injection into the tendon tunnel will often resolve the problem. Most people see an improvement in their symptoms within around 3 weeks

• surgery – if your finger locks, or your symptoms come back after a steroid injection, your consultant may recommend surgery to release the affected tendon. Surgery is performed as a day case, under local anaesthesia.

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.