Trigger finger or thumb

Trigger finger can be a painful condition, in which a finger or thumb feels stiff, and clicks or locks as it is bent towards the palm. One or more fingers, and/or your thumb can be affected.

It is more common in women over 40 years old. Triggering is more common in people that have insulin dependent diabetes and in people who have rheumatoid arthritis, but also can occur in people without these underlying factors. Another risk factor is Dupuytren’s disease, another hand condition in which the connective tissue in the palm thickens. Repetitive work can also aggravate the condition.

What causes it?

The tendons that bend the fingers, the flexor tendons, run through a series of tight tunnels, or pulleys, which help to hold the tendons in place against the bone when you are gripping.
If a tendon, or the sheath surrounding it (which helps to lubricate the tendon) gets inflamed, the tendon cannot glide easily through the pulleys. This can cause pain, stiffness of the finger, clicking or locking.
You may feel a painful lump on the palm, at the base of the affected finger.
Sometimes your finger may get stuck in a bent position and you may have to help release it.

The exact cause of why this happens is not known.

What are the symptoms?

Pain in the palm of your hand around the base of the affected finger
Tenderness if you press in this area.
A feeling of stiffness, clicking or locking when you are bending and straightening the finger. The finger may lock, and you may need to straighten it manually, using the other hand.
Reduction in movement of the affected finger. In trigger thumb, movement at the tip for example, can be reduced.

What is the treatment?

Trigger finger may get better without any treatment. Try reducing the strain on this joint, and avoid activities that cause pain.

Ağrı kesici

İlaçlar (basit ağrı kesiciler veya anti-enflamatuarlar gibi) faydalı olabilir. Bir eczacı veya aile hekiminiz, gerektiğinde ne almanız gerektiği konusunda size yardımcı olabilir. Hangi ilaçları alabileceğiniz hakkında daha fazla bilgiyi burada bulabilirsiniz:

Yetişkinler için parasetamol nasıl ve ne zaman alınmalı - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Yetişkinler için ibuprofen: iltihaplanmayı da tedavi eden ağrı kesici - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Buz veya ısı tedavisi

Sert ve ağrılı eklemleri rahatlatmak için ısıyı faydalı bulabilirsiniz. Bir kaseyi ılık suyla doldurmayı veya elinizi 10 dakika boyunca mikrodalgada ısıtılmış bir ısı paketinin üzerinde dinlendirmeyi deneyin. Ekleminiz sıcak ve şiş ise daha da kötüleştirebileceğinden ısı kullanmayın. Bunun yerine bir buz torbası veya donmuş bezelye torbası kullanmayı düşünebilirsiniz.

Bileğinize bir çay havlusu yerleştirin (cildinizi buz yanıklarından korumak için) ve ardından ağrılı bölgenin üzerine bir buz torbası veya donmuş bezelye torbası yerleştirin. Bunu on dakika bekletin ve günde en fazla 3 kez kullanın.

Hissetme duyunuzda değişiklik veya dolaşım problemleriniz varsa lütfen buz kullanırken dikkatli olun.
Cildi düzenli olarak kontrol edin ve aşırı ağrı veya karıncalanma varsa durdurun.

El Egzersizleri

General movement of the hand and thumb can be beneficial to maintain range of movement and prevent stiffness.

Atelleme

trigger finger or thumb splinter Sometimes wearing a splint at night may help to relieve the symptoms. A hand therapist can fit a splint for you if they feel this will help, or you can source one of these yourself like the one pictured below.

If your symptoms do not resolve, speak to your healthcare practitioner. A hand therapist may be able to help. They can help advise you as to the best management of your trigger finger and provide you with an individual tailored programme. They may make a splint to wear during the day if your symptoms are more severe.

Ameliyat

A hand therapist or other healthcare practitioner may refer you on for a surgical opinion if your symptoms persist. A steroid injection may be helpful in some cases and some people may require an operation to release the tight tunnel the tendon runs through. You can follow this link for more information on the type of surgery available and when they are indicated here:

Trigger finger/thumb | The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (bssh.ac.uk)