Understanding Trigger Finger Disorder
Have you experienced one or more of your fingers locking up? Do you find it difficult to bend your finger or thumb, and when your finger does release, it pops straight out? If this is the case, you may be dealing with trigger finger. This condition is common, with thousands of people in the United States coping with it yearly. However, it’s not something you have to suffer through, as there are non-surgical trigger finger treatment options available in Manhattan.
Dr. Bobby Bilitsis at Prestige Health and Wellness recommends seeking care for your symptoms as soon as possible.
Trigger finger may present symptoms like:
- Finger locking
- Stiffness
- Pain
- Loss of motion of the affected finger
Keep reading to learn more about trigger finger, its causes, and what you can do about it.
What is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis or trigger thumb, occurs when the tendon that links the muscles within the finger becomes swollen and irritated. While this can affect all the fingers, it’s common to see the condition develop within the ring finger and the thumb, hence the name.
Without early treatment, you can develop chronic trigger finger, where your symptoms begin to disrupt your quality of life significantly. Therefore, it’s essential to seek treatment earlier on to slow progression.
Symptoms of Trigger Finger
Those with trigger finger may experience the following symptoms:
- Clicking or locking of the finger
- Soreness in the affected finger that is often worse in the morning
- Stiffness
- Progressive loss of the flexing/function of the finger
- Tenderness
- Formation of a lump
Trigger Finger: Causes and Risk Factors
While the exact cause of trigger finger is unclear, a number of risk factors can lead to the probable evolution of this ailment. Based on research, the lifetime risk of developing trigger finger is 2% to 3%, with a higher prevalence in women.
In addition, it can develop at any age, with the first peak occurring in children before age eight and the second peak in adults between the ages of 40 and 50. People with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing trigger finger, about 10%.
Some of the other risk factors of trigger finger include:
- Having rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other similar joint conditions
- Low thyroid function
- Working in occupations with repetitive hand use and gripping
Treatment Options for Trigger Finger in Manhattan
You can ease the discomfort of trigger finger with a few treatment options. Nonsurgical treatment options provided by Prestige Health and Wellness include:
Handy Therapy: Splinting
Hand therapy, such as custom splinting, can be the perfect method to limit tendon gliding and reduce inflammation. Usually, patients use splints to help with trigger finger for 6 to 10 weeks.
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Specialized joint stretches and other physiotherapy and occupational therapy techniques may help with the limited flexibility and function of the fingers. Both forms of treatment will show you modalities that’ll help you reduce strain on your fingers and decrease the risk of additional symptom aggravation.
One study revealed that physical therapies like external shock wave therapy are deemed effective and safe for the conservative management of trigger finger.
Connecting with our team of physical therapists and occupational therapists at Prestige Health and Wellness can get you on the road to healing.
Acupuncture
Research shows that acupuncture may help patients with mild trigger finger symptoms. Acupuncture can help reduce the feelings of pain and tenderness that follow the inflammation of the tendon sheath commonly associated with this condition.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy may be a very valuable treatment for trigger finger. It offers pain relief, improved circulation, and decreased muscle stiffness.
Get the Proper Care for Trigger Finger in Manhattan
Untreated trigger finger can make it difficult to type, button a shirt, and complete other activities of daily living. In addition, it presents uncomfortable and painful symptoms that can affect your overall quality of life. Therefore, getting early treatment before it worsens and requires surgical intervention is critical. Our knowledge and compassion providers at Prestige Health and Wellness are available to help you.
Book an appointment for trigger finger treatment in Manhattan, or if our treatment options suit you, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 212-393-4673.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our locations in Manhattan NYC:
