Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Treating a faltering finger at home
• Part 2 of 3: Get medical treatment for a sticking finger
• Part 3 of 3: Fixing complications and understanding the difference from other conditions
• Tips
• Warnings

You get a sticking finger (also called stenosing tenosynovitis or trigger finger) when an inflammation develops in a tendon in one of your fingers, causing your finger to bend without being able to do anything about it. If the condition is severe, the finger will become bent and sometimes make a snapping sound when you bend it straight with force. This sound is somewhat like the sound made by the trigger ("trigger") of a gun, which is why the condition is also referred to as trigger finger. People who constantly have to make certain movements with their fingers for work are more likely to get a sticking finger, as do people with arthritis and diabetes. Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the condition, which is why a proper diagnosis is important.

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Part 1 of 3: Treating a faltering finger at home

1. Stop tasks where you keep making the same movement with your fingers. In most cases, a stuttering finger is caused by making the same movement with the hand over and over, or by stretching the thumb or index finger. Farmers, typists, production workers and musicians are particularly sensitive to it because they keep making the same movements with their fingers and thumbs. Even smokers can catch their fingers from using their lighter all the time. Therefore, if you can, stop the movement that ignites your finger, or make the movement as little as possible. Perhaps the pain and contracture in your finger will disappear on their own.
   • Explain the situation to your supervisor and ask him or her if you can get other duties at work.
   • Usually, people between the ages of 40 and 60 get a sticking finger.
   • A faltering finger is especially common in women.
2. Put ice on your finger. Using ice is a good treatment for almost all minor injuries to the musculoskeletal system, including a sticking finger. Place ice with a thin towel around it or frozen gel packs on the inflamed tendon (this usually looks like a small bump or lump in the lower part of your finger or in your palm, and is a little tender) to ease swelling and pain . Ice the tendon for 10-15 minutes every hour, less often when the pain and swelling subsides.
   • Pressing the ice against your finger or hand with a bandage or elastic device can also reduce inflammation. Don't tie the ice too tightly, though, as completely cutting off the blood supply can cause more damage to your finger.
3. Take over-the-counter NSAIDs. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can help soothe pain and inflammation in your finger in the short term. For adults, the dose is usually 200-400 mg, orally, every 4 to 6 hours. Just keep in mind that these drugs can put a lot of strain on your stomach, kidneys and liver, so you shouldn't use them for longer than 2 weeks in a row. You can develop gastric mucosal inflammation or an ulcer if you use too many NSAIDs for too long.
   • The signs and symptoms of a sticking finger are usually stiffness (especially in the morning), a clicking sensation when you move your finger, a tender lump at the bottom of the affected finger, and difficulty stretching the finger.
4. Try to stretch the stuck tendon. Straightening the finger in question may be able to solve the problem, especially if done early in the condition. Lay the palm in question flat on a table and extend your wrist by putting more weight on the table. Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat the exercise 3-5 times daily. You can also grasp the finger in question and slowly stretch it while applying gentle pressure on the inflamed tendon and massaging it (at least if you see a lump).
   • Soaking your hand in a bath of Epsom salt for 10-15 minutes before exercising may help ease the tension and pain in the affected tendon.
   • A faltering finger usually involves the thumb, middle, or ring finger.
   • You may have several stuck fingers at the same time and sometimes stuck fingers on both hands.
   • It is best to go to a physiotherapist for a hand massage.

Part 2 of 3: Get medical treatment for a sticking finger

1. Have a finger splint fitted. Your doctor may have you wear a finger splint at night to keep the affected finger straight while sleeping to allow the tendon to stretch. You may need to use a finger splint for up to 6 weeks. A splint also prevents you from clenching your fingers into a fist while sleeping, which can make your faltering finger worse.
   • During the day, regularly remove the finger splint from your finger to stretch your finger and massage your finger lightly.
   • You can also make your own splint by getting an aluminum finger splint from the pharmacy and attaching it to your finger with water-resistant medical tape.
2. Get an injection of corticosteroids. An injection of steroids in or near the tendon can quickly soothe the inflammation so that you can return to normal and unlimited use of your finger. A corticosteroid injection is considered the first treatment for a faltering finger. Usually two injections are required (3-4 weeks apart). This treatment works in 90% of patients with a stuttering finger. Patients are usually injected with prednisolone, dexamethasone or triamcinolone.
   • Possible complications from a corticosteroid injection include infection, bleeding, weakening tendon, local muscle atrophy, and nerve irritation and damage.
   • If corticosteroid treatment does not work, surgery should be considered.
3. Have an operation on your finger. If the problems with your finger are not alleviated by home treatment, wearing a splint and / or injections of corticosteroids, the best treatment is to have an operation on the finger. This is also the case if the finger is very crooked and locked without anything that can be done about it. There are basically two types of surgery to treat a faltering finger, namely open and through the skin. In open surgery, a small cut is made at the bottom of the finger in question and the stuck part of the tendon sheath is cut open. In an operation through the skin, a needle is inserted into the tissue near the tendon in question and the needle is moved to loosen the stuck part.
   • An operation on the finger is usually an outpatient procedure in which the patient is given a local anesthetic.
   • Potential complications include local infection, an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, nerve damage, and chronic swelling and pain.
   • The condition returns in only three percent of cases, but the surgery is less successful in people with diabetes.

Part 3 of 3: Fixing complications and understanding the difference from other conditions

1. Treat the underlying infection or allergic reaction. Sometimes a topical infection can give you symptoms similar to a sticking finger that cause your tendon to contract. If the joints or muscles of your fingers become red, warm, and significantly inflamed for several hours or days, get medical attention right away. This indicates a possible infection or an allergic reaction to an insect bite. Treatment consists of making a cut in the skin and draining moisture, soaking in warm saline solution, and sometimes using oral antibiotics.
   • Hand infections are usually caused by bacteria and are usually the result of untreated cuts, puncture wounds and ingrown fingernails.
   • Allergic reactions to insect bites are quite common, especially when it comes to bees, wasps and spiders.
2. Treat a dislocated finger. A dislocated finger can sometimes look like a sticking finger because there is also pain and the finger may be bent or bent. A dislocated finger is usually caused by a blow or impact rather than making the same movement over and over, and so requires immediate medical attention to get the finger joint back into position. After putting the finger joint, the treatment is much the same as for a faltering finger, in terms of rest, using anti-inflammatory painkillers, using ice and wearing a splint.
   • By taking an X-ray of the hand, a dislocated or broken finger can be quickly recognized.
   • Other doctors (besides your doctor) who can treat a dislocated finger are osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists.
3. Treat arthritis. Sometimes an inflamed, stuck finger tendon is caused by an attack of rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease affecting more and more joints in the body and should be treated with strong prescription anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. Gout is a condition in which uric acid crystals cause inflammation in the joints (usually in the feet, but also in the hands). This can affect the tendons and get stuck.
   • Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the hands and wrists and the joints can become very deformed over time.
   • Your doctor can order blood tests to check for rheumatoid arthritis.
   • To reduce your risk of gout, cut back on foods that are high in purine, such as organ meats, fish, and beer.

Tips

• If necessary, make follow-up appointments with your doctor and cooperate with the treatment.

Warnings

• Natural methods of preventing gout attacks include eating cherries and eating and drinking more foods and drinks containing vitamin C.
• The recovery time after surgery on a faltering finger depends on the severity of the condition and the technique used. Usually you will be fully recovered after 2 weeks.
• It is important to have a faltering thumb in babies treated because the risk of a chronic deformity is higher.