Trigger Finger Information, Answers and Self-help Strategies
What is trigger finger?
Trigger finger is a very common and treatable problem. It is often a painful condition in which you may have difficulty bending your fingers or thumb. It may cause your finger to get stuck and then suddenly pop back to a straight position (triggering). In some cases you may need to help it to straighten.
Causes
Tendons join our muscles to bones. In the palm, tendons run along our fingers to allow us to bend our fingers, these are called our flexor tendons
The flexor tendons that bend the fingers have a lining around the outside of them. This is often called the tendon sheath. This helps to keep the tendon smooth and to move freely. Over theses tendons and tendon sheaths are small but thick bridges of soft tissue called pulleys. These allow your finger to bend at each individual level.
If there is a problem with the sheath or tendon, the tendon can no longer move freely. Trigger finger can occur if the tendon enlarges slightly or develops a small area of thickening often called a nodule (see picture above). The nodule struggles to pass under the bridge like structure (the pulley) causing friction and catching or triggering moments.
Trigger finger can be diagnosed by a thorough history, symptoms, and a physical exam. It is rare to require any form of imaging. It is also helpful to know this problem has several very successful treatments.
Finger gets stuck in a bent positon
What are the symptoms?
1 Tenderness if you press on the site of pain.
2 Clicking of the finger or thumb during movement or locking in a bent position. This is often more noticeable in the morning. The affected finger or thumb may need to be assisted with your other hand to restraighten.
3 An element of stiffness to that finger or thumb.
Treatment options
Trigger finger and trigger thumb are not harmful but can be painful and annoying. Some mild cases recover over a few weeks without treatment. The options for treatment are:
1 Where possible, avoiding activities that cause pain.
2 To see the exercises that our physiotherapists recommend for trigger finger, please see our Trigger Finger Exercises Sheet
3 A steroid injection by either your doctor or physiotherapist relieves the pain and triggering in about 70% of cases, however, the success rate is lower in people with diabetes. An injection therapist will discuss this with you. Improvement may occur within a few days of injection, but it may take several weeks to notice the full benefit. A second injection is sometimes helpful, but surgery may be needed if triggering persists.
Further information
‘Managing My Musculoskeletal Health’ information leaflet is available or will be given to you by your physiotherapist if you are unable to access our digital self-management resources.
If you can access online resources, our physiotherapists recommend you use the self-help section of our website for information and support with specific MSK conditions and injuries
Our free NHS Mid and South Essex getUBetter app for an easy, safe and effective way to help you self-manage your MSK condition or injury.
If you feel you still need physiotherapy input, please complete a self-referral to the Physiotherapy team.
If you have any questions please contact the Care Co-ordination Centre on: 0300 131 0111 provide.askus@nhs.net
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Self-help section
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