There are times when you click your fingers after a long work, oh that feeling. But do you know that this is one of a condition that many people are suffering from?
No?
Well, a Trigger finger is a condition that causes a temporary sticking or popping of either finger or thumb when you bend it. It can be treated without surgery, although an outpatient operation might be required to free the inflamed tendon that causes the condition in some situations.
People with repeated grasping behaviour in their jobs or hobbies are more likely to develop trigger fingers. Women with diabetes develop the disease. The magnitude of the trigger finger affects the treatment.
Let’s learn more about Trigger finger treatment Singapore
The Prognosis
The diagnosis of the trigger finger does not necessitate extensive examination. The diagnosis is made by the doctor or health care professional based on a medical history and a physical exam. The doctor might ask you to open and lock your hand during the physical exam, looking for places of discomfort, smoothness of motion, and signs of locking.
You may have noticed:
- When you bend or straighten your finger, it clicks or snaps painfully.
- When your finger is still, it hurts more, and as you lift it, it gets better.
- Finger stiffness, especially in the morning
- As you move your finger, you’ll hear a popping or clicking sound.
Causes
Tendons are a type of fibrous cord that connects muscle to bone. A protective sheath surrounds each tendon. Trigger finger happens when the tendon sheath of the affected finger becomes irritated and inflamed. This obstructs the tendon’s natural gliding motion through the sheath.
Long-term inflammation of the tendon sheath may result in scarring, thickening, and the development of bumps (nodules) in the tendon, which further obstruct the tendon’s motion. Thus you might need a Medical group.
What types of doctors are used to diagnose and treat trigger fingers?
Trigger finger is usually diagnosed by primary care doctors, such as general practitioners, family medicine physicians, and internists. Orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, plastic surgeons, hand surgeons, and rheumatologists are among the specialists who treat trigger fingers. Patients with trigger fingers can benefit from the services of occupational and physical therapists.
Trigger finger treatment Singapore are as follows:
- Non-surgical treatment
Treatment for a trigger finger aims to minimise or remove swelling and catching/locking, allowing the finger or thumb to move freely and painlessly. When the condition is diagnosed and handled as soon as possible, it is easier to return the finger to what the patient thinks is average or 100 per cent.
Treatment decisions involve, but are not confined to, the following:
- At night, splinting is seen. The effects of gravity are thought to cause a large portion of the body’s fluid volume to pool in the legs. The effect of gravity on the legs is more similar to the impact on the arms.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that are used to treat inflammation (NSAIDs). To alleviate discomfort and strengthen the ability to pass the finger around a long arc is vital. Anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen or naproxen) might be used orally or topically.
- Injection of steroids. Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone shots, may be administered at any point of symptom development or for any length of time. If they are given early, however, there could be a greater chance of success.
- Surgical
Surgery may be advised for Medical group if non-surgical procedures do not alleviate the symptoms. The surgery’s aim is to open the pulley at the base of the finger, allowing the tendon to glide more freely. After cutting the A1 pulley, clicking or popping usually stops. A flexor tenosynovectomy can be considered if mechanical symptoms persist after a trigger finger release. The thickened lining on the surface of the tendons is removed during this process. If mechanical symptoms persist, a portion of the superficial tendon may be removed
In the Nutshell
There are more extreme therapies if you have severe symptoms or if rest, splinting, stretches, and injections haven’t helped.
Your professional doctor may recommend you to have an operation on the affected finger. The surgeon makes a slight cut in the sheath covering the tendon to allow further movement through a small incision.
