Trigger Finger Treatment Options

A viewer is asking what they can do to treat "trigger finger." Doctor Lacy Anderson has a few suggestions. 

Trigger finger is a condition that affects the tendons of the finger and thumb and results in difficulty straightening a finger after you bend it. There may be a painful clicking or snapping sensation when you bend or straighten your finger. There may also be a bump or nodule at the base of the affected finger or thumb and your finger can sometimes get locked in a bent position. 

It can be treated with rest, stretching exercises and trigger finger splints. 

Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can also help, like ibuprofen or naproxen. Voltaren gel is another over the counter anti-inflammatory that can be applied topically as needed.

If these aren’t helping, a steroid injection into the tendon sheath can help for a year or more, but you may need two shots to get results. This would be done by an orthopedic surgeon. Another option is a surgery called a trigger finger release. 

Be sure and see your doctor to find the best option for you.