Trigger
Finger – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
The number of Trigger Finger cases continue
to rise in a society bombarded with techno-gadgets
like cell phones, video games, computers and
personal data devices; all which cause extensive
overuse of the finger flexors and the resulting
injury.
Although the medical industry would like to
sell a story of disease, Trigger Finger most
results from over-development or micro-tears
affecting the flexor tendon, causing excessive
scar-tissue buildup that creates a nodule or
adhesion on the tendon of the involved finger(s).
Because the cause of Trigger Finger involves
the soft-tissues, they can most often be corrected
with simple exercises and stretches. In
cases where Trigger Finger was caused by micro-tears
of the flexor tendon as a result of direct
trauma to the finger (falling), or a case of
overuse where portions of the flexor tendon
has enlarged due to excessive use in one-way
(unidirectional) movements resulting from typing,
holding onto objects and text messaging; it
is possible to completely avoid painful surgery
by implementing simple, conservative therapy.
The initial symptoms of Trigger Finger / Thumb
usually begin with a slight swollen sensation
and “skipping / snapping” of the
affected finger as it is flexed towards the
palm of the hand and again as it is straightened. In
less acute cases like this, the symptoms are
mild and the individual may only experience
annoying “skipping / snapping” of
the tendon, but with no real pain. In
more severe cases, the “skipping / snapping” sensation
elevates to a “popping / locking” sensation
where the effected finger may completely lock
into the palm of the hand as the nodule on
the tendon becomes stuck in the pulley system
of the finger, and may have to be straightened
with the opposing hand. The affected
finger also “snaps / jerks” back
into extension (straight) and is usually characterized
by extreme pain, preventing many sufferers
from performing simple everyday tasks. Some
individuals suffer with the condition for months
or even years, causing long-term damage to
the affected tendon(s), preventing themselves
from enjoying work and recreational activities.
Unlike muscle imbalances that are fairly easily
to eliminate, Trigger Finger needs to be addressed
at onset to initiate the breakdown of the nodule
that has formed on the tendon, or the thinning
of the segments of the flexor tendon that have
become enlarged. Expediency is necessary
to achieve a more successful outcome, no matter
what the treatment is. Although surgery
is one of the most prevalent procedures performed,
it is important to understand the full range
of interventions that are available to treat
Trigger Finger.
If symptoms are mild, rest is usually the
first thing a doctor would recommend. If
the signs are elevated, a splint or a cortisone
injection may be recommended. These types
of treatment are more invasive and tend to
have mixed results. If the patient opts for
a cortisone injection, they need to be prepared
to come back for more injections, which is
not good as it leads to degeneration of the
affected tendon and can cause serious, irreversible
damage, as cortisone is designed to treat acute
pain and it is not meant to be a long-lasting
solution.
For these reasons, many people consider surgery
for Trigger Finger, but surgery is the most
invasive technique available and has poor success
for providing the patient with long-term relief. Surgery
is designed to broaden tendon sheath so that
the tendon can move through the sheath and
associated pulley system without getting stuck. However,
pain and swelling from the surgical procedure
can persist for months and obtaining the strength
and dexterity that existed before the injury
can take years. Often it is reported
that patients experience more problems after
the surgery. The reason for this outcome
is most likely due to the fact that surgery
does not address the nodules on the tendon,
but instead attempts to make room so that the
nodules can pass through the pulley system
without catching and locking, but cutting into
the tendon sheath causes the formation of more
scar tissue, which overtime blocks the passing
of the tendon through the tendon sheath and
the symptoms return.
The most successful approach
to correcting Trigger Finger is the use of conservative
therapy that focuses on the use of active exercises
and stretches that target the muscles and tendons
of the affected finger. The exercises performed by rehabilitation
devices like Flextend, Restore and others can
help eliminate the condition by reducing the
nodule or thickening of the affected tendon,
allowing it to move freely without any more “catching
/ locking” of the affected finger.
Contact www.repetitive-strain.com to learn
more about a unique training system shown to
have 90 percent success in reducing symptoms
in as little as 4 weeks.
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