Does your hand click and pop when you are either making a fist or opening?
Does your hand hurt in the palm of your hand or maybe even the back?
There’s a lot of different hand problems you can have when it comes to hand pain. Trigger finger OR trigger thumb maybe be one the causes of hand pain that SLOWS you down.
Before I go into what to do to get rid of trigger finger, let me tell you why people tend to wait so long.
The thing with hand pain…
… is that it doesn’t STOP you from doing anything. You can still drive, use your phone/computer, and even go to work. And because it’s not that painful YET, most people put it off for much longer then they need to. And that’s how a small problem can become a much larger problem.
Because trigger finger mostly clicks and may hurt sometimes, it’s not an urgent matter. That’s why people wait so long and then it becomes more painful and can become painful when you wake up in the morning with pain and stiffness.
What exactly is trigger finger?
Trigger finger is basically a small ball of scar tissue and swelling along one of the tendons that move your finger. It’s nearly impossible to stop using your hand during the day, so it becomes a constant aggravation for your hand. And at night, it’s aggravated because the natural position in sleeping is to make a fist.
Imagine an oyster that gets a grain of sand inside, and over time it builds layer upon layer until one day, it has a pearl.
This is your hand. Something irritated that one area. And over time, every time you use your hand at home and at work, it builds a layer upon layer of swelling and scar tissue essentially. Unfortunately for us, there’s no pearl and there’s NO VALUE in the ball that you have in your hand.
If you are NOT sure you have trigger finger, just give us a call and we can have you speak or meet with the hand specialist to get you clear on what’s really wrong and what you can do about it.
What you can do NOW to ease pain from trigger finger
If you went to the doctor already or decided to diagnose yourself with Google here are some tips on what I, as a hand therapist in Miami, tell my clients about how to get rid of trigger finger!
How To Get Rid Of Hand Pain From Trigger Finger:
- Directly ice the area 2-3 times daily for 5 minutes.
- Stop the triggering. There are a few different ways we do this but it all depends on where it is triggering and where the true problem is.
- Stop making a fist! Seriously, you are making it worse by constantly closing your hand.
If you are serious about avoiding injections and surgery, we have strategies and custom programs that can help you get rid of trigger finger or thumb. Once it’s severe, surgery is one of the best options but then, you will also need hand therapy after as well. Save yourself the time and money, and get fast help sooner than later.
Download our brochure “7 Tips To Stop Chronic Hand And Wrist Pain” and learn how to stop chronic, annoying hand/wrist pain without pills, injections and without having to wear a support brace.
Written by Hoang Tran
About the author – Hoang Tran
Hoang Tran is a hand therapist in Miami, the owner of Hands-on Therapy Services and author of the book “The Hands-On Approach”. She loves helping people with hand and shoulder problems, because she knows how bad and debilitating they can get if not addressed and treated properly (once and for all!).
The aim of her Miami occupational therapy practice is to bring patients back to full functionality, without pills, injections or surgery. If you would like more information about the services call her team at 786-615-9879, visit handsots.com or schedule an appointment here. In these difficult times, we are here to help. Telehealth and online sessions are available!
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
