Find Relief from Trigger Finger
What is trigger finger? And what causes it?
Trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when the tendon sheath in your finger becomes inflamed, thickened and narrow making it harder for the tendon to glide smoothly. This can cause pain, stiffness, a catching sensation, or even make the finger lock in a bent position. It often affects people who do repeated gripping movements in work or hobbies.
Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes, or injury to the palm or base of the finger can also contribute to the development of trigger finger.
Common signs of trigger finger
Symptoms often begin subtly and progressively worsen over time. Triggering of the finger is commonly noted in the morning, during gripping, or when attempting to straighten the finger.
Symptoms include:
- Finger stiffness, especially in the morning
- A painful clicking or snapping sensation when bending or straightening the finger
- Soreness or a palpable bump in the palm at the base of the affected finger
- The finger catching or locking in a bent position that suddenly pops straight
- The finger remaining locked in a bent position and unable to straighten
What are the risk factors for trigger finger?
Risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing trigger finger include:
- Age: Higher risk in individuals over 40 due to tendon wear
- Gender: More common in women
- Repetitive hand use: Activities involving frequent gripping or tool use
- Medical conditions: Diabetes, gout and rheumatoid arthritis
- Previous hand injury: Prior trauma to the hand increases susceptibility
How is trigger finger diagnosed?
Trigger finger is diagnosed through a combination of medical history and a physical examination of the hand.
Your doctor will look for tenderness, swelling and the clicking or locking of the affected finger or thumb. You may be asked to open and close your hand to assess how smoothly the finger moves. Additional tests may be ordered only if an underlying condition is suspected.
After examining your finger or thumb, your doctor will grade the severity of the condition to help guide treatment:
- Grade 1: Mild discomfort with occasional locking
- Grade 2: Locking is observed during the exam, but you can still straighten the finger or thumb
- Grade 3: Difficulty bending or straightening, affecting everyday tasks
- Grade 4: Finger or thumb fixed in a bent position with significant pain
Knowing the severity helps determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment Options:
Medications
Splinting
Hand therapy / exercises
- Rest: Avoid activities that worsen symptoms, such as repetitive gripping or using vibrating tools.
- Stretching exercises: Improve flexibility and relieve pain, e.g., palm presses using a small ball. Aim for 15 minutes daily.
- Ice therapy: Apply an ice pack several times a day for up to 10 minutes to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Physiotherapy: Helps restore strength and range of motion.
- A combination of the above – splinting, therapy and medication is given as the 1stline of treatment for low grades of trigger only.
Steroid injection
Surgery
If symptoms persist, a minor procedure under local anaesthesia may be performed to release the tendon tunnel and create more space for smooth tendon movement.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury
Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury specialises in treating hand and wrist fractures and traumas. With his extensive experience and compassionate approach, he is dedicated to helping you get back to your active self. At Alpha Joints & Orthopaedics, you can expect exceptional care and support throughout your recovery.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury
Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury specialises in treating hand and wrist fractures and traumas. With his extensive experience and compassionate approach, he is dedicated to helping you get back to your active self. At Alpha Joints & Orthopaedics, you can expect exceptional care and support throughout your recovery.
Meet Our Experienced Hand Surgeon
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury is a hand surgeon specialising in wrist pain and treatment. He is one of the foremost surgeons specialising in wrist arthroscopy in Singapore with multiple research papers and surgical innovations to his name. His dedication to patient care and extensive experience enables him to provide effective and lasting relief from various hand and wrist conditions.
Dr Choudhury was the former Consultant and Service Lead of Hand, Wrist, and Microsurgery Services at Sengkang General Hospital. In this role, he played a pivotal part in establishing and enhancing the hospital’s hand and wrist surgical services. His special interests include minimally invasive surgery for conditions such as arthroscopic management of wrist ligaments, bone injuries, arthritis, ganglions, and hand and wrist trauma.
Dr Choudhury’s academic background includes completing his International Baccalaureate at the prestigious United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales, UK, and graduating from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, in 2004. He earned his MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow in 2010, completed advanced specialist training in Hand Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and became a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine in Singapore in 2016. In 2020, he pursued a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Hand and Wrist Surgery under the renowned Dr Jeff Ecker at the Jeff Ecker Clinic in Perth, Australia. He has conducted one of the highest numbers of successful wrist arthroscopies in the restructured hospitals, introducing several arthroscopy techniques and innovations in Singapore. An active researcher, he has numerous publications and has pioneered several arthroscopic techniques for wrist surgery, holding one of the highest numbers of scientific papers in wrist arthroscopy in Singapore.
Dr Choudhury’s commitment to patient care has earned him multiple accolades, including SingHealth Service Awards, Singapore Health Quality Service Awards, and the ‘You Sparkle’ Award. He is also recognised as a Covid Hero, mentioned by Minister Tan See Leng in parliament. Outside of his professional work, Dr Choudhury is the founder and a team leader of the Wandering Dervishes Initiative, which provides linguistic-based support and free consultations to migrant workers in their native languages. The initiative has provided health consultations and screening for over 1,500 migrant workers.
Meet Our Experienced Hand Surgeon
Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury is a hand surgeon specialising in wrist pain and treatment. He is one of the foremost surgeons specialising in wrist arthroscopy in Singapore with multiple research papers and surgical innovations to his name. His dedication to patient care and extensive experience enables him to provide effective and lasting relief from various hand and wrist conditions.
Dr Choudhury was the former Consultant and Service Lead of Hand, Wrist, and Microsurgery Services at Sengkang General Hospital. In this role, he played a pivotal part in establishing and enhancing the hospital’s hand and wrist surgical services. His special interests include minimally invasive surgery for conditions such as arthroscopic management of wrist ligaments, bone injuries, arthritis, ganglions, and hand and wrist trauma.
Dr Choudhury’s academic background includes completing his International Baccalaureate at the prestigious United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales, UK, and graduating from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, in 2004. He earned his MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow in 2010, completed advanced specialist training in Hand Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and became a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine in Singapore in 2016. In 2020, he pursued a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Hand and Wrist Surgery under the renowned Dr Jeff Ecker at the Jeff Ecker Clinic in Perth, Australia. He has conducted one of the highest numbers of successful wrist arthroscopies in the restructured hospitals, introducing several arthroscopy techniques and innovations in Singapore. An active researcher, he has numerous publications and has pioneered several arthroscopic techniques for wrist surgery, holding one of the highest numbers of scientific papers in wrist arthroscopy in Singapore.
Dr Choudhury’s commitment to patient care has earned him multiple accolades, including SingHealth Service Awards, Singapore Health Quality Service Awards, and the ‘You Sparkle’ Award. He is also recognised as a Covid Hero, mentioned by Minister Tan See Leng in parliament. Outside of his professional work, Dr Choudhury is the founder and a team leader of the Wandering Dervishes Initiative, which provides linguistic-based support and free consultations to migrant workers in their native languages. The initiative has provided health consultations and screening for over 1,500 migrant workers.
Videos
Watch Dr Muntasir explain more about wrist pains, and De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, also known as Mummy’s Wrist
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Frequently Asked Questions
You should seek medical attention promptly if your finger becomes hot, swollen, or visibly inflamed, as this may indicate an underlying infection. It is also important to see a doctor if your symptoms are worsening, if the finger locks more frequently, or if pain is interfering with your daily activities. Delaying evaluation and treatment can lead to increased discomfort, reduced hand function, and a longer recovery time.
Awareness plays an important role in prevention. If you notice a small tender lump at the base of your thumb or finger, or if you start to feel catching or popping with movement, it is advisable to consult an Hand specialist early.
Trigger finger can recur, though the risk is relatively low, especially with non-surgical treatments. After surgery, the recurrence rate is very low (1%)
Hand Surgeons specialise in fingers, hands, and wrists, offering expert care for all stages of trigger finger. They provide therapy, splints, precise injections, and, if needed, surgery with minimal scarring to restore finger movement. Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury, our Senior Consultant Hand Surgeon, brings expertise in minimally invasive surgery and complex hand and wrist conditions.
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Hand and wrist injuries can be managed effectively with the right care. Let us take care of your hand, and your wrist! Contact us today to schedule your appointment. Start your journey to recovery and get back to your active self.
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