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Having Bell's palsy can be a very overwhelming experience for so many people. That said, let's dive into the TOP 10 questions about Bell's Palsy.
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Trigger Finger: Top 10 Questions about Trigger Finger Pain
January 27, 2023
Trigger Finger
Trigger Finger: Top 10 Questions about Trigger Finger Pain
Having Trigger Finger can be a very overwhelming experience for so many patients. How do you take care of it, when to do it, what does Trigger finger mean, etc.? Ultimately, you want to work with a qualified professional to interpret the recovery. However, you can still learn about your condition by understanding the basics.
With that being said, let’s dive into the TOP 10 questions I get from patients about Trigger fingers.
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We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our Trigger Finger Specialist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.
1. What is a Trigger finger?
A trigger finger is a condition in which the flexor tendon in the finger gets inflamed and swollen in the tendon sheath. It causes pain and is sometimes stuck in one position.
In between tendons and tendon sheath, it has lubricated. Because it has lubricated, you can bend your finger smoothly: Gripping the fist, opening the palm, playing the instruments, typing, writing, and so forth.
2. What causes trigger fingers?
While most may not know, women in their 50s are, in fact, at higher risk for trigger fingers than men. The time frame of greater risk for developing it is post-pregnancy or menopause due to hormone imbalance. People who use their fingers also have higher chances of getting Trigger fingers, like musicians, office workers who type a lot, writers, etc.
There is no conclusive answer regarding what causes the finger tendons to become inflamed or swollen. They associate it with an imbalance of women’s hormones, arthritis, diabetes, or overuse – but there are theories and no concrete causes.
3. How do I know if I've had a Trigger finger?
When you feel a clicking or popping sensation when you move your fingers, you likely have a trigger finger. Also, you might have tightness or tenderness in the palm, and your finger is stuck in a bent position and suddenly pops back straight. X-ray and MRI don’t show anything in the Trigger finger.
4. How to treat the trigger finger?
The treatments focused on reducing the tendon inflammation and swelling and restoring movement in her finger without locking up the joint. Acupuncture has been shown in many studies to be incredibly practical in reducing pain and inflammation due to its ability to stimulate the body to release its natural painkillers. Applying heat is another way to reduce swelling and increase our natural healing process.
5. Is Acupuncture Effective for Trigger finger?
Yes. Acupuncture is very effective for trigger finger. During initial acupuncture session, we examined finger and muscle tightness in the flexor muscles. You may not able to grip your fist or straighten up your 4th finger or thumb due to pain.
Within 6 weeks to 3 months, most of our patients looked back to normal, and they were close to 90% recovered in terms of finger mobility. Even then, recovery is not guaranteed.
6. Is Trigger finger permanent?
No. The trigger finger can be fully recovered to a normal. But it takes time. A significant part of the patient’s success was their ability to receive treatments within three weeks of the trigger finger onset. As a general rule of thumb, the sooner one receives treatment, the better the prognosis.
7. How long does it take to recover from a trigger finger?
With proper treatments, ones should be able to start noticing improvements within a few weeks and make a significant to complete recovery within three months. You can also get prescribed natural Chinese herbs to reduce inflammation and swelling around the tendon.
8. Can I apply ICE to the Trigger finger?
I wouldn’t recommend applying ice to the hand because it, even more, tightens the tendon and tendon sheath. It may help with pain, but usually, it doesn’t help to heal quicker with ice. I recommend applying HEAT instead, like a hot bath or heat pack.
9. Does massage help the trigger finger?
YES, it does. Massage helps reduce inflammation and makes the tendon smoothly move in the sheath. I recommend doing a self-massage on the palm side of your hand with olive oil or massage cream daily.
10. When Should I start Acupuncture?
As a general rule of thumb, the sooner one receives treatment, the better the prognosis.
There are patients who come for trigger finger treatment months or even years after the original onset. These chronic cases are often more complex and take a much greater length of time to achieve results. Even then, recovery is not guaranteed.
Regarding the frequency of treatments, Acupuncture follows a simple rule. Acute and relatively new conditions are most effectively treated with more frequent visits, whereas chronic and old conditions can benefit from more widespread treatments. In other words, if you just had an onset of trigger finger, you will probably be prescribed 2-3 treatments per week in order to get the most effective results, and chronic cases will generally come in only once a week.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a trigger finger and want to learn more about Acupuncture and whether it’s appropriate for your case, send us a message through our contact page.
I hope it helps.
Satoru Ozawa, L.Ac, ATC
Pursuing Your Health is Our Passion
Call or Text 972-777-0836
We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our Trigger Finger Specialist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.
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