Trigger finger

Jim Hussey · From: Reno, Nevada - USA

6 months ago I noticed the beginning of a problem with my right hand ring finger. It locks up when rolled under my palm. Some call it trigger finger. For a while it wasn't too bad, but lately it's becoming a problem. Definitely impacts the quality of chimed harmonics. I'm also worried it may spread to my picking fingers. Has anyone got experience with cures for this, other than surgery? I'm really worried the cure may be worse than the disease.

Thanks
Jim

Steve Alcott · From: New York, New York, USA

See a sports medicine hand specialist. The right kind of PT can help.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Possibly take your steel guitar along on a visit to a sports medicine doctor or a chiropractor. I suspect something is wrong with your ergonomics, and they might be able to help you correct it
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Dave Diehl · From: Mechanicsville, MD, USA

A while ago Jim I had the same problem with my thumb. Some people told me they experienced it but after a while it went away. Suprisingly mine did go away about a year later. It's a problem normally in the base of the finger and the way the ligiments move back and forth. There is a easy surgery that can be done to correct it but I didn't have to go that route. I no longer have a problem with it.

mtulbert · From: Plano, Texas 75023

Jim

Make an appointment with an orthopedist hand specialist. I had the same problem on my left hand years ago. I got a cortisone shot and the problem disappeared and never returned. I was out of commission for a couple of days but that was the end of it.
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mtulbert · From: Plano, Texas 75023

Jim

Make an appointment with an orthopedist hand specialist. I had the same problem on my left hand years ago. I got a cortisone shot and the problem disappeared and never returned. I was out of commission for a couple of days but that was the end of it.
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Hans Penner · From: Manitoba, Canada

My right thumb would lock up in the straight position and act erratically.
I was told the sheath surrounding the tenon was inflamed due to a knot having formed on the tendon.
I had a cortisone shot twice.
Six months apart.
It helped for a few months.
Then I had surgery.
The tendon was cut open so the knot could move freely again.
Never had the problem since.
Jim, I hope your problem can be solved as easily.
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Jim Hussey · From: Reno, Nevada - USA

Great suggestions, thank you.

I have a friend who is a professional photographer. 10 years ago he had surgery for trigger finger, and while successful, the recovery was 6 months of physical therapy. I'm hopeful surgery techniques have improved since then, but given previous hand injuries from my fun but misspent youth, I'm hoping to avoid surgery all together. I like the Lanes idea of a visit with a sports Dr. to study ergonomics. Anything to avoid the knife as I am worried that anything short of complete recovery implies diminished piking ability and I have precious little to spare!

Thanks
Jim

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

My problem was a crippling numbness in my bar hand. A chiropractor watched the show, and salt my problem for free, and all I did was lower the back of my steel guitar 3 quarters of an inch. That is why you often see m yese talk about keeping the wrist of the bar hand straight in the vertical plane
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Rick Kreuziger · From: Merrillan, Wisconsin

With the one I had on my left index finger, they first splinted it to minimize movement to allow the tendon to heal and shrink. That didn't work... next they did a cortisone injection... that didn't work either.
If you're diabetic the shot is much less likely to work. Sometimes a second shot is attempted as well.

In my case, we elected to do the surgery. It's a fairly simple procedure, but the recovery can be significantly longer than they say. For me, at 6 weeks out I had terrible swelling and fluid retention. My range of motion for the finger was poor and playing 6-string guitar wasn't possible.
A therapist taught me a massage technique that works the epidermal level pushing the fluid out. It took a full 6 months for the swelling to subside and it was a full year before it felt 100%.
I was a worse case scenerio though.. I have some other scar tissue in my hand that inhibited fluid movement. It's also very important to follow recommendations for massage, etc. to minimize scar tissue buildup. Scar tissue can put you right back to square one.

Would I do it again?.. yes... mine was to the point of pretty intense pain when the locking would release and it inhibited my playing to a degree.

I'd also thoroughly research the doctor treating you... musician's hands are especially important and exact function is critical.

Ronald Sikes · From: Corsicana, Tx

I also had trigger finger once. I took the shot and now its fine. That's been well over a year ago. I'd try the shot , its well worth it. Anything to avoid surgery. Just MHO.
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Hey Jim. I have trigger finger in the middle finger of my right hand, luckily it doesn't affect my picking. Got it when I was working at NUMMI. I had it so bad that the finger would actually stick half way and I would have to help it release by massaging the knuckle joint or just using my other hand to pull into place. Before you do the surgery thing, see if the cortisone will help. It sure helped me. Some never needs surgery.
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Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

It is very common. And somewhat hereditary! Cortisone didn't do it for me. The surgery was simple and fixed it right away. A tiny little incision, no big deal.
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I had trigger finger surgery on my index finger, my picking hand, two years ago. I had a very severe and painful case and the first surgery didn't work. One week later I had to go back in for a second surgery, and that took care of it. My finger is about 90% back to normal, but it will never be the way it was in my younger days. The good news is... I can still pick the steel guitar fine. That range of motion is fine. I just can't make a tight fist with that finger. When the triggering first started I had a shot of cortisone and that fixed it for about eight months. Then it came back worse than before. It's different for everyone. Surgery should be a last resort.
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Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I had a trigger finger on my right ring finger. It's caused by the ligament having an enlargement due to an inflammation and getting caught when going through a sheath in the hand. Mine went away after a few months. One Dr. recommended I wait, another recommended surgery. I waited and it went away after a few months. Never became painful, however.
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Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

It’s caused by a nodule developing on a finger tendon . The tendons pass through a series of ligaments which form loops that the tendon passes through to keep it situated along the finger bones . Think of how a "string tree" works on a Telecaster. Without the tree, the string "tents up and away from the nut.

As a rehab physician, I see these frequently in my practice. I start by a injecting a small amount of cortisone over the nodule, Tthat decreases the inflammation and swelling of the bump, and allows the tendon to be able to pass through the "loops".

Sometimes they recur, other times not. If the injections fail to clear things up, I refer the patient to an orthopedic hand surgeon.

Billy McCombs · From: Bakersfield California, USA

I had it on my ring finger left hand. It was very painful, got a shot of cortisone and used a velcro strap to immobilize it to my little finger. It took about Six weeks for it to heal. The Doc said immobilizing it was the only way other than surgery.The cortisone got rid of the pain but I think the straps what healed it. Good luck
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