Trigger Finger

JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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Knuckles lock up when I make a fist. Hurts pretty bad. Worse in the mornings. Hard to make a strong grip now.
Too many years on the trigger, now as a painter, hasn't changed if even gotten worse.
Apparently it's when your finger tendon passes thru a sleeve? and the sleeve gets worn down and starts hanging up on your knuckle.
A doc once told me to repair, it takes surgery. Out a couple months. Not sure whats' worse. Out a couple months without a useable hand or not out but a hardly useable hand.
Anyone have or experience this? Trigger Finger
 

Chocki

Phil Edwards status
Feb 18, 2007
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Planet Earth
Knuckles lock up when I make a fist. Hurts pretty bad. Worse in the mornings. Hard to make a strong grip now.
Too many years on the trigger, now as a painter, hasn't changed if even gotten worse.
Apparently it's when your finger tendon passes thru a sleeve? and the sleeve gets worn down and starts hanging up on your knuckle.
A doc once told me to repair, it takes surgery. Out a couple months. Not sure whats' worse. Out a couple months without a useable hand or not out but a hardly useable hand.
Anyone have or experience this? Trigger Finger
Did some gym climbing for a few years and your issue sounds very similar to the hand problems climbers experience. I’m pretty sure the sleeve you’re referring to is the A1 pulley.
Ice/contrast baths, massage, stretching, and strengthening (putty, bucket of rice, bands/devices) seem to be the agreed upon remedies.

 
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john4surf

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May 28, 2005
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Wife had trigger finger surgery, I think she had to take it easy with her hand a few weeks. All was corrected, all’s good. Dr. Gelb at CORE Orthopedics, Encinitas (behind Scripps). He specializes in repairing hands/fingers only. (760) 943-6700.
 
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JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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making boards for 25 years! using grinders, air tools, you name it. Now painting contractor for the last 10 yrs using brushes, rollers, sprayers, etc. basic overuse! not sure thats why its called trigger finger, but pressing the trigger to all of the sander tools, planers, grinders, etc. Which also led to elbow itis, tennis elbow, doing the same work.
My grandfather always used Arnica cream on his knuckles, maybe I'll try that. Anything but surgery. Anyone have any special potions to recommend? CBD?
 

the janitor

Tom Curren status
Mar 28, 2003
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i have a couple if jacked up fingers and cbd butter/cream has worked to alleviate pain for me, but:

1. I don't think I've got the same injury -ish thing going on
2. I think the cbd product quality can vary pretty widely between brands, so maybe test a bit before you buy a lot
 

Chocki

Phil Edwards status
Feb 18, 2007
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i have a couple if jacked up fingers and cbd butter/cream has worked to alleviate pain for me, but:

1. I don't think I've got the same injury -ish thing going on
2. I think the cbd product quality can vary pretty widely between brands, so maybe test a bit before you buy a lot
Your CBD can be derived from plants grown organically in Colorado from plants with “zero” thc that look like High Times centerfold models (aka really good full spectrum) or from plants grown in China on top of a toxic waste dump that are what they use to make fiberboard.

Extraction methods vary widely as well (solvent based vs ?).

When you’re ingesting it is when you really want the good stuff imo.
It works for me but like StuDog says it literally could be the Placebo Syndrome.
 
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JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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Ive tried the cbd on my knees, and have clients whove done the same. Didn't feel any positive effects for me, but my clients swore that it worked for them. Ive ingested some oils, but that didn't do anything. I just assume smoke some for the whole body experience but ain't into that. Maybe I just need something really good and powerful?

I think it could help alleviate pain like advil or an nsaid but the real problem is inside my fingers and joints, that's where i think surgery is where I will end up. Until then, Ill try other temporary pain relieving subs. though.
 

GWS_2

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Aug 3, 2019
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Next time you see me remind me to show you my right hand. Long story shorter, I have one thumb that is almost an inch shorter than the other. It was OK for years, now sometimes, not so good.

You could always try Pancho's "cure." He'd get big bags of leaf, (back when John had his grow room upstairs) put it in a bottle with vodka. Then let it sit there for months until it's a nasty greenish color. He'd rub that sh!t on whatever hurt. Mexican folk remedy. Of course, Pancho is RIP now, so...
 
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JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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Next time you see me remind me to show you my right hand. Long story shorter, I have one thumb that is almost an inch shorter than the other. It was OK for years, now sometimes, not so good.

You could always try Pancho's "cure." He'd get big bags of leaf, (back when John had his grow room upstairs) put it in a bottle with vodka. Then let it sit there for months until it's a nasty greenish color. He'd rub that sh!t on whatever hurt. Mexican folk remedy. Of course, Pancho is RIP now, so...
I know a friend who's grandpa did that same thing with rubbing alcohol. Swore up and down it worked. I may try it....
 

SurfDoc

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Dec 19, 2002
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Need a better anatomic description than knuckles please. I've seen plenty of trigger finger in my days (sometimes on the freeway driving my sports car) and yes it is often due to some tendon sheath scarring from old injuries but could be due to aging and other processes. Sometimes cortisone shot into the sheath works but it is technically challenging to do that accurately. Other times surgery is necessary. See a good hand specialist. Good luck!
 
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JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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when I make a fist, it locks up like this. Hard to open back up without manually doing it with other hand, or without pain. Also, when trying to make a fist or grab anything with a grip, it feels tight in those knuckles to a certain point, then if I squeeze hard to make a tight grip, it locks up. Both hands really, but left one is worse. Mainly the middle finger too but a little on a couple of the others.
 

JBerry

Billy Hamilton status
Dec 8, 2017
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UPDATE:
I went this week and got a cortisone shot in each of my 3rd (middle) fingers.
Seems to be slowly doing the trick. Left hand is still a bit sticky, Right hand much better. Doc
said give it up to 2 weeks to see full results.
I am alive!
 
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rowjimmytour

Tom Curren status
Feb 7, 2009
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Once had same problem after working on window and door screens all day over and over until I wore a tennis elbow brace about a 1" below my elbow right arm (right handed). I forget brand of brace but had hard plastic shells with soft fabric on skin with loop of velcro. Now if I do same thing over over try to take break more often and switch hands if I can.
 

moby

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Nov 10, 2010
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Have you tried strengthening the muscles that open your hand instead of the muscles that close your hand? Get some fat rubber bands and try it. If you go to Amazon you can find purpose built bands.
 
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rowjimmytour

Tom Curren status
Feb 7, 2009
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Have you tried strengthening the muscles that open your hand instead of the muscles that close your hand? Get some fat rubber bands and try it. If you go to Amazon you can find purpose built bands.
My older brother for base ball hand/finger training would fill a big bucket with rice and dig his hands deep as possible then grab as much rice possible and pull hands out of bucket 1 rep.