Trigger finger is where a finger in a gripping position appears to lock in place. When you pull the finger open, it unlocks with a click (or in my case a loud ‘clunk’ which made anyone around me squirm!), hence the name trigger finger. The condition is caused by a nodule growth on the tendon which gets stuck on the pulley (sheath) system that is there to guide/hold the tendon in place. Doctors have minimal knowledge about why this nodule forms. Nodules on tendons can come and go on their own, but this one has been bad and persistent.

The build up to the operation had certainly been playing on my mind for several months. Unsurprisingly the mental prospect of the surgery was the worst part since the operation itself was only 15min in duration and was carried out under local anaesthetic (although I avoided the temptation to watch it!).

The procedure itself involved cutting open the sheath(pulley) that was causing the tendon restriction to occur, which freed the movement of the tendon (and nodule). The surgical entry point was  on the palm of the hand just below the finger, and the incision itself was only about 1 inch long.

Recovery time has been fast. I am now nearly 3 weeks post op, the stitches are out , and the skin on the scar has fully healed over. I still have joint stiffness, and a bit of swelling which causes my finger to stiffen up in the bent position, but I expect this to gradually subside over time, especially after I keep stretching it like I have been instructed to do by the physiotherapists.

It is too early to do a complete assessment of the experience, but I can say that it’s great not having an annoying triggering finger condition any longer!

I wish there was a simple solution like this to my RSI condition!

UPDATE : 1 month post op

It’s now been about 1 month post operation, and I thought I’d update this post. Although the scar on the plam of the hand is healed over, however I still have a lot of  sensitivity about the entrance wound, as well as a lump under the wound. Not sure at this point if the lump is scar tissue or the nodule. The triggering has gone, but I still have a lot of stiffness in the joint, and the finger still likes to stick in the bent position (I have to physically bend it straight with my other hand). Hopefully this is just a result of the swelling and that this will go away on time. I am using the finger, but it can be sore depending on the task at hand.

Update: 2 1/2 months post op

The finger is getting  better all the time. It doesn’t stiffen up as frequently as before, but it still can stiffen quite badly and there is no cause I can determine for this. I recently had a follow up with the surgeon, and was advised that post op stiffness is common, and recovery can be as much as 18 months for some individuals – they don’t tell you that before the op! He suggested massaging the joint to reduce the swelling. The scar has totally healed up now, and is a whole lot less sensitive than it was a few weeks ago.

Update: 6 months post op

It’s certainly taken it’s time, but the finger is showing very little stiffness now. I can extend it fully contract it fully, grip things tightly, and have no sign of that horrible triggering any more. I can officially say the op was a success. It does go to show that there is a 3-6 month recovery term for this operation. Good luck with the operation if you are someone who is considering having it done and just factor in a few months for the recovery.

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It’s happening (quite badly) on the middle finger of my right hand – so much so that I have to use my other hand to prise the stuck finger open again! I also have minor trigger symptoms on some of my other fingers. It’s not just an inconvenient condition, it can be quite painful too! Usually trigger finger cases can clear up with some rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication but this one has been with me for quite some time.

The trigger condition has been diagnosed as such by doctors, and has been treated twice with steroidal injections (to no avail). Surgery looks like the next option for me to relieve this condition, and is only a day patient procedure done under a local anaesthetic. I am however waiting for summer to pass before going ahead with the surgery, although going through with it will mean me taking 1-2 weeks off work to allow it to heal. This would be fine if I was employed with entitlement to sick pay, but being self employed means two weeks without pay! Not fair is it?

Interestingly enough this is a condition that I can remember happening mildly when I was younger (maybe as young as 12), where the middle finger of both hands would lock and click when I forced them open. These symptoms were not much of a problem to me back then, and they ceased completely when I reached my late teens.

However, the condition has over the last 10 years returned, and in the last 5 years has got much worse. The consultant that I have seen asked me what it is that I grip tightly, but I’m not aware of any one task I do with excessive gripping. It’s apparently a common symptom of over-gripping power tools or bicycle handlebars etc.

I personally feel like it has flared up due to the other RSI symptoms I have. The tendons in my arms, wrists, hands and fingers have taken some amount of abuse from computers over the years.

According to one summation from RSI Relief -

“Most clinicians believe that the disorder is caused by the tendon sheath because it becomes thickened or swollen and pinches the tendon and prevents it from gliding smoothly. But common sense reveals that the history of patients suffering with Trigger Finger have one common denominator, overuse, excessive use and/or abuse of the hands from work and recreational activities.”

The only ‘abuse’ I can think of over my history is keyboard and mouse related. Other than a bit of cycling, kayaking etc I have rarely abused my hands in any other way, and certainly am not aware of any excessive gripping.

To me it is one more aspect to my life dealing with a long term RSI condition(s).

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