Hi I thank you much. I've been on crutches 31 years I have trigger thumb . I wanted to do therapy but the medical system would rather give you a shot or put you in surgery which I opt out of both of those. I have been doing exercise, wrapping at night using comfrey bones and joints supplements. I feel I'm still in need of supporting this thumb. You showed the braces on the fingers is that the same for the thumb? Could I make one of these myself , out if??? I too need to do some care for my hands fingers , wrist firearm in general. I noticed that night when I sleep my hands are curled like I'm wrapped around the crutch. 😩 Any help is sooooo appreciated!!!!
first I would INSIST to your physician that you would like to see a Hand Therapist in your local area. they can help you a lot and make you a night splint If you go to a store like CVS they do have those aluminum finger splints that you can use on your thumb. that might help it for night extension. There is also a night brace that you can use maybe that is usually for Carpal Tunnel but it keeps all fingers straight. www.walgreens.com/store/c/imak-smartglove-pm-carpal-tunnel-night-brace/ID=prod1904023-product the thumb splint can also be worn with that as well. There is a lot that a Hand Therapist can do to help you so I would definitely advised you get a referral to go see one. if it doesn't work, then cortisone short or surgery is the next option.
Hi. I have had some very mild triggering for a year now but I only get the triggering when I do exercises like the ones in your video. I don't get any triggering from regular movements or making a fist. I've also had general loss of motor control issues in the finger for 2 years. How do these trigger finger exercises work? Do they make the pulley compress the nodule until it is squeezed thin?
the exercises help to keep the nodule that is on the tendon as thin as possible with the extension stretch and the tendon gliding is to help keep the tendon gliding without getting fully stuck. light triggering with no pain is ok if it is controlled . but if you are not having the triggering with normal use, that is great. also working on massaging and "scrapping" the nodule area (with lotion over it) a few times a week can also help keep the nodule flatter. Key is also to make sure you are gripping things with wider diameter and protecting the palm with something like a bike glove when doing gardening or wt lifting... things like that
I can do all my middle finger gets stuck on the last one . Thank you ! Question here they also suggest resting the fingers even taping to stop moving, so I wonder which one is more effective resting/ taping or exercising?
At night, the finger that is triggering should be rested in extension. this helps the swelling of the finger and avoids it getting "stuck" in the morning. the exercises are important to do throughout the day, to improve the length of the tendon and scaring on the tenson inside and to work on gliding the tendon , actively, with little to no clicking or getting stuck. the other important issue is to learn how to use your hand correctly to minimize strain of the fingers and grip items with wider diameters or more cushion, to decrease the irritation with gripping. taping is good as well during the day , and using a day time ring type splint on that finger also helps to minimize the tendon over flexing.
Hi Beth, where did you find this protocol? These look like tendon glides but I’m curious because of the phases as they progress with decreasing symptoms. I’m also a hand therapist and looking for resources. Thank you!
actually this protocol is one that I MADE UP years ago , trial and error, and found it worked the best with mild trigger fingers and thumbs, if the patient is compliant. for the really hard/bad ones , it does improve mobility and gliding but eventually the patient may need the surgery if they already had the cortisone shots and it is still painful. The taping that Alison Taylor does also does seem to help. you can check out her videos on taping for trigger finger.
Beth, is there some place I could go to print the sheet for the trigger finger exercises? I’m 79 and have been fighting the trigger in the middle finger of my dominant right hand, and I really want to get rid of it. If I could print that exercise sheet it would be much appreciated. Thanks…
I can email them too you... I think that is the only way. But if you get a referral from you doctor to a local Hand Therapist in your area, they can also do some treatment to the finger that also might help, along with these exercises. We as Hand Therapist do all sorts of techniques to assist with decreasing the triggering of the finger.
Hello! I have a trigger finger for 1,5 year and now the same finger was diagnosed with swan neck deformity. This week i will visit a more specialised doctor. Is it safe to do theses exercises? Thank you for the video ☺️
yes it is aff but be careful about causing the middle joint to hyper extend. hold the finger with the other hand where the middle and the tip joint do not hyper extend or flex. you are mainly lightly stretching the big knuckle, on the palm side where the trigger area is. for the swan neck deformity you can actually get an Oval 8 splint to keep that middle joint from hyperextending. the issue is, though you need to know what size to purchase. You can get them on Amazon. But I would suggest you contact your doctor and as them for a referral to a local Hand Therapist and they can address BOTH problems.
@@bethweissotlcht8450 thank you SO much for your answer and your time! I really appreciate it 🥰 hope you the best and thank you for your amazing videos which are so helpful and for your advices😊 I will visit this specialised doctor this week and I believe he will recommend me the right splint. God bless you 🥰🥰🥰
I am 5 days post op and my finger is still very very sore. I cannot bend it as it’s too painful. I can take a lot of pain but this has been beyond me no pain meds have touched it.
do you still have stitches in your hand? can you put your hand in water yet? go to my video on contrast baths and follow that, once you can put your hand in water and also do the finger exercises. eventually you need to do the scar massage and desensitization. You can put ice and heat alternating around your hand. must get the fingers to gradually bend and straighten so it doesn't lock up with the scar tissue that is forming. I like taking Arnica Montana "30 pellets (4, 5 times a day right after injury/surgery) it helps with the swelling and pain. you get them at Whole Foods or other health food stores. also if you can stomach Advil.... take it. helps with the inflammation. I usually recommend what a doctor would prescribe which is 600 mg (3 tablets that are 200 mg).
first.. how long have you had the finger "frozen". Cortisone shot may help at first but you must follow that up with sessions with a Hand Therapist to help you determine if you need surgery eventually. My video does show the process of working a trigger finger out, but if the swelling around the tendon is too much (fat), ultimately, surgery may be the only way. but if you do surgery, it much be followed by some hand therapy to make sure the tendon does NOT get stuck on the scar tissue.
There is no medicine to treat trigger finger. Sometimes taking something like Advil might help the swelling. My suggestion is to see a Hand Doctor to get a referral to a hand therapist . If the doctor can give you a cortisone shot, that can also help. If the finger continues to be a problem, then surgery is what is recommended.
first, this technique needs to be followed somewhat regularly throughout the day, for weeks.... but with that said... I would see a hand specialist if itis persisting and first have 1 cortisone shot... then continue with the technique. Make sure you are wearing something to keep your finger straight at night, maybe get on Amazon the trigger finger splint for the day, and avoid very tight gripping. also have the doctor send you to a local Hand Therapist.... they can also do other things with you as well..
sorry they did't work for you... it all depends on the severity of the triggering. but also, the exercises are just part of the whole program. making sure you are wearing a night extension splint and daytime blocking ring helps, as well as working on connective tissue mobilization around the A-1 pulley, where the tendon is getting stuck. If the swelling and inflammation around the tendon is too thick, then the only things that helps at that point is the surgery.
