Trigger finger can greatly affect the movement of a person’s fingers and hands. As we know, the tendons in the hands are supposed to glide with ease, so when they become inflamed, this poses difficulty in their glide – thus resulting in impaired movement.
This can lead to issues in your daily life, making everyday tasks and activities much more difficult than usual. Fortunately, at our clinic, our skilled hand and occupational therapists can help treat trigger finger so you can get back to living a comfortable life!
For more information on how we can help, call us for an appointment today.
What are the symptoms of trigger finger?
The first sign of trigger finger may be pain and a small nodule or bump in the palm of the hand. A physician or certified hand therapist may feel tenderness and swelling at the base of the finger or thumb.
You will be asked to make a fist and then straighten the fingers. The affected finger or thumb may stay curled and then suddenly pop to a straight position as if releasing the trigger of a gun. This repeated catching and releasing continues to irritate the tendon. If the condition persists for several months, the finger may become stiff.
What causes trigger finger?
Often, trigger finger is caused by repetitive gripping of certain tools, such as a drill or wrench. Additionally, we know that the condition is more common for those who are diabetic, arthritic, or who have sustained a previous injury to the palm of the hand.
Some of the most common symptoms of trigger finger that we treat include:
- Pain in the palm of the hand
- A nodule or bump in the palm of the hand
- Tenderness at the base of finger(s) or thumb
- Swelling at the base of finger(s) or thumb
When a patient arrives for his or her initial appointment, one of our certified hand therapists may ask the patient to perform certain hand exercises.
A common test may include making a fist and then trying to straighten the fingers. If the affected finger(s) or thumb stay curled before suddenly popping back into a straight position (as if releasing the trigger of a gun), it is a sign that the patient likely needs PT intervention for trigger finger.
How can a custom orthotic help to relieve pain from trigger finger?
If you are dealing with pain in your hands or upper extremities, our hand therapists are here to help you! We can create a custom orthotic specifically for your needs, aimed at articulating and immobilizing the affected finger(s) or thumb. Our orthotics serve several functions and benefits, such as managing your pain and promoting healing.
Our dedicated hand therapists will conduct a physical evaluation to examine the current levels of mobility in your hand and fingers and determine what orthotic device will be best.
From there, they will design a personalized treatment plan and custom orthotic that will help relieve your pain, improve your hand’s range of motion, and increase strength in the affected hand and fingers.
Additional benefits of custom orthotics for the treatment of trigger finger include:
- Speeding up recovery. If you have developed trigger finger, a custom device can be created to assist in your recovery. One of our hand therapists can also put together a rehabilitation program that specifically addresses your needs, focusing on helping you recover as quickly as possible. This may include strength and range of motion exercises, in addition to a custom device.
- Preventing additional injuries. Custom orthotic devices can help aid you with avoiding additional injury to the affected hand/finger(s) by allowing the body to move more freely and comfortably. One of our hand therapists can also teach you several different exercises you can perform with your custom device to make sure the affected area is still maintaining strength and function.
- Potentially avoiding surgery. In some cases, a custom orthotic may help you to avoid an invasive surgical procedure altogether. With surgery, patients always run the risk of blood clots, infection, and a lengthy recovery time. Fortunately, it is possible that an orthotic device can correct a problem without the need for surgery at all. One of our hand therapists can also provide you with targeted hand exercises that will help your body speed up its natural healing process.
Contact us about hand therapy and custom orthotics today
If you are living with trigger finger and worry there is no answer to your pain or discomfort, think again! Hand therapy provides a variety of solutions for painful condition, and this one is no exception. Call us today or visit us in New York, NY Carle Place, NY to schedule an appointment and get on the path to regaining your abilities, free of pain.
