Injury Care

Trigger Finger Strain/Injury! Chiropractic Care Can Help!

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Stenosing tenosynovitis, also known as “trigger finger,” is a repetitive strain injury that is one of the most common injuries in the workplace. It is marked by one finger or thumb that is stuck in a bent position and pops or snaps when straightened. The cause is an inflamed or irritated flexor tendon.

As it slides through the sheath tunnel, the back and forth motion creates irritation which can lead to thickening of the tendon and even the formation of nodules. If this happens, it can impede its movement through the sheath which can also thicken so that the opening that the tendon slides through becomes smaller.

What are the symptoms of trigger finger?

A person that has trigger finger may experience several symptoms in one or more fingers or thumb including:

  • Pain when straightening or bending the finger
  • Swelling
  • A lump in the palm that is tender
  • The finger or thumb joints have a popping or catching sensation
  • Stiffness
  • The impaired tendon may suddenly break free causing the finger to snap straight or feel like it is dislocating

Some symptoms, like the stiffness, popping, and catching, may be more pronounced after periods of inactivity. The patient may find that upon waking they have difficulty, but as they move their fingers they loosen, and the symptoms aren’t as cause. In severe cases, the patient is unable to straighten their finger, even with help.

What causes trigger finger?

Many times the cause of trigger finger is not known. They may notice a gradual decline or they may wake up one day and experience symptoms. There are certain health conditions and circumstances that put some patients at a higher risk of developing trigger finger:

  • Men tend to get trigger finger more than women do
  • The most common age group for trigger finger is between 40 and 60 years old
  • It is prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other medical conditions
  • Repetitive hand motions such as typing, gripping power tools, or playing video games
  • Activities where the hands are in constant repetitive action.

What are the treatments for trigger finger?

There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments for trigger finger, depending on the severity of the condition. When the symptoms are mild, the patient may be advised to, rest the finger and take over the counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or cause to help reduce inflammation and minimize pain. The patient may also wear a splint to facilitate the resting position of the finger better.

In some cases, the doctor may advise steroid injections administered directly into the tendon sheath to correct the problem. Sometimes this procedure only provides temporary relief and requires a second injection. If the condition shows no improvement after the second injection, the patient may be advised to undergo surgery. If the patient has had trigger finger for a long time or if they have a medical condition such as diabetes, injections are not likely to be as, or a permanent solution.

Some patients undergo surgery to correct trigger finger. The is purely elective since the condition is not considered dangerous. The operation opens the tendon sheath, the tunnel that the tendon slides through, to move easier. The surgery is on an outpatient basis.

Chiropractic for trigger finger

  • Two chiropractic treatments for trigger finger:
  • Active Release Technique (ART)
  • Graston technique
  • Studies have found these chiropractic techniques to be very useful in treating trigger finger.

An instrument based soft tissue therapy may also be used to help reduce tension in the muscles around the area. Chiropractors typically use a whole-body approach to help the patient achieve relief and healing. They recognize that most conditions are not limited to only what appears to be the affected area so they will employ techniques that treat the associated regions of the body as well, which, provides the patient with more reliable relief without the use of invasive procedures. Chiropractic is a practical, natural way to treat trigger finger.

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Post Disclaimers

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Trigger Finger Strain/Injury! Chiropractic Care Can Help!" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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