If one of your fingers often locks up when you try to straighten it, you may be experiencing stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly referred to as trigger finger. Because this condition can worsen over time, you shouldn’t wait to seek treatment. Fortunately, residents of the Reno and Carson City area who are living with the painful symptoms of trigger finger can turn to the experts at Swift Orthopedics to help them find relief.
Trigger finger occurs when the passageway around the tendon connecting to the finger narrows, constricting the tendon. If the passageway remains irritated for an extended period of time, it will begin to form scars and nodules that will further irritate the tendon, making the condition become progressively worse over time. People with stenosing tenosynovitis may also notice swelling, soreness at the bottom of their affected finger, or a lump on their palm. This condition tends to be more prevalent in women, people suffering from diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, people between the ages of 40 and 60, and people who repeatedly grip their fingers in a certain way (such as people who work with their hands on a daily basis).
Many people who are dealing with trigger finger, including those individuals in Reno, NV, are able to achieve relief using some combination of the following conservative treatment techniques:
- Resting the affected finger (possibly using a splint)
- Applying heat or ice
- Performing gentle stretching exercises
- Taking an anti-inflammatory medication
- Injecting a corticosteroid into the affected finger
The team at Swift Orthopedics in Reno and Carson City can help you to develop a customized treatment plan using these methods. If you’re still experiencing trigger finger symptoms after attempting a conservative course of treatment, however, you may also want to consider hand surgery. During the procedure, one of our hand surgeons uses a small incision to widen the space around your affected tendon and ease compression, thereby allowing the tendon to move around more easily.
If you’ve been experiencing the symptoms of trigger finger, please schedule an appointment at our Reno or Carson City location so that one of Swift Institute’s orthopedic experts can help you determine the best course of treatment for your needs.