Trigger finger is a condition affecting one or more of the tendons of the hand. The affected finger or thumb is difficult and painful to bend. If the tendon gets swollen and irritated it may “get stuck” in the tunnel it operates through (the tendon sheath). This can make it hard to move the afflicted finger or thumb, and lead to a clicking sensation.
Trigger finger is also known as stenosis tenosynovitis. It habitually affects the thumb, ring finger or/and little finger. The condition may affect both hands simultaneously. It’s more common in the right hand, as it is statistically more used. It could be uncomfortable to the point that it affects the way you perform your daily activities.
The discomfort may ease on its own after a few days, but the condition can still recur and may take several months to go away completely. In severe cases, a trigger finger may become permanently stuck in an awkward position thus needing a trigger finger release. According to orthopedic surgeons from Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center, this surgical procedure, also called tenolysis, is done to correct the condition, especially if day-to-day tasks that require hand use have become increasingly difficult.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, trigger finger affects people between the ages of 40 or 50. Women are more likely to develop this condition than men and it typically affects their dominant hand.
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